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By Lynn McKee, January 4, 2012 9:03 am

Unimagined Testing and Quality Perspectives are excited to offer the Powerful Project Leadership Skills course instructed by industry recognized leadership consultants Wayne and Eileen Strider. Wayne and Eileen each have over 30 years IT experience including over 20 years experience with the Virginia Satir Growth Model. They have instructed numerous workshops including Problem Solving Leadership, Congruent Leadership Development with Jean McLendon, and participated in the Amplifying Your Effectiveness Conference and the Annual S&C Leader’s Forum. Wayne authored the Powerful Project Leadership book that the workshop has been adapted from. This three day course will be offered in Calgary on April 23 – 25, 2012.

Course Overview
You are an experienced information technology professional. Regardless of your position, role or title, you may find yourself managing projects. You know the mechanics of project management—initiating, planning, scheduling, staffing, executing, monitoring, controlling, and closing projects. Now you want to strengthen your leadership skills—skills that enable you to work effectively with customers, bosses, peers, staff, and vendors as well as help them work effectively with one another.

This workshop will help you balance your needs and expectations as a leader, the needs and expectations of other project individuals, and the realities of your project’s context. This workshop addresses directly human relationship situations that can put your project at risk—when stresses emerge, tempers flare, and uncertainties and self-doubts arise.

Adapted from the book Powerful Project Leadership by Wayne Strider, this workshop can benefit anyone whose work involves managing relationships among project team members, sponsors, committees, functional users, customers and vendors.

For more details on the Powerful Project Leadership Skills course, please see the PPLS Course Details page.

Registration
Early bird registration of $1625.00 per person will be offered to Satir Global Network members and $1699 to non members until January 31, 2012. Starting February 1st registrations will be $1925.00 per person to Satir members and $1999.00 to non members. Fees include training materials, lunch, and refreshments. Participants will also receive a copy of the Powerful Project Leadership book. Please note there is a maximum of 28 spots available.

Register Now »

Interested in knowning more about the Satir Global Network? Visit http://satirglobal.org/about/ for more information and to join.

Do not miss this great opportunity! We look forward to seeing you at the course. Should you have any questions or concerns, please contact Lynn or Nancy.

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By Lynn McKee, October 28, 2010 9:20 am

My Resources page recently experienced a growth spurt and I was forced to reorganize. Now each section has its own page and includes a “Featured Resources” section on the right which was fun to create. The resource listing includes:

• Approaches, Techniques, Tools
• Associations & Online Communities
• Conferences & Workshops
• Courses
• Books
• People

The Conference Calendar links can now be found on the Resources and Conferences & Workshops pages or referenced directly at www.qualityperspectives.ca/calendar/. NOTE: There is no change in the URL.

The Testing Mnemonics listing can be found on the Approaches, Techniques & Tools page or referenced directly at www.qualityperspectives.ca/resources_mnemonics. NOTE: This is a new URL so update any bookmarks you may have to this page.

If you know of a great resource I do not have listed, please email me . Enjoy!

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By Lynn McKee, October 19, 2010 7:27 pm

I am excited to share that Unimagined Testing and Quality Perspectives are offering the Rapid Software Testing course instructed by industry thought leader Michael Bolton. Michael has instructed the Rapid Software Testing course internationally and he is a recognized speaker, author, coach and consultant on software testing. This three day course will be offered in Edmonton on January 24 – 26, 2011 and Calgary on February 7-9, 2011.

Course Overview

Rapid Software Testing is a course, a mind-set, and a skill set. It teaches students an approach to excellent software testing that is very fast, inexpensive, credible, and accountable.

• Are you finding it difficult to assess how much time and effort you’re going to need to test effectively?
• Are you overwhelmed by or uncertain about approaches to test planning, design and execution?
• Are you working in an environment where some people aren’t following “the rules”?
• Are you having trouble finding the right balance between planning, documentation, and testing?
• Are you interested in learning skills and techniques that will help you to become a better tester?
• Are you finding that “industry best practices” are infeasible and a poor fit for your organization?
• Do you want to get very good at software testing?

Rapid Software Testing addresses these challenges.

Registration
Early bird registration of $999 per person will be offered to Association for Software Testing, AST, members and $1100 to non-AST members until November 30, 2010. Starting December 1st registrations will be $1200.00 per person for AST members and $1300 to non-AST members.

Fees include training materials and light refreshments. Please note there is a maximum of 24 spots available per course.

Register Now »

For more information on becoming a member of the Association for Software Testing , please visit www.associationforsoftwaretesting.org.

Do not miss this great opportunity! We look forward to seeing you at the course. Should you have any questions or concerns, please contact us.

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By Lynn McKee, June 18, 2010 4:17 pm

Last week I was very fortunate to attend the Rapid Software Testing course facilitated by Michael Bolton. The 3 day course was held in Calgary and was well attended by eighteen of the greatest minds in software testing in the Calgary area.

The course was excellent and provided both extensive content and ample exercises to challenge the attendees. Following each day of class I found myself mulling over newly learned concepts and eagerly anticipating what would be covered next. The course provided everyone from newbies to veteran testers with invaluable insight, and arguably one the most meaningful perspectives on great software testing. Developed by James Bach and Michael, the course includes insights from other industry thought leaders including Jerry Weinberg and Cem Kaner.

The effectiveness of the course was amplified through Michael’s engaging personality and obvious passion for software testing. I have had the pleasure of knowing Michael for the past three years and I have to admit I was equally excited to spend three days with Michael as I was to be covering the topic of Rapid Software Testing. Michael’s contributions to the craft of software testing have been profound. I strongly encourage folks to actively follow Michael through his website DevelopSense, Michael’s Blog, Twitter @michaelbolton, and his extensive publications in magazines including Better Software Magazine, by StickyMinds.

Not only was the course a great learning opportunity, it also provided plenty of networking opportunities. Having been in Calgary for the last nine years I was pretty sure I knew the majority of the local software testing community. I was pleasantly surprised to meet six new folks who were all intriguing individuals with a passion for software testing. In addition to excellent conversations over the lunch hours and coffee breaks, a small group formed each evening to continue the discussions on software testing.

Bringing the Rapid Software Testing course back to Calgary was my vision (it was previously offered in 2006 with James Bach). I first learned of the course back in 2006 and since then I have been keen to attend. Although the course offerings are literally worldwide, I was unable to secure the time or funds to attend. I decided to take a leap of faith and call up Michael myself to see if I could bring the course to Calgary. To my delight Michael said “Yes” and I partnered with Integritas Solutions to co-host the course. Preparations began back in February and as the months passed and folks began registering, I realized “This is really going to happen…Exciting!”.

So what is the lesson on learning opportunities in all of this? If learning opportunities are not presenting themselves to you…go create your own!!! As I shared in my recent post “Inspiration & Motivation Through Learning”, there are many learning opportunities for testers including low cost or even free options. When you are roadblocked by location or cost, get creative and find a way to create that learning opportunity for yourself. I am now intrigued to see what other excellent learning opportunities I can organize for the Calgary area.

- Thank You again to Michael for an excellent course and earnestly sharing your time with everyone. I hope each of us will invest in your offer of “Lifetime Free Technical Support”.

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By Lynn McKee, June 10, 2010 7:21 pm

At the end of April I shared my blog post “Set to Participate in AST’s BBST Foundations Course”. The course began on May 2 and the following four weeks whizzed by. I found myself spending considerably more time on course activities than the 8 hrs a week I had anticipated which prevented me from providing regular updates. Since the course wrapped up I have been swamped with working on conference materials, articles and attending the Rapid Software Testing course (a blog on that to follow shortly). It is great to finally have a quick moment to catch up.

I have been keen to provide a summary follow up on the BBST Foundations course. However, Selena Delesie and Michael Larsen recently wrote excellent blog posts summarizing their experiences with the course. Michael wrote “Foundations Class Has Ended… and I Passed” and Selena wrote “Learning Testing Again”. My perspective on the course echoes their thoughts. As I do not want to repeat very similar content I encourage you to read their posts.

The BBST Foundations course is invaluable for individuals passionate about software testing at all experience levels. Even for those with years of experience, this course is sure to provide new perspective and strengthen your testing foundation. Register for an upcoming course here.

And in case you were wondering…Yes, I Passed! I am looking forward to the opportunity to take the next course in the BBST series, Bug Advocacy.

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By Lynn McKee, May 14, 2010 1:10 pm

There are still a few spots remaining in the upcoming Rapid Software Testing course in Calgary being held June 7th – 9th. This is an excellent opportunity. Don’t miss out!!!!

I am excited to share that Integritas Solutions and Quality Perspectives are offering the Rapid Software Testing course in Calgary. This three day course will be held June 7th – 9th, instructed by Michael Bolton. Michael is an industry recognized thought leader and has instructed the Rapid Software Testing course internationally.

Dates: June 7th – 9th
Times: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Location: Downtown Calgary (TBD)
Instructor: Michael Bolton

Course Overview

Rapid Software Testing is a course, a mind-set, and a skill set. It teaches students an approach to excellent software testing that is very fast, inexpensive, credible, and accountable.

• Are you finding it difficult to assess how much time and effort you’re going to need to test effectively?
• Are you overwhelmed by or uncertain about approaches to test planning, design and execution?
• Are you working in an environment where some people aren’t following “the rules”?
• Are you having trouble finding the right balance between planning, documentation, and testing?
• Are you interested in learning skills and techniques that will help you to become a better tester?
• Are you finding that “industry best practices” are infeasible and a poor fit for your organization?
• Do you want to get very good at software testing?

Rapid Software Testing addresses these challenges.

Registration
Early bird registration of $1200.00 per person will be offered until April 30, 2010. Starting May 1st registrations will be $1500.00 per person. Fees include training materials and meals. Please note there is a maximum of 24 spots available. If there is sufficient interest additional course offerings will be considered.

Online registration is available at www.integritas.ca/stest.php.

Contact Information
Should you have any questions or comments, please contact Wayne Stark or Lynn McKee.

See the promotional PDF to Read More on the course offering.

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By Lynn McKee, May 4, 2010 12:01 am

My passion is in building high performing software quality and testing teams. I have found that successful and highly regarded teams are comprised of individuals passionate about their professional craft. Establishing a continuous learning environment is key to inspiring and motivating your teams. The following are some of the focuses I incorporate in the learning and development of my teams.

Advocate for Testing Within Your Organization
Advocating for software testing within your organization is fundamental as a test lead or manager. In fact, it is important for all testers to champion their profession. As it relates to training, it is important for management to understand the value of your team in order for you to secure appropriate budget and support for team development.

Establish a Continuous Learning Mindset
Our industry is constantly changing and it is imperative to maintain a commitment to the training and development of our teams. Continuous learning encourages an awareness of industry trends, provides a focus on continuous improvement, inspires personal growth, and through creative thinking it advances the craft of software testing. Ideally you will be able to establish the continuous learning mindset for your team, and more importantly instill a lifelong commitment to learning for each individual. Ultimately each individual needs to take ownership for their professional development.

Provide Frequent Learning Opportunities
Frequent training and development opportunities are important to remain current with the industry and to sustain the learning momentum. Being mindful of potential budget constraints, there are numerous low cost options to consider incorporating.

Incorporate Diverse Learning Opportunities
There is a tremendous number of learning opportunities for software testers. It is important to incorporate diverse opportunities in alignment with the organizational needs and the skill sets of your team. Consider including a variety of the following options:

• Courses
• Conferences & Workshops
• Organizations & Associations *
• Webinars & Interviews *
• Books, Magazines, Newsletters *
• Discussion Forums & Blogs *
• Internal Cross Training & Lunch and Learn Sessions *
• Networking, Networking, Networking *

In defining your team’s training and development plan, be sure to emphasize the options highlighted with an ‘*’. These options are typically low cost or free. From my experience, actively engaging in a few insightful organizations, magazines, books, discussion forums, blogs and by networking has the potential for greater learning than more traditional options. That said, there are some excellent courses and conferences available. Research the options and leverage your network for recommendations.

Often there are internal training options that can be considered. Leverage the strengths of your current team through cross training and hosting lunch and learn sessions. Encourage the sharing of new ideas by team members who attend courses and conferences through white papers or informal presentations.

Networking is a powerful tool for learning. Extend your network of software testers and interesting minds to discuss and constructively debate ideas. Challenge your team members to seek out perspectives that differ from their own. If there is the opportunity for team members to attend courses and conferences, place networking at the top of their “to do” list. Lessons learned from networking are just as valuable as the material covered during the conference sessions. Additionally, the industry relationships that can be developed at these kinds of events can be invaluable for future discussions or support.

Do not discount the online social networking options such as Twitter. If you are selective in the individuals, lists or tags you follow, there is a wealth of valuable information. In fact, if you follow many of the industry leaders you will quickly find that the volume of insightful information can be overwhelming. These folks are constantly tweeting about new articles, blogs, interviews, courses, conferences and challenges related to the craft of software testing.

Also consider sources not directly related to software testing and find synergy in the concepts. Michael Bolton is excellent at this. He finds synergy in everything from books such as Blink, by Malcolm Gladwell, to theatre and music.

Consider referring to my Resources page for a listing of Associations, Conferences, Workshops, Courses, Books and People (many with blogs) you may be interested in learning from.

Place an Emphasis on Integrating the Learning
Knowledge and skills are truly gained when new concepts are applied and integrated into our existing frameworks. The statistics on learning retention rates are staggering. The following statistics are from http://www.tenouk.com/learningretentionrate.html:

Be mindful of your organization’s context and quality needs. Practices that work well in one organization are not guaranteed to fit in your organization. Consider identifying appropriate pilot projects to incorporate new concepts, techniques, tools, etc. on your teams. Continually assess the integration of a new concept and adapt or drop it as appropriate.

Provide Coaching and Mentoring Opportunities
Many times as leads and managers we adopt roles as teachers, coaches or mentors to share our knowledge, perspectives and passion for software testing. Ensure coaching and mentoring opportunities are provided for your team members. Often times the coaching may need to be from an external source such as a consultant to assist with implementing new concepts.

Set a Positive Example
My final thoughts are to be active in your own continuous learning and share your excitement. Enthusiasm is energy that easily spreads from one person to the next.