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Testing: Software Development Catalyst

Testing is not an isolated activity. It interacts with and influences other disciplines in software development such as design, coding, release management, and deployment. As testers, our skills and experiences add value far beyond the immediate context of verifying functionality. Threats to value other than software errors exist.

Yet our discussions are often constrained to the testing space, omitting the connections to, and dependencies on, other roles and activities. Testing is an integral discipline of software development, and often plays an active and important role in bridging gaps between technical and business-focused roles, between leaders and engineers, and between makers and users.

How does the testing piece fit into the software development puzzle? How does – and how should – testing interact with other disciplines in software development? How can we most effectively add value to the software development projects we participate in?

Please join us for our 11th annual conference at the Simon Fraser University Harbour Centre campus in downtown Vancouver, Canada, August 8-10 2016.

 


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Wednesday, August 10 • 15:45 - 16:45
When You’re Evil: Building Credibility-Based Relationship with Developers

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Developers are in the best position to provide us with the detailed technical assessment of risk for directing and scoping testing. Our relationship with the development team is crucial to removing threats to the software’s value. Yet the very nature of examining someone’s work to find flaws can set up an unhealthy, adversarial relationship. With the addition of prickly personalities and competing priorities, the relationship itself can be a threat.

Couching feedback in terms the technical team cares about while credibly representing the business goals sometimes requires, a careful examination of motivations, subtle manipulation, and gaming the system. Some of these you are doing already, perhaps without realizing it. With a careful and conscious application, you can be a little evil… and much more effective.

Over the years, Curtis has learned techniques for overcoming relationship obstacles and getting the developers to think of him as a valuable team member. Curtis will share these techniques with examples and stories of how he has used them over his career.

Speakers
avatar for Curtis Pettit

Curtis Pettit

Senior Software Test Engineer, Huge
Curtis graduated from Florida Institute of Technology (FIT) with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Software Engineering. During his studies at FIT, he focused on software testing while working at the Center for Software Testing Education and Research. He spent eight years as an... Read More →


Wednesday August 10, 2016 15:45 - 16:45 PDT
Fletcher Challenge Theatre (1900) Simon Fraser University Vancouver 515 West Hastings Street Vancouver, BC V6B 5K3