Featured Sessions - Management

Every year software grows more complex and business-critical. Add to this an  ever-shrinking schedule and limited resources, and you understand the challenges faced by today’s software project managers and developers. In an attempt to test software more thoroughly, quickly, and efficiently, organizations are turning to automated testing. These featured sessions explore the business aspect of test automation from a managerial perspective. Gain valuable insight into achieving buy-in from senior management, and discover how test automation fits in both the testing and development lifecycle. Determine what you need to do in preparation for test automation, and learn how to select the right tools and processes to ensure project success.

Indicates a presentation focused on Web/eBusiness

M2 Wednesday, March 7, 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Preparing for Test Automation—Are You Ready?
Kerry Zallar, Bank of America
Test automation requires an investment in software testing tools, equipment, personnel, and time. There is also continuous maintenance required in keeping existing test scripts current as well as developing new ones. This presentation reviews some fundamental factors to consider before making these investments. Learn how to answer the question, "Are you ready to begin automating your testing processes?" And, for those of you who answer "yes," learn an approach on implementing automated software testing in your organization based on real-world expectations.

M3 Wednesday, March 7, 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
The Importance Load Testing Plays in the Internet Economy
Kevin Gallagher, Newport Group, Inc.
Do you think all top line managers are in tune with the need for load testing? Think again. Newport Group research reveals that many senior executives do not fully understand the value of load testing. As a result, many companies continue to face scalability challenges that impede eBusiness revenue streams and hinder their ability to transact eBusiness. This presentation focuses on load testing as the foundation from which to build reliability and performance into business-critical Web applications and continually maintain the required level of business performance as business processes and technologies change and evolve. Discover the heightened importance of load testing in the Internet economy and key steps managers need to consider to succeed and thrive in the realm of eBusiness.

M4 Wednesday, March 7, 3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Achieving eBusiness Quality by Design
Sam Guckenheimer, Rational Software Corporation
Testing can identify software defects, but it cannot prevent them. This presentation examines the opportunity for testers to engage in achieving eBusiness quality from the beginning of the development lifecycle. Architectural process and application of patterns can have a significant impact on eBusiness quality. Yet testing technology and testers’ efforts have largely focused in the opposite direction—on deriving tests from the "as-built" system. Learn how to architect testable Web applications and develop test designs and test in parallel with the design and development of your Web-based application.

M5 Thursday, March 8, 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Common Mistakes in Test Automation
Mark Fewster, Grove Consultants
Many organizations have attempted test automation without a clear understanding of all that is involved. Consequently, many attempts have failed to achieve real or lasting benefits. This presentation highlights the more common mistakes that have contributed to these failures, including confusing automation skills with testing skills; believing that capture/replay equals automation; verifying on screen-based output; using only screen-based comparison techniques; allowing testware architecture to evolve naturally; and trying to automate too much too soon. Learn why these types of mistakes are made and gain insight into how they may be avoided.

M6 Thursday, March 8, 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
eBusiness Survival: The Essentials for Automated Web Application Testing
Dave Kapelanski, Compuware Corporation
Trial and error is no way to survive the aggressive world of eBusiness. A complete Web testing solution is essential. It must cover all phases of the application life cycle, automate your test practices for the different phases and platforms, and accelerate your process with team communication, measurement, and analysis. In this presentation, Dave Kapelanski teaches you how to survive and thrive in the eBusiness world with tools, services, and practices. Learn how to identify and track your systems and testing requirements, determine which parts of your process are ripe for automation, identify when remote testing is a viable and necessary solution, and achieve repeatable predictable results to ensure continued success.

M7 Thursday, March 8, 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Bang for the Buck
Elisabeth Hendrickson, Aveo, Inc.
Test automation can be expensive and time consuming. It often takes longer than anyone expects for a test automation effort to pay off in terms of defects found, hours saved, and increased test coverage. In this presentation, Elisabeth Hendrickson looks at techniques for maximizing the return on your test automation investment using real-world examples from her experience as a test automator and test manager. Learn techniques for considering return-on-investment during test automation design. Find the fastest route to big automation wins for your test environment, and discover when "quick and dirty" really is the right way to go.

M8 Thursday, March 8, 3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Achieving eBusiness Reliability in Internet Time
Rob Cohen, Segue Software
Time-to-market is one of the realities of today’s development world, as is the exposure and importance of your eBusiness. Given the pressures of time and resources, how can you achieve the level of reliability you want with today’s pressures? In this presentation, Rob Cohen discusses the complexities of multi-tiered applications and system components—and the resulting challenges for eBusiness, including the reliability risks of scalability, uptime, verification, and monitoring. Learn how to assess your reliability goals and priorities, and discover ways to prepare for a high state of reliability in your organization.

M9 Thursday, March 8, 4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Requirements-Driven Automated Testing
Jeff Tatelman, Spherion Technology Architects
Studies have shown that over 50 percent of software defects are attributed to poorly defined requirements. From a process improvement perspective, it is imperative that project managers establish a more effective and efficient way of defining and tracking business requirements. Jeff Tatelman describes a "how to" approach for developing a practical automated regression testing process using a traceability matrix and business event scenarios. Learn how requirements-based testing—coupled with a data-driven approach to test automation—can solve problems that plague most software development projects.

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