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Software project manager perspective: The components of successful application development
Software development, much like manufacturing is drastically changing. In order to stay on top, project managers need to accept and adapt to change. This chapter provides focus areas for PMs to make good use of such as, risks, cost, complexity, busin... chapter excerpt
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Managing software projects effectively: Key points project managers should know
Software project management roles continue to change is tool and process improvements become available. In this chapter learn how to effectively manage your team. Learn where experts say key focus areas lie in this chapter excerpt. chapter excerpt
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Project management tools and strategies: Gantt charts, PERT charts and PM planning tools
Project managers often use Gantt charts, PERT charts and other graphics to schedule tasks, organize resources and gain a greater understanding of their projects. These tips and articles and explain how to use project management tools. Learning Guide
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Survey Results: No longer an emerging trend, DevOps is here to stay
Replay Solutions and HP recently collaborated on a study surveying more than 1,000 professionals about the use of the DevOps model in their organizations. This story highlights some of the key findings of the survey, including the relationship betwee... News | 05 Apr 2011
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Get to know your business analysts
How well do you know the business analysts in your organization? Business analysts, or BAs, fill varied roles at companies of all sizes. This career field has been expanding steadily for the past few years, as indicated by this and past Forrester res... News | 07 Mar 2011
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Agile, virtualization help with long-standing challenges
Results of SearchSoftwareQuality.com's recent reader survey find interest in agile on the rise, and same three areas of ALM that are most essential: requirements management, bug tracking and project management. Integration testing and regression test... Article | 18 Oct 2010
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Beating the odds: Managing a successful software project
In Managing the Black Hole: The executive's guide to software project risk, author Gary Gack has stated that less than one third of software projects are considered fully successful. In this interview, SearchSoftwareQuality.com editor Yvette Franc... Interview | 04 May 2010
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Excelling in software test conversations: STAREast speaker's communication tips
Whether you are working remote, in a distributed agile team or speaking face-to-face, being a good software tester means being a strong communicator. At STAREast, speaker, Bob Galen's session focused on catering conversations to get points across eff... Article | 04 May 2010
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ThoughtWorks Studios' Mingle captures "murmers" and "waves" around project
Thoughtworks Studio's adds new functionality features to its software project reporting and program management tool, Mingle. Mingle 3.0 allows for multiple software tool integration including Google Wave and Tasktop Pro. Article | 09 Nov 2009
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How testers can handle switching to Agile's short iterations
Software pro explains how to prioritize tasks through an agile mindset to optimize workflow productivity and turn-around iterations in shorter intervals. News | 09 Nov 2009
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Sample JavaOne 2009's new development, cloud, testing products
A slew of third-party Java-centric products and services were announced at JavaOne 2009. This sampling of products includes a video booth tour. Article | 08 Jun 2009
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How Covad made the switch to a distributed agile development process
Waterfall methodologies weren't working for Covad Communications, so the company switched its process to agile and cut costs while achieving faster project completions. Article | 02 Mar 2009
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How to measure test progress: Every picture tells a story
Seeing the big picture when it comes managing the progress of your software tests may require putting together all the little picture pieces. Tip
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Agile development practices: Extending agility to contracts
Outlining a variety of ideas for contracts, consultant Howard Deiner shows how Agile practices move beyond the development of code and into developing a collaborative contract. Tip
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What are CIOs thinking? What we can learn from social media conversations
A recent report from Logicalis revealed the top ten buzzwords used in social media by CIOs. Learn how the data from that report was gathered and what trends were found. Tip
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Software quality: When defect tracking is not necessary
In Quality metrics: Defect tracking throughout the software lifecycle, we explored the argument in favor of tracking defects throughout the lifecycle. In this second article in the two-part series, we look at the other side. Tip
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Agile software development: Tips for writing testable user stories
Testing pressures are always high on Agile projects. In this article we explore some of the ways adding clarity to stories can help make testing easier for all parties involved. Tip
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Tools and techniques for tracking changes to software requirements
In this tip, requirements expert Sue Burk explains different techniques and tools that can be used to track changes to the requirement itself as well as changes to the attributes of the requirement. Tip
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Differences between Agile and conventional portfolio management
In this tip, Kay Diller spells out ten differences between Agile portfolio management and conventional portfolio management. Tip
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STAREAST: Agile testing and defect tracking
Defect tracking systems (DTS's) are often used in application lifecycle management (ALM) to keep track of the bugs found during software development. In this tip, Agile expert Lisa Crispin talks about the pros and cons of using a DTS and alternatives... Tip
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Business requirements: Five steps to exceed business expectations
Regardless of the methodology being used, it is imperative that the development team and the business collaborate throughout the software development lifecycle. In this tip by software expert Kay Diller, we look at ways to maintain a strong relations... Tip
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Transitioning to distributed Agile: A study from Pace University
A study done at Pace University produced a report outlining an application development effort of five students in three countries. The development team used Scrum in a distributed fashion to develop a mobile application used by first graders in Afric... Tip
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Is 'Agile software documentation' an oxymoron?
Some software quality pros get the impression picking up Agile means letting go of software documentation, but that's not necessarily so. Answer
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Can managers perform root cause analysis before product launch?
Product management expert Scott Sehlhorst explains how to perform root cause analysis focused on user needs to prevent potential product failures. Answer
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When centralized teams work for Agile enterprises
Success for any team in Agile enterprises requires commitment. Centralized teams may work if they share the same goals. Answer
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The role of the Scrum Master in project management
Agile expert Lisa Crispin explains how Scrum teams do not necessarily need a separate “project manager,” as the Scrum Master often fills that role. Answer
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Using a burn down chart to measure project progress
To monitor delivery progress in project management, requirements expert Scott Sehlhorst explains how the burn down chart is an essential tool. Answer
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Understanding test data: How project managers evaluate test cases
While many organizations may look for simple ways to measure progress, it is important for project managers to fully interpret and understand test results, whether that data comes from automated tests or manual tests. Answer
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How test managers measure test team effectiveness
Software testing expert Pete Walen warns against cookie-cutter metrics for measuring team effectiveness. Read this response for advice on approaching the challenge of measuring tester efficacy. Answer
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Change management: Tracking security defects found with scanning tools
Expert John Overbaugh explains how testing teams can maintain change management system efficiency. Answer
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Agile teams and software defect tracking: Is a DTS necessary?
In this expert response, Lisa Crispin discusses the pros and cons of DTS and offers advice to teams on how to best manage their bug-free development approach. Answer
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Agile project management: Burndown charts, story boards and continuous integration
High-functioning Agile teams realize the importance of the appropriate requirements tracking tools. Read this expert response from Lisa Crispin to learn alternatives to burndown charts such as story boards and continuous integration, and how these to... Answer
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PERT chart (Program Evaluation Review Technique)
A PERT chart is a project management tool used to schedule, organize, and coordinate tasks within a project. Definition
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Gantt chart
A Gantt chart is a horizontal bar chart developed as a production control tool in 1917 by Henry L. Gantt, an American engineer and social scientist. Definition
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The Death Star Conspiracy as software testing ethics training
Take a satirical look at the facts behind the destruction of the Death Star and learn about the need for ethics training in software QA management. Video
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Is 'Agile software documentation' an oxymoron?
Some software quality pros get the impression picking up Agile means letting go of software documentation, but that's not necessarily so. Answer
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The Death Star Conspiracy as software testing ethics training
Take a satirical look at the facts behind the destruction of the Death Star and learn about the need for ethics training in software QA management. Video
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Can managers perform root cause analysis before product launch?
Product management expert Scott Sehlhorst explains how to perform root cause analysis focused on user needs to prevent potential product failures. Answer
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How to measure test progress: Every picture tells a story
Seeing the big picture when it comes managing the progress of your software tests may require putting together all the little picture pieces. Tip
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When centralized teams work for Agile enterprises
Success for any team in Agile enterprises requires commitment. Centralized teams may work if they share the same goals. Answer
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The role of the Scrum Master in project management
Agile expert Lisa Crispin explains how Scrum teams do not necessarily need a separate “project manager,” as the Scrum Master often fills that role. Answer
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Using a burn down chart to measure project progress
To monitor delivery progress in project management, requirements expert Scott Sehlhorst explains how the burn down chart is an essential tool. Answer
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Understanding test data: How project managers evaluate test cases
While many organizations may look for simple ways to measure progress, it is important for project managers to fully interpret and understand test results, whether that data comes from automated tests or manual tests. Answer
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Agile development practices: Extending agility to contracts
Outlining a variety of ideas for contracts, consultant Howard Deiner shows how Agile practices move beyond the development of code and into developing a collaborative contract. Tip
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How test managers measure test team effectiveness
Software testing expert Pete Walen warns against cookie-cutter metrics for measuring team effectiveness. Read this response for advice on approaching the challenge of measuring tester efficacy. Answer
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About Software Project Tracking and Reports
Software project management tools are those tools that will help collect data and provide the necessary analytics to determine the status of the software development project. Features and project management tools include the ability to track issues, scheduling resources, manage project documentation and perform portfolio management. Considerations that need to be factored into selecting a tool would include team geography and technology platforms used by the organization. Are the tools Web-based? How many users will it need to accommodate? What are the pros and cons of the various alternatives to project management tools? These are some of the questions that need to be considered when selecting a project management tool for your organization.