Ask the Experts

Ask the Experts

• How do I prepare for a software testing job?

  A software testing job can be an exciting, rewarding and flexible choice. Expert tester Gerie Owen details what you'll need to do in order to begin.  Continue Reading

• How do you narrow the options in a complex smoke test suite?

  Trying to determine how much ground a smoke test should cover is tricky. Expert Amy Reichert offers step-by-step advice for getting the most out of this technique.  Continue Reading

• Do you have to choose between smoke and regression tests?

  Software testing options abound. In the battle of smoke versus regression tests, which scenario fits best? Expert Amy Reichert explains how and when to use both for the best results.  Continue Reading

• Android vs. iOS: Which is the best mobile platform for a first design?

  In the struggle to decide which platform -- iOS or Android -- is the best mobile platform for a first design, there are a lot of factors to consider.  Continue Reading

• How do I know if I'm cut out for a software testing job?

  Do you wonder about the software testing field? Expert tester Gerie Owen knows exactly what kinds of traits and skills are required for success in this area.  Continue Reading

• What is the right strategy for Agile mobile development?

  Agile mobile development can be made easier by using a little-known methodology, called Mobile-D. Expert Yvette Francino takes us inside this process.  Continue Reading

• Should I get to know customer experience testing?

  It's time to add some new testing tricks to your repertoire. Expert Gerie Owen offers advice on customer experience testing.  Continue Reading

• Is MTM an effective software testing tool?

  As a software testing tool, options abound with MTM, if you're willing to create custom code. If not, find out how to manipulate the folder structure.  Continue Reading

• Can time management improve productivity of QA testers?

  Despite what you might think, time management is possible. Expert Amy Reichert explains how QA testers can stop procrastinating and take charge of their lives.  Continue Reading

• Is an ALM tool your best option for test documentation?

  Many QA organizations avoid turning to ALM tools for test documentation, but using them can make it easier to manage test cases and scripts.  Continue Reading

• How can a virtualized network help with app testing?

  Software testing on a virtualized network makes it easy to reproduce real problems. Expert Gerie Owen explains how to get the most out of the process.  Continue Reading

• How can you make distributed Agile stand-ups succeed?

  Face-to-face meetings are great, but they can be hard to pull off. Expert Gerie Owen has firsthand experience in making distributed Agile stand-ups work.  Continue Reading

• Product owners don't have time to write Agile user stories? You write them.

  If the product owner won't or can't write the vital Agile user stories, expert Ben Linders explains how to take on this project yourself.  Continue Reading

• How useful is QA certification for career advancement?

  If you're new to the field of quality assurance, you might find having QA certification helpful for career advancement.  Continue Reading

• How do I deal with negative Agile team members?

  Here are ways to deal with Agile team members who are negative or resistant to change.  Continue Reading

• How can facilitators ensure effective, collaborative meetings?

  It may be challenging to make sure everyone's voice is heard in collaborative meetings, but a good facilitator can ensure this happens.  Continue Reading

• What is collaboration and why is it important to Agile methodologies?

  Agile methodologies stress the benefits of collaboration, working with cross-functional teams to encourage communication between business owners and IT.  Continue Reading

• For Agile development teams, can in-depth discussions replace design specs?

  In-depth design discussions work for Agile development teams, replacing the creation of design specifications.  Continue Reading

• The top three application performance testing objectives

  What are the top three application performance testing objectives? Expert Amy Reichert says there are a few objectives you should have in mind to ensure testing delivers.  Continue Reading

• What should mobile application design priorities be?

  Careful planning must happen when developing a mobile application design. Read an expert's reasoning.  Continue Reading

• Women in information technology need to be advocates for change

  Are you a woman in a male-dominated IT career? Be a change agent through networking and presenting at conferences.  Continue Reading

• How can your enterprise support mobile email access?

  Granting mobile email access is easy. Here is a rundown of the options available.  Continue Reading

• Enterprise mobile management is easier with MDM tools

  What are the benefits of enterprise mobile device management providers?  Continue Reading

• Tips for enterprise mobile app deployment

  How do we go about deploying our enterprise mobile apps to end users?  Continue Reading

• How to involve execs when writing business requirements

  How do you engage high-level business executives in the process of writing business requirements?  Continue Reading

• Tips for making software QA testing reports acceptable

  Why don't users seem to appreciate typical software QA testing status reports?  Continue Reading

• The good and the bad of online discussion forums

  What is the value of online discussion forums? This expert sees the good and the bad in online forums.  Continue Reading

• Should enterprise ALM strategies be standardized?

  Find out how enterprise ALM should relate to independent project management strategies.  Continue Reading

• Project managers must overcome resistance to change

  When the office culture is resistant to change, how can project managers start things moving in a positive direction?  Continue Reading

• A simple approach to system integration testing

  In complex application architectures, where many applications interconnect and depend on each other, how do you tackle system integration testing?  Continue Reading

• Continuous performance testing cycles ease testing

  As we move to continuous delivery, regular tasks like performance testing can lose focus. What's the best way to take on continuous performance tests?  Continue Reading

• Do SaaS tools beat on-premises ALM tools? An ALM tools comparison

  What's the scoop on ALM tools offered as a service? How do SaaS ALM tools compare with on-premises software suites?  Continue Reading

• QA should be present for Agile story mapping

  What is a respectful way to insist that QA and other stakeholders be included in Agile story mapping for new projects?  Continue Reading

• Software security testing: Where to start

  For those of us new to software security testing, it can be an intimidating field of study. Where do the veterans suggest we begin?  Continue Reading

• What are compliance concerns for managing software testing processes?

  Compliance regulations are constantly evolving. Learn about how best to manage software testing practices.  Continue Reading

• Define project scope in terms of time, money and quality

  We all want our projects to be on budget, on time and of high quality, but not necessarily in that order. What is your advice for balancing these needs?  Continue Reading

• What strategies are best to ensure a secure embedded system?

  Planning ahead in security testing helps to ensure a secure embedded system.  Continue Reading

• Optimize MS tools for better test development

  Expert Amy Reichert discusses management strategies for using MS tool suites.  Continue Reading

• How are testers and QA engineers involved in software design?

  Learn how testers and QA engineers have started to get more involved in software design.  Continue Reading

• Is test data management a better career choice than test automation?

  Specializing in test data management or test automation may not be the career for you.  Continue Reading

• Four tools for better data exchange testing

  Learn which tools are recommended for testing data exchange and interoperability issues.  Continue Reading

• Which database tools for testing should we choose?

  Which database tools for testing should we choose? Learn about tools for testing and data analysis.  Continue Reading

• How do testers influence acceptance criteria?

  What's the tester's role in establishing user stories and acceptance criteria? Expert Amy Reichart discusses how much influence a tester should have.  Continue Reading

• Does a tester actually need test cases?

  Discover whether or not test cases are necessary in this expert answer by consultant Robin Goldsmith.  Continue Reading

• Are cloud-based ALM systems safe?

  Is it safe to move from on-premises application lifecycle management tools to cloud-based tools? Read this expert answer to find out.  Continue Reading

• Which testing service provider should I choose?

  This expert answer offers tips on choosing a testing service and then reviews three options for companies to consider.  Continue Reading

• Engage developers in the requirements definition process

  Learn when and how a business analyst should engage developers during the process of defining requirements.  Continue Reading

• Test software with persona-based requirements

  Do persona-based requirements make it easier to test software? Learn if there are tools designed to make testing software easier.  Continue Reading

• How QA testers participate in the requirements definition process

  Learn how QA testers should participate in the requirements definition process in this expert response.  Continue Reading

• Get started with requirements on embedded devices

  Learn where to start with requirements for software on embedded devices such as the FitBit.  Continue Reading

• How Agile teams manage continuous requirements

  Find out why continuous requirements are common for Agile teams and are necessary for continuous development flexibility.  Continue Reading

• Does it make sense to use a scorecard for requirements?

  Should you use a scorecard for requirements? We're hoping that scoring requirements will improve the requirements definition.  Continue Reading

• How do requirements relate to acceptance criteria?

  Requirements and acceptance criteria often seem to be essentially the same thing, but that's not quite true.  Continue Reading

• Is Agile requirement gathering that different from waterfall?

  Does moving to Agile development eliminate up-front requirements gathering? Does it mean the development team takes responsibility for requirements instead of the business side?  Continue Reading

• What are best practices for security-testing software?

  How do testers manage and prioritize the security software vulnerabilities they find when security-testing software?  Continue Reading

• New technology introduces software testing challenges

  What are the most important technologies for the software quality world? Software QA expert Gerie Owen discusses three vital technologies.  Continue Reading

• Does Agile use business requirements documents?

  How does managing requirements differ in an Agile environment versus a mixed-methodology environment? How do Agile project managers document business requirements?  Continue Reading

• Does centralized testing have a place in Agile teams?

  Do central test teams have a place in Agile development teams? Read expert Gerie Owen's take on this question.  Continue Reading

• Understanding the requirements process vs. requirements management

  Requirements management and the requirements process are sometimes used to mean the same thing, but customers should be aware that there are differences, and that tools often do not perform all of the tasks in the requirements process.  Continue Reading

• Creating clear software requirements specifications

  Testers often complain that software requirements specifications are too vague, but verbose requirements can have the negative impact of being so wordy that they can't be followed.  Continue Reading

• How to resolve team conflict

  Arguing team members can derail a project. Project managers can help resolve the issue by finding its root cause.  Continue Reading

• When tracking defects, make efficiency the end goal

  Tracking defects can benefit the development team if done for the right reasons. Explore the reasons to track defects in this expert response.  Continue Reading

• Software quality metrics paint partial project picture

  QA consultant Gerie Owen discusses the use of two post-production metrics: defect removal efficiency and defect detection percentage.  Continue Reading

• In Agile retrospective, critiques aid growth

  Negative comments or criticism in an Agile retrospective can lead to team growth.  Continue Reading

• How Amazon CloudWatch provides automated APM tools

  Amazon CloudWatch provides AWS customers with automated APM tools that they can use to keep applications and businesses running smoothly.  Continue Reading

• Third-party application security must be tested for vulnerabilities

  Security expert Kevin Beaver offers advice on how to find third-party application security vulnerabilities and how to fix them.  Continue Reading

• Agile test reporting doesn't have to be a headache

  Agile leader Lisa Crispin explains a more organic, more Agile approach to test reporting.  Continue Reading

• Why effective Web app firewalls are worth the investment

  Web app firewalls offer excellent protection against threats and attacks, but security expert Dan Cornell says investment is required to get results.  Continue Reading

• Measuring usability: How to gauge an application's user experience

  There are many considerations that need to be taken into account when measuring usability, such as low respondent rates.  Continue Reading

• What is continuous development?

  'Continuous development' is still a relatively new and confusing term. Find out what it means beyond the hype.  Continue Reading

• Scaling Agile development calls for defined practices, consultant says

  Agile consultant Mike Bonamassa discusses best practices for scaling Agile development.  Continue Reading

• FitNesse testing vs. Selenium testing: Which to use and when

  SearchSoftwareQuality expert Matt Heusser compares FitNesse testing with Selenium testing and explains the advantages of each.  Continue Reading

• The risks of Agile software development: Overcoming feature creep

  Ellen Gottesdiener, founder of EBG Consulting offers insights on managing feature creep, the biggest pitfall of Agile software development.  Continue Reading

• Guiding principles for an automated software test

  An expert in automated software testing offers guiding principles for succeeding at this most challenging of QA projects.  Continue Reading

• How does Lean process improvement work with Agile project management?

  Guest expert Michael Hackett explains why picking and choosing your Lean processes might be worse than leaving Lean on the shelf.  Continue Reading

• How does application portfolio management tie into ALM?

  Actually, application development veteran Kevin Parker says ALM is really a part of the APM process when you look at it from a distance.  Continue Reading

• What gets business leaders involved in the ALM governance process?

  Getting business leaders to contribute to the ALM governance process is a must. IT veteran Kevin Parker gives his advice for project managers.  Continue Reading

• Why do project managers want enterprise ALM governance policies?

  IT veteran Kevin Parker explains how enterprise ALM governance policies increase cooperation between business stakeholders, development and SQA.  Continue Reading

• How to write test scripts other testers can follow

  Software testing veteran Peter Walen explains how software testers can write test scripts that others can follow without having to test by rote.  Continue Reading

• How does an iOS jailbreak affect mobile application security?

  The jailbreaking of iOS devices has a huge affect on security. It opens the door for malicious hackers, and not just via adventurous consumers.  Continue Reading

• Maintaining a test environment is the first software testing challenge

  Building and keeping a testing environment is the very first challenge that a software QA team faces, but many don't even realize it.  Continue Reading

• 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.  Continue Reading

• Code signing: Why it matters for mobile developers

  Code signing creates a system of trust among mobile users, but it doesn't bolster the security of the app itself, says expert Dan Cornell.  Continue Reading

• Mobile apps development: Managing updates

  ALM expert Kevin Parker explains a key challenge of mobile apps development: managing the constant updates these business-critical apps demand.  Continue Reading

• Mobile apps development: Dealing with tight release cycles

  Mobile apps development projects require shorter release cycles. Kevin Parker explains how automation can help teams cope with the tight time frame.  Continue Reading

• Scrum process: Understanding how to use story points

  Agile expert Yvette Francino explains how the concept of story points -- a gauge of complexity -- works in the Scrum process of software development.  Continue Reading

• Mobile apps: Devising software requirement specifications

  Expert Scott Sehlhorst identifies three mobile app types and explains the unique challenges each poses around software requirement specifications.  Continue Reading

• Web-based application testing versus desktop application testing

  Project managers need to understand the major differences between Web-based application testing and testing traditional desktop applications.  Continue Reading

• A well-developed software requirements specification is easy to test

  SearchSoftwareQuality expert Scott Sehlhorst discusses how to avoid writing a software requirements specification that is too vague to be tested.  Continue Reading

• SDLC process: What will ALM of the future do?

  Future application lifecycle management suites must support the increasingly complex SDLC process -- where constant software updates will be the norm.  Continue Reading

• How do we define user experience design requirements for mobile apps?

  User experience design is a huge part of building successful mobile applications. Gathering requirements for UX design is a must.  Continue Reading

• Knowledge transfer plan: Now is a good time to get one

  The best time to implement a knowledge transfer plan is continually. Cross-training is a best practice for all projects and project managers.  Continue Reading

• Can security support help developers write code?

  At best, development frameworks support the creation of secure code. They do not, however, prevent the creation of insecure code.  Continue Reading

• Agile planning: Focus on average time over many iterations

  When it comes to Agile planning, average time over many iterations is a more important metric than individual story estimates.  Continue Reading

• Application security plan: Who is responsible for testing?

  Step one in devising an application security plan is determining whether the development team or the security group is responsible for testing.  Continue Reading

• Scrum team commitments: More harm than good

  Most inexperienced Scrum teams overcommit on what they will deliver, and when. Agile leader Lisa Crispin says that does more harm than good.  Continue Reading

• Project managers should boost team collaboration for greater success

  Project managers must facilitate team collaboration. Doing so may require new tools and techniques in today's distributed workplace.  Continue Reading

• Why user interface testing is important

  User interface testing is essential for ensuring a positive user experience, according to Agile expert Lisa Crispin.  Continue Reading

• How does the role of project manager change in the cloud?

  Agile and ALM expert Yvette Francino discusses how the role of project manager may change when applications are developed and tested in the cloud.  Continue Reading

• How to ensure product performance and quality in Agile enterprises

  Agile teams must work together in new ways to ensure product performance, quality and value for customers. Agile expert Lisa Crispin explains how.  Continue Reading