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Software Project Tracking and Reports

• Is a software test schedule at the development team's mercy?

  Does the development team determine the software test schedule? Find out why working with DevOps can alleviate some time and test constraints. Continue Reading

• What enterprises learn from software failure incidents

  Research from Etsy and IBM suggests we are learning the wrong lessons from software failure incidents and points toward how to get it right. 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

• Tracking bugs effectively in continuous development

  Tracking bugs in a continuous development environment can be challenging. An expert offers tips for smoothing the process. 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

• A software test results template improves test reporting where needed

  You don't always need test reports in software testing, but when you do, they're crucial. Matt Heusser has a template for software test results.Continue Reading

• Performance metrics examples present essential performance data

  Software project management expert Matt Heusser presents performance metrics examples that illustrate how to build an excellent performance dashboard.Continue Reading

• Expert advice on test case management and reporting

  Simplify your test case management reports with this simple, straightforward advice from software test expert Amy Reichert.Continue Reading

• How adding controls can actually make for fast software development

  Add controls to the business of delivering software, and teams will scream about delays. However, fast development is often the result.Continue Reading

• Alternative project management styles are faster than multitasking

  Rather than rely on multitasking, project managers should focus each team's efforts on one project or iteration at a time.Continue Reading

• What are the most effective Agile project estimation techniques?

  Recurring project estimation techniques improve the Agile team's ability to deliver increasingly accurate estimates over the course of the project.Continue Reading

• Give slow Agile projects a boost with root cause analysis methods

  Root cause analysis methods help Agile practitioners weed out the source of problems in Agile projects that aren't delivering the value they should.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

• 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.Continue Reading

• 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.Continue Reading

• 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.Continue Reading

• 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.Continue Reading

• 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.Continue Reading

• 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.Continue Reading

• 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.Continue Reading

• 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.Continue Reading

• 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.Continue Reading

• 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.Continue Reading

• 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.Continue Reading

• 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.Continue Reading

• Change management: Tracking security defects found with scanning tools

  Expert John Overbaugh explains how testing teams can maintain change management system efficiency.Continue Reading

• Differences between Agile and conventional portfolio management

  In this tip, Kay Diller spells out ten differences between Agile portfolio management and conventional portfolio management.Continue Reading

• 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.Continue Reading

• 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 ...Continue Reading

• 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 ...Continue Reading

• 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 ...Continue Reading

• Best practices for managing remote employees

  As working remotely becomes increasingly common, more managers find themselves in the situation where they are managing one or more people who are working at home in a remote location. With little interpersonal contact, how can a manager be ...Continue Reading

• How to gain acceptance of organizational change

  Any organizational change can meet with internal resistance. In this response, SSQ Site Editor Yvette Francino offers advice on how to win buy-in from those affected through honest communication and continuous improvement.Continue Reading

• 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 ...Continue Reading

• Functional requirements and nonfunctional requirements in software engineering explained

  Clearly defining both functional and nonfunctional requirements in software engineering projects is important from both a business perspective and a performance perspective. In this expert response, Sue Burk offers definitions and examples for both ...Continue Reading

• Test management: Measuring the performance of testing-- who tests the testers?

  By answering three questions, software test organizations can improve their effectiveness and the value of their services. In this tip with Software Quality Systems' director Ivan Ericsson, you'll learn the metrics needed to ensure an effective and ...Continue Reading

• The software experience report: Record what you learn

  Each software project provides an opportunity for learning. By documenting our experience in an experience report, we are able to reflect and share what we learned. In this tip from frequent SSQ contributor Chris McMahon, you'll learn the benefits ...Continue Reading

• The perfect storm: Multiple mishaps lead to disaster

  A series of mistakes, due to a series of software errors and lapses in judgment, result in a situation that could mean the difference between life and death for customers. Find out lessons that test expert Chris McMahon learned from experiencing a ...Continue Reading

• Effective bug reporting techniques

  If you've ever had a terrible bug come back "unable to reproduce" or "not worth fixing," you know the pain of writing bug reports. This tutorial covers the basics of effective reporting and provides a few advanced tricks to make the reproduction, ...Continue Reading

• Tips for software testers: Getting along with developers

  End software project slowdowns caused by fighting between software testers and developers with these four tips. Learn how to report application bugs diplomatically and accurately with veteran tester David Christiansen's guidelines.Continue Reading

• Using metrics to monitor software projects

  Metrics enable a project manager to achieve what is expected -– completing projects on time and on budget -– and provide an opportunity to impress management and promote the project team's talents. Lawrence Oliva, PMP, lists six metrics ...Continue Reading

• Estimating actual project progress

  Man-months are a poor gauge of progress, and Gantt charts don't always tell the whole story. Expert Bas de Baar proposes a different method for visualizing project progress.Continue Reading

• How to create accurate project status reports

  Project status reports are supposed to honestly capture a software project's progress. Expert Bas de Baar explains how PMs can instill trust and garner accurate reports.Continue Reading

• Estimating project costs, writing project reports

  Estimating the cost of a software development project and writing a suitable project report are not necessarily difficult tasks. Bas de Baar breaks down project reporting and cost estimation for beginners.Continue Reading