January, 2008
Featured Article
A Strategy for Testing SOAby Randall W. Rice, CTFL
The adoption of SOA as both a technology and business strategy is on the increase. For the past few years, people have focused on the development aspects of SOA. However, the need for testing SOA has become increasingly apparent as companies are deploying SOA and are learning that they are different from other architectures in key ways.
In this article, we will explore why you need a strategy for testing SOA and what you need to consider in defining your SOA testing strategy.
Read More at http://www.riceconsulting.com/articles/SOA_testing_strategy.html
News from Rice Consulting
20% off All E-learning Courses Has Been Extended Until January 31!OK, I realized that I didn't give people enough time to get in on my previous offer. So, I decided to extend my sale until January 31st to save 20% off all of my e-learning courses. There are no limits on this offer. You can enroll in as many courses as you like. Keep in mind that you have one full year to complete the course, so that means that this could be a great way to get part of your 2008 skill building efforts in place.
To see what you can save, just visit my site at http://www.riceconsulting.com/xcart/home.php?cat=3.
If you want to see all the great benefits of e-learning and get more details about how this works, visit http://www.riceconsulting.com/training/e_learning.htm.
Coming to Chicago, April 8 - 10, 2008
I'll be coming back to Chicago this spring to present two really valuable workshops: Agile and Exploratory Testing (April 8 - 9, 2008) and Process Improvement Using Root Cause Analysis (April 10, 2008). Register by March 1 and get a 10% dicount. Other discounts are also available! To see the complete brochure, click here: http://www.riceconsulting.com/chicago-april-2008.html.
Coming to Rome, Italy, June 3 - 6, 2008
I am scheduled to conduct two courses in Rome in June (3 - 6, 2008) - Structured User Acceptance Testing and Testing SOA. So, if you are in Italy and want to learn more about testing, check out these courses. Or, if you live in the USA and want to eat great Italian food, see amazing art and learn more about testing - come on over!
Metrics, Anyone?
I am often asked if I have industry average metrics for ... you name it. Personnally, I have problems with "industry averages" which I will explain in a future article. However, I do find value in metrics when the context is understood and taken into account. To help meet this need, I am starting a software measurement group. It's free to join, but you will be expected to contribute your metrics and share them with the other members. We will maintain a set of baseline metrics that we can track and share. If you are interested in learning more about this new group, just reply to this newsletter e-mail or contact me from my web site (www.riceconsulting.com/contact_us.htm).Humor of the Month
I took this picture on a street near my home. A great example of conflicting requirements. So, which is it? How about if I just drive 35 mph? Or perhaps it's like an auction: "30, 40, do I hear 50??"
Actually...what happened is that were two work crews. The 40 mph sign was already there. Then, before a road project was started, one of the crews posted the 30 mph. A few days later, the other crew came and removed the 40 mph sign.
Quotes
"The future is something which everyone reaches at the rate of sixty minutes an hour, whatever he does, whoever he is."
C.S. Lewis
"How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives."
Annie Dillard
C.S. Lewis
"How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives."
Annie Dillard
Book Review
You Can't Manage Time - But You Can Manage Many Priorities 
by Susan de la Vergne
Pub. Date: September 2007
ISBN-13: 9780979298707
144 pages
Time management is a misnomer that has been around for many years. It seems that business is moving at an ever-increasing pace and if there was ever a need to get a grip on how we work and live in the time we have - it is now.
"Lack of time" is frequently mentioned by software testers as a big challenge. In fact, I would rate it in the top three challenges of software testing, right along with lack of requirements and lack of management support.
This is a very practical book that is also easily read by busy people. The book is small enough to be read in one or two sittings, yet has enough information to be worth the time invested to read it..
Susan dispels five common myths of how we deal with time, such as why we can't manage time, why it may actually be better to put something off until a later time, why we don't actually multi-task (even if we think we do), why getting organized is not the answer, and why giving a task to someone who isn't busy isn't the best way to get something done.
There are questions and tips at the end of each chapter to help you apply the information in your own situation. There is also a self-assessment to help you identity how you are currently doing in dealing with time and priorities.
Many times I read books on personal improvement and feel guilty because I know it's just another book that will be on my shelf and I probably won't take action on anything.(I tend to procrastinate.) However, I came away from this book with many new ideas and techniques I can apply right away to help me get a grip on getting things done.
Readability - 5
Applicability - 5
Coverage of topics - 5
Depth of coverage - 5
Credibility - 5
Accuracy - 5
Relevance to software quality - 5
Overall - 5
Reviewed by Randy Rice
"Time is an illusion. Lunchtime doubly so."
Douglas Adams
"Half our life is spent trying to find something to do with the time we have rushed through life trying to save."
Will Rogers
Douglas Adams
"Half our life is spent trying to find something to do with the time we have rushed through life trying to save."
Will Rogers
Links of interest
Report: TSA Site Exposed Travelers To ID Theft - http://blog.washingtonpost.com/securityfix/2008/01/report_tsa_site_exposed_travel_1.html?nav=rss_blog
CIOs, Meet Your New Boss - http://www.cioinsight.com/article2/0,1540,2248204,00.asp
The New IT Worker Shortage - http://www.cioinsight.com/article2/0,1540,2248193,00.asp
15 Must Read Books for IT Pros - http://www.cioinsight.com/slideshow_viewer/0,1205,I=&s=300&a=223291&po=1,00.asp?p=y&kc=CIOMINEPNL011108
Last Updated on Tuesday, 23 February 2010 22:08
