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Greetings!
Welcome to this issue of the newsletter. Last month I wrote about the Dirty Little Secrets of Test Estimation. The featured article this month follows with the test estimation theme as I discuss test estimates based on testware.
We also have a good book to review this month, Reflections on Management by Watts Humphrey.
Test Estimation Based on Testware
By Randall Rice, CTAL
I had a conversation recently with one of my clients about test
estimation based on manual test cases. As I have written previously, I
feel that in many ways test estimation is inherently flawed for a variety of reasons. However,
there is a technique I have used over the years that plays on the
risk-based approaches I have developed and applied that can be applied
to testware, such as test cases. Just remember this is not a scientific
model, just an estimation technique.
Read the rest at: http://randallrice.blogspot.com/2010/05/test-estimation-based-on-testware.html
What's New From Rice Consulting
New Test Automation Class Debuts!
On May 13 and 14, I held the first presentation of my newest course, Practical Software Test Automation,
in Oklahoma City. The course went very well and thanks to all that
attended. This course is not based on any particular tool, but we use Macro Scheduler and other free or affordable tools for the exercises. Thanks to the Red Earth QA SIG in Oklahoma City for their sponsorship.
If you are interesting in bringing this course to your company or city, just contact me at 405-691-8075.
"Two Week Only" e-Learning Special
For you, my friends and readers, I am
offering 20% off all my e-learning courses. This offer ends on Friday,
June 4th. Just go to http://www.mysoftwaretesting.com and enter the discount code MAY2010 at checkout. Yes, this even includes the Foundation Level Course in Software Testing for ISTQB Certification!
Webinar on Thursday, May 27
Join me on Thursday, May 27 as I present a webinar on The Elusive Tester to Developer Ratio.
The session is free and starts at 12:00 noon Central Daylight Time.
There are 50 slots available on a first come basis, so I suggest being
there 10 minutes early.
To join the meeting, visit https://my.dimdim.com/ricecon
on May 27 at 11:50 a.m., CDT. The webinar starts at 12:00 noon. You
can also register in advance at the above link and get a reminder
e-mail.
My StarEast Dashboard Session is Posted
I have posted the slides, videos and spreadsheets from my StarEast 2010 session, "A Deeper Dive into Dashboards" on my blog at:
I plan to have a narrated version posted soon.
Discounts for Federal, State and Local Government Customers!
After months of hard effort, we are
finally on the GSA schedule so that Federal, State and Local
governmental agencies in the United States can now easily obtain our
services. These offerings include ISTQB Foundation and Advanced Level
Training. To find us, just go to http://www.gsaadvantage.gov and search for Rice Consulting.
Go Deeper in Your Software Testing Career by Pursuing ISTQB Advanced Level Certification.
Rice Consulting Services has teamed
with Grove Consultants (http://www.grove.co.uk) to provide an outstanding training experience
for advanced level certification.
The trainer for Rice
Consulting is Randall W. Rice, CTAL, with over 20 years software
testing training experience in major organizations worldwide. The
materials are licensed from Grove Consultants in the U.K. If you have
seen any conference tutorials or presentations by Grove Consultants,
you know the high quality and engaging nature of their presentations and materials.
We are excited to launch the first of
these advanced ISTQB certification courses as public courses held in
Oklahoma City starting in May of 2010. To see the course schedule, click here.
Software Testing Courses in Rome - June 14 - 17, 2010
I'll be in Rome this summer teaching two courses:
Want a Class in Your City?
If you have six or more people
interested in a particular topic, call me at 405-691-8075 and let me
know. I'm happy to bring a course to cities in the USA where there is
interest.
Become a Fan and Win a Book
Hey, become one of my fans on Facebook! Congratulations to Heather Fox, the winner of the May drawing. She won a copy of Linchpin by Seth Godin.
You can also follow me on Twitter. There are quite a few Randy Rices out there. My Twitter name is "rricetester".
Now is a Great Time to be Building Skills!
Are you being told to do more with less? Has it been awhile since you've had any training? If so, I offer three main
vehicles for building skills:
Live, in-person training with me as the trainer.
Pre-recorded e-learning with 12 months
access, even after you finish the course. We have 13 courses now in
e-learning format, including our ISTQB Foundation Level course.
Live, online training with me or an associate as the trainer. Very economical.
Resources of the Month
Each month, I highlight one or more sites, tools, books, etc. that can help you be more effective and efficient.
This month, I want to point you to an interesting article on test automation frameworks:
On the Personal Side
      On
Friday, April 30, we welcomed our newest grandchild, Charlie Hadden
Rice into the world. It was touch and go for a week or so. He was in
the NICU for almost two weeks. Thanks for the prayers. I am happy to
report that Charlie is home with his parents, Ryan and Joni, and
brother Braeden and all are doing well!
Book Review
 The Capability Maturity Model (CMM) and Capability Maturity Model Integrated
(CMMI) have been major forces in software development for atleast 20
years. Along with those, the Personal Software Process (PSP)
and the Team Software Process (TSP) have also been applied
to help make software projects more predictable and manageable.
This
book is a collection of essays and articles written by Watts Humphrey,
the man who was the influence and drive behind these models and
processes. I found this book to be an interesting journey through the
thinking of Humphrey as he clearly and rationally outlines the "why"
behind the "what." Then, he describes "how" to do the work of managing
intellectual and creative people which have to work together to deliver
a technical product - on time, within budget, with the right features
and with quality.
Read more at http://randallrice.blogspot.com/2010/05/book-review-reflections-on-management.html
Randy Rice
Disclosure of Material Connection: I
received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for
free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only
recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be
good for my readers. Some of the links in the
post above are "affiliate links." This means if you click on the link
and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission.
I am disclosing this in
accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
Quote of the Month
"There is something magical about an effective
team. It has an ethic, an attitude, and an energy that permeate
everything it does."
Watts Humphrey in Reflections on Management
Rice Consulting Services, Inc.
P.O. Box 892003
Oklahoma City, OK 73189
405-691-8075 |
In June, I will hold a drawing and give away a copy of A Project Manager's Guide to Software Engineering's Best Practices (A $79 value) to one person from my fan list on Facebook. You can find Rice Consulting at 
