Developing the Team

Read the Developing the Team paper

One of the things I do in any role is Team Mentoring which in part can involve setting up an appraisal system for the Test Team. That may seem unusual for a manager that focuses on delivering solutions around Software Test and Quality Assurance. I'd agree it is unusual but often insisted on especially where:

• There's no system in place in the business or at least not one that's being followed to any great extent.
• The business wants the performance of their shiny new Test Function managed effectively and measurably.

Setting up a new Test Function or hiring in a Test Team is an expensive and somewhat risky undertaking. Executive management must not only be assured that the Test Function delivers from a technical standpoint but from a personnel standpoint.

Good testing isn't enough, the business wants good teams made up of good corporate citizens. Are you living the brand, living proof of the corporate values, evangelical like in your delivery? The Test Team, especially a new Test Team, will be under incredible scrutiny and they may be 'seen' to perform in all aspects.

See, now we bring some of the pieces together I bet it doesn't seem unusual at all? Why not read the paper and share your thoughts here?

Mark Crowther, Head of QA and Team Flowering.

Cross Team Process Synergy

Read the Cross Team Process Synergy discussion paper

As Test Managers, we're often so busy delivering day to day that we never get around to properly thinking about how we could be working better. Sometimes we know we could be, we wish other teams would work with us more or that we had some form of working practice in place between teams - that meant there really was some form of team work going on.

The first step to making that happen is being able to easily articulate the benefits to teams, customers and the business.

Well I've collated those thoughts for you and even added some thoughts on how it'll create the conditions for quality. Once you've read this paper have a look at "A Documentation Model" and "Quality System Implementation", then come back here and tell me how it was for you.

Mark Crowther - Head of que aye?

Notes for Emerging Leaders

Read the Paper - Notes for Emerging Leaders

How many times have you learnt something that seems so simple and common sense, yet it's taken years to discover it? We've all been there, perhaps knowing something but having no name for it.

My good friend and Test Manager Stuart Crocker and I had a braniac conflag and decided to codify some of our key learnings.

Rest assured that this is in no way TEH answer (4 teh w1n) to your managerial education but it IS a good start! Let's face it, you'd be an idiot to ignore our wisdom, you're not an idiot are you?

Enjoy and comment you slaktard.

Mark Crowther - Test Manager and Head of Queue Hay

Q-bit anyone?

If you're off to Q-Bit Test Expo on the 22nd March drop me a mail!

No Testhouse this year, I hear a rumour they're doing every other year. Vizuri will be there along witht their partners Q-Bit who they get training services from.

Chris Ambler, QA Director of EA and ex-Rugby player (judging by the ear) will be giving an expo of testing Video games. £10 says he tells us you can't really write Test Cases for games ;p If he get's his black ball out I'm going to storm the stage...

Please God make the presentations interesting this year, I fear for the testing n00bs and thier hopeful scriblings as they listen to product / company keyed presentations in the hope of true testing enlightenment.

Mail me (Mark Crowther) if you want enlightenment and confustication, don't listen to tool vendors!

OK, see you there!

Mark Crowther - Testing and QA Gnu