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Keynotes

Below find information on the featured keynotes at STAREAST 2014.

Keynotes
K1
Randy Rice, Rice Consulting Services, Inc.
Wednesday, May 7, 2014 - 8:30am - 9:45am

It’s one thing to be exposed to new techniques from conferences and training courses, but it’s quite another thing to apply them in real life. A major reason is that people tend to focus on learning the technique without first grasping the underlying principles. Basic testing principles, such as the pesticide paradox of software defects and defect clustering, have been known for many years. Other principles, such as “Test automation is not automatic” and “Not every software failure is a defect,” are learned by experience. Once you grasp the principle, particular techniques become more applicable and extensible. However, principles take time to learn and much practice to apply well. Randy Rice explains why true learning and application are not instant and what it takes to really absorb what we learn. Randy shows how two specific techniques—pairwise testing and risk-based testing—can be misapplied unless the key concepts are first understood. Leave knowing how to build your own set of software testing principles that can be applied in many contexts.

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Learn more about Randy Rice.
K2
Wednesday, May 7, 2014 - 10:00am - 11:00am

We live in interesting times. Knowledge is available at our fingertips, no matter where we are. Social networks enable communication around the world. However, along with these marvels of the information age come weapons of mass distraction. With so many things competing for our attention—and so little time to focus on real work—it’s a wonder we get anything done at all. What does this mean for testers? A common belief is that only focused concentration leads to productive work—and conversely, that distraction causes procrastination and stifles creativity. While it is important that testers find flow and maintain focus, Zeger Van Hese believes that a state of defocus—guilt-free play—can also be helpful in testing. Zeger shares tips, tricks, and tools that have helped him focus and defocus while testing. He explains not only how to benefit from distraction but also how to return to flow and focus when needed. Learn to make the most of these techniques in your testing.

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Learn more about Zeger Van Hese.
K3
Lee Copeland, Software Quality Engineering
Wednesday, May 7, 2014 - 4:15pm - 5:15pm

Throughout the years, Lightning Talks have been a popular part of the STAR conferences. If you’re not familiar with the concept, Lightning Talks consists of a series of five-minute talks by different speakers within one presentation period. Lightning Talks are the opportunity for speakers to deliver their single biggest bang-for-the-buck idea in a rapid-fire presentation. And now, lightning has struck the STAR keynotes. Some of the best-known experts in testing—Scott Barber, Jennifer Bonine, Bob Galen, Philip Lew, Thomas McCoy, Jeff “Cheezy” Morgan, Alan Richardson, Jared Richardson, Lloyd Roden, Alan Page, and Rob Sabourin—will step up to the podium and give you their best shot of lightning. Get eleven keynote presentations for the price of one—and have some fun at the same time.

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Learn more about Lee Copeland.
K4
Theresa Lanowitz, voke, inc.
Thursday, May 8, 2014 - 8:30am - 9:30am

Software runs the business. The modern testing organization aspires to be a change agent and an inspiration for quality throughout the entire lifecycle. To be a change agent, the testing organization must have the right people and skill sets, the right processes in place to ensure proper governance, and the right technology to aid in the delivery of software in support of the business line. Traditionally, testing organizations have focused on the people and process aspect of solving quality issues. With the ever-increasing complexity of the software needed to run the enterprise, testing professionals must adopt technology to help solve some of the most challenging quality issues ever. In short, testing organizations must make the move to extreme automation and become proficient with modern tooling and its benefits. Theresa Lanowitz focuses on new and emerging technologies—proven and successful—to add to the workbench of the test professional.

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Learn more about Theresa Lanowitz.
K5
Jennifer Bonine, tap|QA, Inc.
Thursday, May 8, 2014 - 4:15pm - 5:15pm

Technologies, testing processes, and the role of the tester have evolved significantly over the past several years. As testing professionals, it is critical that we evaluate and evolve ourselves to continue to add tangible value to our organizations. In your work, are  you focused on the trivial or on real "game changers"? Jennifer Bonine describes critical elements that, like a skilled painter, help you artfully blend people, process, and technology into a masterpiece, woven together to create a synergistic relationship that adds value to your organization. Jennifer shares ideas in the areas of mastering politics, maneuvering core versus context, and innovating your technology strategies and processes. She addresses questions on how many new processes can be introduced in an organization, what the role of organizational culture is in determining the success of a project, and how can you know what tools will add value versus simply adding overhead and complexity. This discussion can lead you to technologies and processes you can stake your career on.

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Learn more about Jennifer Bonine.