In automation, we often use several different tools that are not well integrated. These tools have been developed or acquired over time with little consideration of an overall plan or architecture, and without considering the need for integration. As a result, both efficiency and effectiveness suffer, and additional time and money are spent. Ensuring that tools we currently have, or the tools we develop or acquire in the future, work well with other application lifecycle tools is critical to our testing team’s success. We must drive the adoption of automation across multiple project teams and departments and communicate the benefits to our stakeholders. Join Mike Sowers as he shares his experiences in creating an automation plan, developing an automation architecture, and establishing tool metrics in multiple organizations. Mike will discuss both the good (engaging the technical architecture team) and bad (too much isolation between test automators and test designers) on his automation journey in a large enterprise.
Mike Sowers
Mike Sowers has more than twenty-five years of practical experience as a global quality and test leader of internationally distributed test teams across multiple industries. Mike is a senior consultant, skilled in working with both large and small organizations to improve their software development, testing, and delivery approaches. He has worked with companies including Fidelity Investments, PepsiCo, FedEx, Southwest Airlines, Wells Fargo, ADP, and Lockheed to improve software quality, reduce time to market, and decrease costs. With his passion for helping teams deliver software faster, better, and cheaper, Mike has mentored and coached senior software leaders, small teams, and direct contributors worldwide.
Ever feel like your manager, development manager, product manager, product owner, or (you fill in the blank) is not listening to you or your team? Are you struggling to make an impact with your messages? Are you “pushing a wet rope uphill” in championing product quality? Are you talking, but no one is listening? Mike Sowers shares practical examples of how to more effectively speak like a test manager and offers concrete advice based on his experiences in the technology, financial, transportation, and professional services sectors. Mike discusses communication and relationship styles that work—and some that have failed—and shares key principles (e.g., seeking to understand), approaches (e.g., using facts), and attributes (e.g., being proactive) to help you grow and prosper as a test manager. Leave with practical ideas to boost your communications skills and influence to become a trusted advisor to your team and your management.