STARWEST 2017 Concurrent Session : Social Skills: The Softer Side of Software Testing

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Thursday, October 5, 2017 - 11:15am to 12:15pm

Social Skills: The Softer Side of Software Testing

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Communication breakdowns are a primary cause of IT project failure. Marcia Buzzella believes increasing the success rate of IT projects across waterfall, Agile, and DevOps methods requires a balance of social (soft) and technical (hard) capabilities to improve team performance. Social interactions among team members facilitate knowledge sharing, build relationships, promote trust, and—perhaps most importantly—align expectations. Unfortunately, the fast pace of technological change prompts many software test professionals to prioritize the improvement of technical capabilities over sharpening soft skills. By strengthening individual social capabilities, testers can transform how testing activities are perceived and help stakeholders understand how testing objectives support overall project goals. Join Marcia to explore how communication, adaptability, and problem-solving capabilities help software test professionals overcome the challenges of aggressive timelines and shifting requirements. Learn how including soft skill objectives in your personal development goals, talent acquisition plans, and feedback processes promotes IT project success. Come discover the softer side of software testing.

Marcia_Buzzella
CSAA Insurance Group

Originally focused on becoming an accountant, Marcia Buzzella shifted gears and twenty years ago applied her passion for quality and details to the art of software testing. She is now the testing practice leader at CSAA Insurance Group, where she manages the creation and maintenance of testing standards, builds trusted partner relationships, oversees staff augmentation resources, and owns the design and delivery of enterprise test data management services. As a leadership scholar-practitioner and strengths coach, Marcia enjoys using her knowledge, attention to detail, and inquisitive nature to collaboratively solve problems, set objectives, deliver results, and help others be successful. Connect with Marcia on LinkedIn.