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Software Testing Analysis & Review (STAR) Conference

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Concurrent Sessions
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 31

 
Topical Tracks–Real World Experiences
The STARWEST conference program is designed to serve the needs of software testing and quality engineering managers and professionals. At STAR, you’ll learn about the latest strategies, ideas, and techniques being used by leading software organizations. STAR’s unique, real-world approach provides you with the knowledge and practical skills you need to ultimately build and deliver better software.
 
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 31, 1:00 PM    Go to 2:15 PM    Go to 3:15 PM
W1   Test Management
Challenging Conventional Wisdom
Elizabeth Langston, SAS Institute Inc.
The earth is flat. Man will never fly. These “facts” were believed by reasonable people for thousands of years. But advances in knowledge and technology proved them wrong. Does the software industry have any such “facts”? Elizabeth Langston will explore:

• Whether functional requirements are truly necessary
• Whether or not close relationships with developers will pollute testers’ minds
• How test plans improve testing quality — or do they?
 
W2   Test Techniques
Test Progress Reporting Using Functional Readiness
Robyn Brilliant, Fannie Mae
Are you looking for a way to effectively set the expectations of senior management? The Functional Readiness Matrix (FRM) is a decision-making tool that offers a simple way to represent test progress based on the functional areas or features of an application. By enabling the test team to track actual test progress against the implementation goals established early on, the FRM allows for the presentation of valid test metrics to management in a way they can understand

• Identify high-risk functional areas
• Set goals for test completeness and defect resolution based on the level of risk
• Track progress and calculate the functional readiness
 
W3   Test Automation
Ready to Automate?
Bret Pettichord, Pettichord Consulting LLC
Is your organization ready to benefit from automation? The decision to automate your test process can sometimes raise more questions than you expect. What tools do I need? Who should I hire? Do I need to outsource? This presentation will help you determine how your organization can make the best use of test automation. Learn key steps to ensure your automation efforts get off on the right foot.

• Assess your organization’s readiness for test automation
• Identify the different types of test automation technologies
• Explore common errors that automation efforts encounter
 
W4   Web/Ebusiness Testing
Accessibility Testing for Users with Disabilities
James Speer, VeriTest
Testers have taken a lead role in providing disabled persons access to computer resources. On behalf of the nearly 20% of Americans with disabilities, companies are now improving the accessibility of their Web sites, hardware, and software products. This presentation describes the regulatory framework for accessibility issues and suggests approaches for testing a range of accessibility aids including screen readers, voice recognition software, refreshable Braille terminals, and alternative point-and-click devices.

• Understand the legal landscape of requirements and industry standards
• Develop test plans and test cases for accessibility
• Learn to resolve and document conflicts in emerging standards
 
W5   Advanced Topics
Testing for Software Security
Herbert Thompson, Florida Institute of Technology
Software can be correct without being secure. Therefore we must be vigilant in assessing the security implications of software behavior instead of being focused on the search for specification violations. If we want to include security problems in our testing periscope, we must consider the malicious use of functionality that might be possible outside normal use of the product. The goal of this presentation is to challenge current techniques by making the testing process more attuned to, and aggressive towards, security holes.

• Why security bugs are often overlooked
• Critical security vulnerabilities
• Security vulnerabilities specific to Web applications
 
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 31, 2:15 PM    Go to 1:00 PM    Go to 3:15 PM
W6   Test Management
Establishing Best Testing Practices in Your Organization
Michelle Lynn Baldwin, Booz, Allen & Hamilton
The path to best testing practices begins with communication. By building relationships with a product’s key players — developers, analysts, and end users — your test team can achieve a higher level of both quality and customer satisfaction. Discover the link between effective communication and implementing critical step-by-step test processes such as test conditions, test case design, test data construction, and reporting.

• Manual versus automated testing
• Building valid and usable test scripts and test cases
• Common problems detected in testing
 
Double Track Session! (This track fills two time blocks.)
W7   Test Techniques
Exploratory Testing in Pairs
James Bach, Satisfice, Inc. and Cem Kaner, Florida Institute of Technology
Exploratory testing involves simultaneous activities — learning about the program and the risks associated with it, planning and conducting tests, troubleshooting, and reporting results. This highly skilled work depends on the ability of the tester to stay focused and alert. Based on a successful pilot study, Cem Kaner and James Bach discuss why two testers can be more effective working together than apart. Explore the advantages of testing in pairs, including ongoing dialogue to keep both testers alert and focused, faster and more effective troubleshooting, and an excellent opportunity for a seasoned tester to train a novice.

• Why two testers can be more effective working together
• How exploratory testers can create charters (agreed, focused plans) for testing sessions
• Examples (what was done and why) from actual sessions
 
W8   Test Automation
Three Seasons of Test Automation: A Case Study
Russell Roundtree, Landmark Graphics Corporatione
This session presents a real-world case study in how to transition from a largely ad hoc manual testing method that has limited record and playback, to the more advanced roles-based, third generation test design and automation methodology that separates test design from test automation. Particular focus is placed on the team dynamics and advantages of partitioning the necessary skills in this approach.

• Organizational hurdles and how they can be overcome
• Key technical challenges arising from the complex application and test automation solution
• How the effectiveness of automated testing over the normal lifecycle of a product can be improved
 
W9   Web/eBusiness Testing
An Introduction to Web Load Testing
Jim Hyatt, Spherion
This session walks participants through the process of Web load testing. Jim Hyatt takes this opportunity to cover everything from what testing tools are available to how to plan for load testing. Get a basic understanding of what Web load testing is and how to do it correctly.

• The purpose of Web load testing
• How — and why — load testing tools work
• How to develop load testing scenario requirements
 
W10   Advanced Topics
Testing Middleware Communication Platforms: XML to the Rescue?
Nitish Rathi, Independant Consultant
Middleware has held a significant place in software history since its advent in the 1990s.Today, middleware is being used more and more in the B2B arena. Although XML is touted as the key ingredient to connect autonomous, heterogenous systems together, developers and testers must keep in mind that it’s not a silver bullet. This presentation will address the growing interest in middleware-based architecture, along with its benefits, issues, and pitfalls.

• The growing trend of middleware-based platforms
• How to resolve testing issues with middleware applications
• The role of XML in middleware communications
 
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 31, 3:15 PM    Go to 1:00 PM    Go to 2:15 PM
W11   Test Management
The Change Agent: Leveraging the Testing Role
David Capocci, SAFECO Insurance
How can you help change your corporate culture to appropriately regard the role of testing? In this presentation, David Capocci shows you how to position testing as a valued part of the project team. Since testers provide the expertise in such critical areas as defect detection and prevention, their merit can be leveraged simply by making their function understood by other roles, e.g. developers, business analysts, and project managers. The presenter also shares methods to:

• Publish a framework model that makes testing visible and clear to your
audience
• Establish a common language baseline through “in-service” training
• Implement standardized techniques in soliciting and organizing test requirements
 
W12   Test Automation
Enterprise Test Engine Suite Technology
James Schaefer, Capital One
Many companies have invested heavily in test automation for GUI testing as a way to verify the functionality of their complex client/server and Web applications. Unfortunately, the anticipated cost savings and higher reliability are often not achieved. However, by using their internally developed Enterprise Test Engine Suite Technology (E-TEST) techniques, Capital One tests its software in an environment that’s easy to learn, reusable, scalable, supportable, and cost effective. Learn how you can develop your own E-TEST technology with off-the-shelf utilities and commercially available GUI testing tools.

• How to build common data repositories
• The enforcement of object naming conventions using a Data Dictionary
and an Object Name Discrepancy report
• The provision of uniform enterprise training to testers
 
W13   Web/eBusiness Testing
Delusions of Grandeur: Is Your Web Site Really Scalable?
Jim Hazen, SysTest Labs, LLC
This presentation relates a software test lab’s real-world experiences performing load testing for scalability on three Web sites. Besides methodology, it also covers the tools employed, client expectations before launch, and how the findings from the testing were applied to help clients correctly scale their sites. Learn why this type of testing is the most effective way to validate design and hardware architecture, plus identify potholes before they end up on the information superhighway.

• How to set realistic goals for scalability testing
• Practical methodologies for scalability testing
• What to do before, during, and after scalability testing
 
W14   Advanced Topics
Space Shuttle GPCF: A Retrospective Look
Alan Ogletree, United Space Alliance Space Shuttle Software Testing
For those in a maintenance organization tasked with a large coding or testing project, the tendency might be to continue to use an existing (proven) small-change process and simply apply it on a larger scale. While reasonable in concept, this type of application is difficult to do it practice. Alan Ogletree discusses strategies for managing the transition from testing routine, small-capability upgrades to testing a major software change.

• Things to consider when planning a large maintenance software change
• Strategies to help make the transition successful
• Common pitfalls --- and how to avoid them
 
 
   


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