"Testing, Testing, 1-2-3 – Improving Software Quality One Bug at a Time."

1. Registration

Free. Space is limited. Registration is required.

2. Intended Audience

This seminar is designed for IT Managers, Project managers, Business Managers, Developers, and Testers who want a step-by-step approach to the implementation of testing best practices.

3. Abstract of Seminar Contents

Everybody on a project team is responsible for software quality, but for many of us the trick is to build quality into every step of the process. This seminar will provide you with an overall testing framework that can give your team an advantage in organizing around improving software quality. It will also give you tools and techniques that you can use to immediately impact your testing program, including templates, checklists, a reference list and a dictionary of terms. Here are some of the key questions that will be answered:

• What is the difference between Quality Assurance vs. Software Testing?
• What is in a testing life cycle?
• How do I test to requirements?
• What is the best way to track bugs?
• How can we use test metrics to improve our test program?
• What type of training is available for testers?
• When does it make sense to automate testing?
• As a business analyst, how can I provide effective testing?
• What do I need for a good test plan and test script?

The answer to these and similar questions will enable software development teams to improve their processes and deliver success.

4. Presenters

Julia Francis is the Enterprise Solutions Manager for State and Local Government at SolutionsIQ. Julia's experience includes over twelve years of IT Services experience and nine years of supporting the Public Sector. Julia has spent the past 18 months working with the State of Washington, Higher Education, and Local Agencies and prior worked extensively with the State of Colorado in the Rocky Mountain Region. Julia is the subject matter expert for government locally and is engaged in contracts with multiple agencies in Olympia.

Jan McCollum is Senior Manager of Quality Assurance and Testing for SolutionsIQ. Jan has 17 years of experience in the IT Management field and began her career at Mart Stores, Inc. Information Systems Division where she held positions as Operations Manager, Director of Store Systems Training, Training and Development Manager, and Vendor Manager. She owned her own Quality Assurance Development Company in Bellevue for seven years where she managed QA, Test, and Development projects for companies like Computer Associates in Boston and Computing Edge, Science and Engineering Associates as well as Microsoft Corporation. She has been with SolutionsIQ for four years.

Cheryl Hainje, Financial Systems Consultant, Office of Financial Management (OFM). Cheryl has been employed by OFM since 1997. She currently works as a Financial Systems Consultant and is part of the team that manages the State's main accounting system, Agency Financial Reporting System (AFRS). Cheryl's primary area of expertise and responsibility is vendor payments, and she has worked on several major AFRS improvement projects where she served in the roles of business analyst and tester. Prior to working for OFM, Cheryl was an AFRS "customer" for 12 years as an accountant at State Parks, Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council, State Energy Office and Services for the Blind.

Stein Wang, Software Quality Assurance, SolutionsIQ. Stein has more than six years of experience in software quality assurance with emphasis in testing Web, client/server and Windows applications. He has worked in health care, e-commerce and consulting industries. Currently, he is a Software Quality Assurance and automation Analyst with SolutionsIQ, working with development and test teams in full software development life cycles. He performs independent validation of deliverables, identifies deficiencies, and prepares written reports to monitor compliance. He also focuses on test process improvement and trains/mentors new testers.

Tim Vessey, Senior IT Manager, Washington State Liquor Control Board (WSLCB). Tim has been employed with the WSLCB for 10 years. He is a senior manager in the department's Information Technology Services Division. His primary experiences have been in the areas of application design, development and testing and most recently in project management. Tim's current responsibilities include managing a software implementation involving integration of "off-the-shelf" Point of Sale software with modifications, middle-ware interface software and a custom legacy host system.

Dotti Lane. Following a 26 year career in IT with the Bell System, she began her career in the public sector 8 years ago at the Department of Information Services (DIS) Computer Services Division later transferring to the Department of Personnel to manage payroll/personnel system projects. A year ago she accepted her current position at the Office of Financial Management (OFM). Dotti is currently responsible for managing 9 Software Test Analysts providing testing resources for OFM Statewide projects and leads enterprise IT process improvement efforts. Developing testing processes and professionalism is a major focus of her current position.

5. Agenda

For More Information . . .

. . . contact Sheryl Hall, IPMA Professional Development Committee Co-Chair. Special thanks to Allen Schmidt, OFM, for taking the lead on this topic and program!