Managing the Test Process in Agile and Semi-Agile Projects

This course covers the following areas of certifications Body of Knowledge: CSTP-P #3 and CASTP-M #4

Concepts

As the Agile software development methods are becoming mainstream, more and more testers are finding themselves on Agile development teams. Because Agile methods are so different from traditional project approaches, testers need to adopt a whole new way of operating on Agile projects. They must adopt new roles and responsibilities, adjust to new project team relationships, and adopt Agile testing practices. To make this transition successfully, they must understand what Agility is and is not, comprehend the values and principles that underlie the Agile methods, and an understanding of how those values and principles affect their work as testers.

Participants will learn:

After completing this workshop, participants will be able to:

• Describe the Agile methods, including:
  • How they differ from traditional approaches
  • The tester's role on Agile teams
  • How test planning & testing fit into the Agile process
• Participate as a tester on Agile projects, including:
  • Setting team norms about testing
  • Contributing a tester perspective to Story Estimation
  • Collaborating on Backlog Grooming
  • Planning testing tasks for each sprint
  • Collaborating on ensure effective testing
  • Guiding the team to better testing practices

Outline

• Agile Testing Overview
  • The Agile Approach
    • Agile Methods, Values and Lifecycle
  • Testers in Agile Teams
    • Agile Team Roles
    • Whole Team Testing
    • Agile Tester's Role
  • Test Planning and Testing in Agile Projects
    • Incremental Test Planning
    • Incremental Testing
    • Agile Testing Quadrants
    • No Mini-Waterfalls!
    • Stabilization (Hardening) Sprints
    • Managing Resources, Schedule and Risks
• Agile Testing Practices
  • High-Level Test Planning
    • Project Initiation
    • Product Backlog Grooming
    • Story Estimation (Testing Perspective)
  • Sprint Planning
    • Planning Testing Activities
  • Testing During the Sprint
    • Developers' Testing
    • Pair Testing
    • Testers' Testing
    • Defect management
  • Testing and the Sprint Review
• Course Wrap-Up
  • Q&A