QW2002 Paper 9P1 Lauri MacKinnon (PhaseForward Incorporated) Testing Efficiency: Taking Advantage of Test Overlap

Key Points

• Discuss the current software development environment and how it effects test teams
• Describe methods for combining test activities to complete them in shorter timeframes
• Ms. List tips and techniques for working more efficiently as a test team

Presentation Abstract

With today’s fast-paced software development cycles, there is seldom enough time for complete testing. Shortened test cycles, a smaller staff, and an increasing need for product quality mean that test groups have to do more testing in less time. This presentation identifies some ways that test groups can work more effectively in shortened timeframes. It describes common testing activities and discusses ways to combine them to get more test coverage. The presentation also covers ways your test team can work more efficiently and more effectively. Attendees will discover:
·Methods for combining test activities to complete them in shorter timeframes
·Tips and techniques for working more efficiently as a team
·Resources for more information on effective testing practices

About the Author

Lauri is currently a Principal QA Engineer at Phase Forward Incorporated. She is a QA professional with 13+ years of experience in QA methodologies, documentation, testing, QA implementations, and team leadership across all phases of product development. Her background in programming lends to her experience in the more technical aspects of testing.

Lauri’s main role at PhaseForward is to implement the testing of several webbased and client-server software applications created specifically for use by the pharmaceutical industry. Lauri recently worked at Vanteon where her main task was to drive the research, training, and implementation of new technologies, testing methodologies, and automation tools across multiple projects for clients in a variety of industries, including financial, educational, tool vendor, ecommerce, graphics, and shrink-wrapped markets.

Lauri has presented at several conferences on topics including configuration testing, performance testing, usability testing, and test management, and has written technical white papers that have been printed in industry newsletters. She is a Segue-certified eConfidence Performance Consultant and has been involved with UL ISO9000, ISO9001 certifications, and SEI quality assessment processes, standards, and inspections. Lauri is a participant in local chapters of ASQ, IEEE, SPIN, and NESQAF. Lauri has a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and a Master’s degree in Computer Science from Boston College.