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Build the "Right Software" to Delight Your Customer Many companies have implemented quality programs such as CMM®, TQM, Six Sigma, etc., to improve requirements and software development. However, these initiatives often focus on building the software right-meeting quality expectations and specifications-but do not necessarily focus on building the right software-the right functionality at the right time and at the right cost from the customer's perspective. Unmesh Gundewar explains how EMC employed the Goal, Question, Metric (GQM) methodology to identify key measurements that ensure the "right software" is being developed. Learn how EMC applies the Six Sigma approach to drive these measurements into the organization and the resulting software. Move beyond the processes designed to get functional requirements and specifications right as Unmesh shares experiences, the challenges faced, and lessons learned from building the right software.
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Unmesh Gundewar, EMC Corporation
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Using Defect Data to Make Real Quality Improvements A large development organization was challenged to decrease production defects by at least 70 percent. Without extra money or time to install major process changes, what should be done? For a baseline, there was a production defect database that had been running at a steady state for over a year, but no way to size the many different projects and no appetite for either function points or measuring lines of code. In this interesting case study, Betsy Radley reports how they used approximations and sometimes crude assumptions to develop measurements from the defect data. These measurements identified applications that had the fewest product defects. Find out how they used that information to look for processes and tools used in these "good" applications and then applied them to the "bad" applications.
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Betsy Radley, Nationwide Insurance Company
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Metrics to Inspire your Software Project Team Typically, organizations pick metrics they feel will accurately measure the results their projects are achieving. We know, too, that metrics can affect behavior, and, therefore, we try hard to pick unbiased metrics. For example, you might not use "lines of code" as a metric to track productivity because you know metrics might cause developers to write more inefficient code. However, you can do the opposite! Jan Scott shows how to choose metrics designed to improve the progress of your projects by inspiring people to improve. As your project progresses and problems develop, appropriately designed and biased metrics will help you solve problems before they get out of control. See examples of biased metrics that have had the desired effect of improving results without alienating those involved. You will even learn about certain metrics that can inspire management to perform tasks assigned to them.
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Jan Scott, QB Software
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Implementing and Sustaining a Measurement Program Are you looking to install new measurements at the department or enterprise level? Are parts of your existing measurement program shaky? Starting a measurement program or revitalizing an existing one requires a good road map and checkpoints along the way. Janet Russac offers the fundamentals for establishing an organization-wide measurement program based on defined objectives. Find out about the principles of when to use metrics and when not to use them. Get a proven measurement program implementation strategy from this industry veteran, and take away an understanding of the key steps and attributes of a successful program. Make your measurements even more valuable by incorporating a benchmarking component into your program.
- Key steps to a successful measurement program
- Identification of key indicators of readiness and factors for success
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Janet Russac, The David Consulting Group
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Integrating Requirements-Based Tesing in the Development Process Good data feedback of software measurements is critical when analyzing measurement data, for drawing conclusions, and as the basis for taking action. Feedback to those involved in the activities being measured helps validate the data as well. In this presentation Ben Linders shows examples of how Ericsson Telecommunications delivers feedback at two levels: projects and the total development center. Although the basics are similar, the application differs, and the key success factors depend on the level and the audience. At the project level, you will see how the team reviews defect data, including defect classifications and test matrices. For development center feedback, you will see how line management and technical engineers review data and analyze information based on a balanced score card approach with measurable goals.
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Richard Bender, Technology Builders, Inc.
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When Saying Yes Doesn't Help: Software Development as Codependent Behavior Vague requirements, undocumented design, poor code, and impossible schedules-these are the typical complaints of many developers. Whose fault is it? Of course, it is "their" fault-senior management, customers, users, etc. But, could we be part of the problem? Codependent behavior is defined as "a way of getting needs met that doesn't get needs met. We do all the wrong things for all the right reasons." When we agree to develop systems without understanding user needs, we teach others that participation in the project is not important. When we agree to absurd schedules, we teach others that our legitimate needs do not matter. In this compelling session, learn what codependency is, recognize codependent behavior in yourself and others, evaluate the negative effects of codependent behavior, and ways to respond more appropriately to unreasonable demands.
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Lee Copeland, Software Quality Engineering
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Process Improvement: Based on Models, Implemented in Reality Experience demonstrates that no matter the end product-financial services, insurance, beer, construction, etc.-the foundation for and focus on implementing process improvement remains consistent. Using models as the basis for improving processes makes success more likely; however, no single model has all the right answers. In this presentation, Barbara Ainsworth provides an overview and comparison of popular software process models: Software Engineering Institute's Software CMM® and CMMI®; Project Management Institute’s PMI Common Body of Knowledge; and Quality Assurance Institute's Bodies of Knowledge for Quality Assurance and Testing. See the influence of both the old and new quality masters-Juran, Crosby, Humphrey, and others-and learn from them how to get your process improvement initiative on the right track.
- An overview of popular software process models
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Barbara Ainsworth, ProcessPlusOne
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Customer Focused Business Metrics throughout the SDLC Focusing on the customer throughout the software development lifecycle (SDLC) is difficult to do. Teams often can become mired in technical problems, internal resource limitations, or other issues. Following the customer mantra of "Faster! Better! Cheaper!" Steve Wrenn offers measurement and process techniques that he has used to deliver projects on time, on budget, and, most importantly, meeting customers needs. By focusing on the development cycle from the outside in, his organization provides business-based metrics dashboards to monitor and adjust the project plan throughout the development project. Find out how their performance dashboard helps the team and the customer stay on course and drive directly to the targeted results. Discover an approach to determine what customers really want and match product development to customer expectations.
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Steve Wrenn, Liberty Mutual Insurance Information Systems
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Testing your Web Site for Privacy, Quality, and Accesibility Today's business world relies heavily on transactions conducted through the web. Because of this, brand image and how a web site is rendered to customers has become increasingly important. A poorly functioning web site poses significant risk for web-based companies. This presentation discusses the challenges involved when testing to ensure the quality of your company's web site and to ensure that the components of the site function properly. With the ever-increasing web complexity, specific tools and processes are required to manage these challenges.
- Discover ways to ensure that your web site reflects your privacy policy
- Learn how to manage your web sites's links to ensure that they remain current and unbroken, and ensure that web content is accessible to users
- Learn about specific tools and processes to test and manage your web site
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John Burg, IBM Global Services
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Web Application Performance Testing with the Open Source Hyades Project What if you could build and run multi-user performance tests with a free, open source tool? Then, this coming Monday, you could validate multi-user application performance before deploying your application to your users, automate performance tests without spending money, and add additional features and capabilities to the
performance test tool as desired. Join Jeff Robbins to learn about two open source tools, Eclipse and Hyades.
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Jeff Robbins, IBM Rational Software Group
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