Test managers are in the precarious position of being responsible to both the project and the team, but the manager and team know best whether overtime will help or hinder project progress. In this installment of "Management Chronicles," a test manager keeps the concerns of her team in mind when evaluating the need for overtime.

Twenty years ago, Brian Marick defined a small startup's company process and coding standard in his position as head of quality assurance--and didn't win any popularity points. Looking back, Brian thinks that he and others in charge of process would be more successful using persuasion than using commands.

The flow of knowledge is more than mental. Better your team and improve your output through an adjustment in physical surroundings. Jean Tabaka describes the Japanese philosophy of "ba" and what it can mean to you and your development team.

After years of searching for and being disappointed by database tools, Tod Golding found a solution when he wasn't looking. Microsoft's Language Integrated Query (LINQ) provides a dynamic bridge for the gap between developer and database.