collaboration

What's in the Fall 2015 Issue of Better Software Magazine?For the first time, the cover of Better Software magazine showcases two articles. The dual features are about the new ISO 29119 software quality standard—one pro, one con. Reading both points of view will make you think about what your organization is doing to adopt quality standards.
The Vocabulary of TestingTesters in every project and company spend time defining and debating the meaning of common testing terms. Which labels are used for testing activities tend to vary from team to team. How do you reach an understanding? Dawn Haynes addresses the disparities and highlights what's really important.
A Win-Win versus a Win-Lose Approach to Conflict

Too often when people address a conflict, they take an I-win-you-lose approach. That distracts from focusing on opportunities for agreement and can make ongoing relationships difficult. When people have to work together, the wise approach is one that serves the best interests of both parties.

Agile and Fear Come Hand in HandIf you’re looking to make the whole organization agile—through iterative work cycles, continuous improvement, and direct feedback from customers—fear has to be involved to some degree. But in order to foster a culture of honesty and trust, this uneasiness will have to be overcome.
What Do You Do When You’re Stuck on a Problem?Some problems we can resolve on our own in a couple of minutes. Some take more time, or we can’t resolve them alone. What do you do then? Johanna Rothman suggests scheduling a timebox to find a solution alone, then if that doesn't work, using one of the ideas in this story to "unstick" yourself.
How Testing Is Changing for the DevOps World

The role of software testing and quality assurance is becoming increasingly important in a DevOps setup. This position has undergone a lot of change in the testing practices used, tools leveraged, and the shift in skill set and mindset of practitioners, and testers have a lot to learn from DevOps.

Marriage Counseling and DevOpsSome organizations suffer from a dysfunctional silo culture, with dev and ops working completely separate. Trying to solve problems can feel like marriage counseling, with each side failing to identify what to do to improve their relationship. Just as in counseling, what they need is communication.
Become an Estimation LeaderSingle-point estimates, whether they are for a budget or a schedule, are never correct. Things happen. Demanding that your team provide you an exact number and then treating that as a guarantee is not being a good manager—or being agile. What if you could provide a different estimation leadership?