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Team talking about test estimates on sticky notes Test Estimation in the Age of Agile and DevOps

Estimating testing in the contemporary world of agile and DevOps demands some new rules. Gone are the days of using project planning software and work breakdown structures to define and estimate each category of work and the associated tasks. Here are some modern rules, prerequisites, and advice for test estimation.

Michael Sowers's picture
Michael Sowers
Thank-you card next to a cup of coffee Learning to Accept Compliments

If people at work pay you a compliment, do you say thanks? Or do you always seem to deflect the compliment or respond with something self-deprecating? If it's the latter, that's a habit you should break. Compliments are a great way to create a positive workplace culture. Here's how you can learn to accept them.

Naomi Karten's picture
Naomi Karten
Craftsman's tools on a work bench Choosing the Right Tools for the Job

The saying “If all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail” summarizes a cognitive bias we have to use tools that are most familiar to us, even if they are the wrong tools for the job. Software professionals often fall into this trap. Here are some tips on how to choose the right tools for your projects.

Jeffery Payne's picture
Jeffery Payne
People wearing virtual reality headgear What’s Next for Virtual Reality?

When most of us think of virtual reality, what comes to mind is fitting on a headset to experience a computer-generated simulation of a three-dimensional environment. However, the recent TED conference had a different “shared immersive reality” experience that doesn’t require headgear. Here's what's new with VR tech.

Pamela Rentz's picture
Pamela Rentz
Groups of people networking at a conference Learning to Network: Fake It till You Make It

Failure is part of learning; we have to do things we are not good at in order to become better at them. To learn networking, we have to take the risk of failing and do what we fear. This means taking small steps to open up, asking questions, and listening—and even pretending to be interested until you really are!

Isabel Evans's picture
Isabel Evans
Scrum team member taking a card from the product backlog The Difference between Priority and Order in Your Agile Work

The Scrum Guide talks about an ordered backlog, not a prioritized one. While order and priority are related, they are not the same, and understanding the difference and why people focus on one over the other can help your team be more effective at delivering business value.

Steve Berczuk's picture
Steve Berczuk
Unapproachable man scowling at his computer Are You Unintentionally Unapproachable?

Could you be giving off an air of unapproachability without meaning to? Is it possible that you exhibit some unwelcome behaviors that are so subtle you’re not even aware of them? Think about whether you have any of the following habits that could give your coworkers the impression that you are unapproachable.

Richard Estra's picture
Richard Estra
Nathen Harvey Experimenting Your Way to DevOps Success: A Slack Takeover with Nathen Harvey

Thought leaders from the software community are taking over the TechWell Hub for a day to answer questions and engage in conversations. Nathen Harvey, a cloud developer advocate at Google, hosted this Slack takeover and discussed all things DevOps: what it means, getting your team on board, and measuring your success.

Kelly McGee's picture
Kelly McGee