Course Name:		Software Testing: Managing the Software Test Organization Training
Deployment Options:		Onsite - Instructor-Led Training
Course Duration:		1-day

Introduction:

This tutorial covers area 4 of the Test Management Body of Knowledge (TMBOK) required for the Certified Test Manager (CTM) certification. This tutorial also covers the Elective area of the Certified Software Test Professional requirements.

Concepts:

Management in the technical world requires different skills than non-technical management. As managers and leads, we are dealing with highly skilled individuals who have their own motivations and goals. Molding this group into a working unit has many unique challenges. Put that already challenging task into the software test environment and suddenly your life as a manager has become extremely complicated. Not only must you deal with the very intelligent technical individuals on your team, but you must also deal with the external pressures of politics. Add to that the constant battle of removing the “second class citizen” aura that tends to surround test organizations and you may find yourself seeking a more rewarding career, say bagging groceries at the neighborhood store. It's a difficult job at best but this course will walk you through building the team, also known as the Perfect Beast. We'll talk about making the team effective, how to lead a strong team, how to do evaluations, how to handle compensation (and that ever present fight for equity in pay) and how to do terminations and layoffs. This class is focused on the needs of the technical manager with specific attention to the unique problems we experience managing testing and quality assurance staffs. Both experienced and novice managers will leave this class with valuable and practical information. This is not a course on management theory; you can read about that elsewhere. Judy McKay teaches this class based on her own real world management experience and a survey of techniques used by other successful technical managers.

Objectives:

Participants will learn: Find and hire the very best people for the team Master management techniques that will lead to productivity gains and will keep the group working together Deal with the politics of the job while being an effective leader Fairly and accurately assess performance and conduct reviews for mutual gain Create and administer effective reward systems, even within the confines of the environment Deal with problem employees as necessary and conduct successful layoffs without causing a mass exodus Create, maintain and develop an effective team of test professionals

Course Outline

Introduction Administrative information What characteristics make a good test organization? Building the Perfect Beast (the Test Organization) How did you get where you are? --Promoted from within --Inherited --Starting new Finding parts for the Perfect Beast --Writing a good job description --Reviewing resumes --Conducing an effective interview --Checking references --Handling internal referrals Combining the parts Defining your team Defining your expectations Filling the holes Creating project teams Finding good leaders Checking for problems Sizing the team Budgeting People Equipment Facilities Resource management Making the Perfect Beast effective Communication Optimal teams At the root Synergy and Pride Deflecting criticism and building respect Leading the Beast A couple important things Living under the microscope Effective leadership --Managing inward --Managing outward --Disseminating information Evaluating the Perfect (or not-so) Beast Informal evaluations Formal evaluations Reviews Merit increases Feeding the Beast Rewards and awards Bonus systems Career development Vaccinating the Beast (optional) Dealing with the good leader gone bad Oh no! Good people are leaving How to terminate someone who needs it Conducting a layoff without creating an exodus Dealing with a mass layoff or bankruptcy Summary Course wrap-up Questions Expectations/Objectives Course evaluation

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