Tester Round Tables

Every shop, team, group, department, whatever, has something that people wish worked better. Bosses want them fixed. Testers want them fixed. Sometimes these are annoyances, sometimes they are problems. Bosses want shops without problems

Some problems have common solutions and some of the common 'solutions' often fail. If you can bring in an outside perspective, you may be able to see if these solutions can help your specific organization.

In this exercise we provide participants with a whole room full of perspective and the tools to work through a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) analysis. Depending on the number of people participating, we can break into small groups and work through a round of problems.

This session does several things. You get the chance to express what the real problems you are facing are right now. You meet with others who are also having problems. Then, you discuss possible solutions to these problems – things you did to overcome a problem similar to theirs and, just maybe, talk with people who have dealt with problems similar to yours.

You might not come away with a solution to your specific problem from this session. You will come away with a tool you can use at the office to help organize, frame and direct problem-solving, even when information is limited and the time pressure is strong

(If you are going to CAST, Matt and Pete are running this exercise as a "bonus" session Monday evening of CAST, following the full-day workshops.)

OK - We'll have pizza, breadsticks and soft drinks (that's pop for folks from Grand Rapids) available. Not sure about wings. We ask for a modest contribution, $5, for the food. If you want to order off the menu, that's fine too.