STPCon Fall 2012 – Miami, FL – STPCon Event Archive

STPCon Fall 2012 took place at the Hilton Miami Downtown, October 15 – 18, and offered the perfect setting for a combination of breakout sessions, workshops, keynotes and networking opportunities designed to educate, entertain and motivate attendees seeking solutions to everyday challenges. The Sponsor Showcase offered an interactive atmosphere offering attendees the opportunity to learn about new tools and trends emerging in the industry. Dr. Cem Kaner was honored as the 2012 recipient of the Software Test Luminary Award for his contribution to the context-driven school of testing.

Conference Program: Tracks, Sessions, Speakers & Presentations:

Track: Leadership Perspectives for Testers

Understanding the business side of testing is as important as amplifying our approaches and techniques. In this track you will learn how to effectively lead diverse test teams, communicate with stakeholders, and advocate for testing. This track includes topics related to building test teams, leading business testers, handling the challenges of remote teams, communicating the value of testing, and using metrics in the decision making process.

Track: Strategic Business Alignment

Strategic Business Alignment – The best way to ensure that the goals of your project, and ultimately those of the organization, are met at the end of production is to make sure they are aligned from the beginning. This will require an ability to effectively lead diverse teams, communicate with stakeholders, and gain buy-in and agreement throughout the life of the project. This track will offer sessions based on real life experiences and case studies where true business alignment was achieved resulting in a successful outcome for all parties involved.

Track: Test Strategy, Process and Design

Before you begin testing on a project, your team should have a formal or informal test strategy. There are key elements you need to consider when formulating your test strategy. If not, you may be wasting valuable time, money and resources. In this track you will learn the strategic and practical approaches to software testing and test case design, based on the underlying software development methodology. This track includes topics related to developing a test strategy, test estimation, risk management and data management.

Track: Performance Testing

Performance Testing is about collecting data on how applications perform to assist the development team and the stakeholders make technical and business decisions related to performance risks. In this track you will learn practical skills, tools, and techniques for planning and executing effective performance tests. This track will include topics such as: performance testing virtualized systems, performance anti-patterns, how to quantify performance testing risk, all illustrated with practitioners’ actual experiences doing performance testing.

Track: Test Automation

Which tests can be automated? What tools and methodology can be used for automating functionality verification? Chances are these are some of the questions you are currently facing from your project manager. In this track you will learn how to implement an automation framework and how to organize test scripts for maintenance and re-usability, as well as take away tips on how to make your automation framework more efficient. This track includes topics related to test automation architecture, continuous integration, agile automation, and what other tasks you need to perform after you have designed your framework and scripted your test cases.

Track: Mobile Application Testing

The rapid expansion of mobile device software is altering the way we exchange information and do business. These days smart phones have been integrated into a growing number of business processes. Developing and testing software for mobile devices presents its own set of challenges. In this track participants will learn mobile testing techniques from real-world experiences as presented by a selection of industry experts. Topics in this track include techniques for mobile testing, the latest trends affecting mobile testing and a framework to manage mobile testing.

Track: Agile Testing

More and more software development organizations are “going Agile.” This track will help participants understand how they can fit traditional test practices into an Agile environment as well as explore real-world examples of testing projects and teams in varying degrees of Agile adoption. This track will include topics related to challenges in Agile testing, utilizing Agile testing techniques, coaching an Agile test team, and using games to internalize Agile principles and practices.

Track: Hands-On Practicals

This track is uniquely designed to combine the best software testing theories with real-world techniques. Participants will actually learn by doing in this hands-on format simulating realistic test environments. After all, applying techniques learned in a classroom to your individual needs and requirements can be challenging. Seven technical sessions covering a wide range of testing topics will be presented. Participants must bring a laptop computer and power cord.

Track: Tools & Trends Showcase

Join industry leaders to get a fast-paced, content-rich presentation on the latest technology and service trends in our industry. Get an industry update from the people at the cutting edge of what is evolving in technology. The speakers in this group will be representing best practices on some of the latest tools to hit the market. If you are interested in learning about what is new and exciting in the world of technology don’t miss this opportunity to attend sessions in this track.