STPCon Fall 2013 – Phoenix, AZ – STPCon Event Archive

A week of warm Sonoran sunsets offered a relaxing setting for the Software Test Professionals Fall Conference which was held at the Pointe Hilton Squaw Peak Resort, October 21 – 24, 2013. Test Strategy, Performance Testing, Test Automation, Leadership Perspectives, Agile Testing and Mobile Application Testing tracks offered attendees solutions to the most pressing challenges facing testing organizations today. Keith Klain was named as the 4th annual recipient of the Software Test Luminary Award. Motivational keynotes were delivered by Jay Rifenbary and Michael Hoffman with technical topics presented by John Montgomery of uTest and Lee Henson, otherwise known as AgileDad.

Conference Program: Tracks, Sessions, Speakers & Presentations:

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 performto 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 andexecuting 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 reusability, 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: 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: 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: Mobile Application Testing

The rapid expansion of mobile device software is altering the way we exchange information and do business. These days smartphones 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: Pre-Conference Workshops

Get more out of the conference experience. Pre-Conference workshops are valuable in-depth educational sessions. Register now to take advantage of bundled discounts and educational offerings all in one location.