Agile Testing: A Practical Guide for Testers and Agile Teams

Agile Testing

A Practical Guide for Testers and Agile Teams

Lisa Crispin

Janet Gregory

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data:

Crispin, Lisa.

    Agile testing : a practical guide for testers and agile teams /

Lisa Crispin, Janet Gregory. — 1st ed.

         p.  cm.

    Includes bibliographical references and index.

    ISBN-13: 978-0-321-53446-0 (pbk. : alk. paper)

    ISBN-10: 0-321-53446-8 (pbk. : alk. paper)      1.   Computer software—

Testing.     2.     Agile software development.         I.   Gregory, Janet. II. Title.

    QA76.76.T48C75 2009

    005.1—dc22

                                                 2008042444

Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc.

All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. This publication is protected by copyright, and permission must be obtained from the publisher prior to any prohibited reproduction, storage in a retrieval system, or transmission in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or likewise. For information regarding permissions, write to:

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ISBN-13: 978-0-321-53446-0

ISBN-10:        0-321-53446-8

Text printed in the United States on recycled paper at R.R. Donnelley in Crawfordsville, Indiana.

Second printing, March 2009

Dedication

To my husband, Bob Downing—you’re the bee’s knees!

—Lisa

To Jack, Dana, and Susan, and to all the writers in my family.

—Janet

And to all our favorite donkeys and dragons.

—Lisa and Janet

Table of Contents

Foreword by Mike Cohn

Foreword by Brian Marick

Preface

Acknowledgments

About the Authors

Part I. Introduction

Chapter 1. What Is Agile Testing, Anyway?

Agile Values

What Do We Mean by “Agile Testing”?

A Little Context for Roles and Activities on an Agile Team

Customer Team

Developer Team

Interaction between Customer and Developer Teams

How Is Agile Testing Different?

Working on Traditional Teams

Working on Agile Teams

Traditional vs. Agile Testing

Whole-Team Approach

Summary

Chapter 2. Ten Principles for Agile Testers

What’s an Agile Tester?

The Agile Testing Mind-Set

Applying Agile Principles and Values

Provide Continuous Feedback

Deliver Value to the Customer

Enable Face-to-Face Communication

Have Courage

Keep It Simple

Practice Continuous Improvement

Respond to Change

Self-Organize

Focus on People

Enjoy

Adding Value

Summary

Part II. Organizational Challenges

Chapter 3. Cultural Challenges

Organizational Culture

Quality Philosophy

Sustainable Pace

Customer Relationships

Organization Size

Empower Your Team

Barriers to Successful Agile Adoption by Test/QA Teams

Loss of Identity

Additional Roles

Lack of Training

Not Understanding Agile Concepts

Past Experience/Attitude

Cultural Differences among Roles

Introducing Change

Talk about Fears

Give Team Ownership

Celebrate Success

Management Expectations

Cultural Changes for Managers

Speaking the Manager’s Language

Change Doesn’t Come Easy

Be Patient

Let Them Feel Pain

Build Your Credibility

Work On Your Own Professional Development

Beware the Quality Police Mentality

Vote with Your Feet

Summary

Chapter 4. Team Logistics

Team Structure

Independent QA Teams