Software Project Management Process
Top Stories
-
Opinion
17 Dec 2020
How to use Agile swarming techniques to get features done
Agile teams can produce a viable product in no time when they swarm, but this all-hands approach to produce a user story or feature isn't easy. Continue Reading
-
Tip
09 Sep 2020
How to calculate project completion times
Good project managers deliver on schedule, despite the challenges they encounter. Become a time and resource management pro and deliver on the expected completion date. Continue Reading
-
Tip
08 Jun 2020
How to hold effective Agile sprint planning meetings
Successful Agile sprints aren't about 10x developers or all-night testing sessions. It all comes down to how you plan. Here's how to plan sprints that run in an effective way. Continue Reading
-
Tip
26 Dec 2019
4 DevOps communication principles to get teams talking
One of DevOps' supposed benefits is better collaboration and communication, but it doesn't come out of nowhere. Address these communication challenges to get everyone on the same page. Continue Reading
-
Feature
23 Dec 2019
5 can't-miss software development news stories of 2019
Before you finalize your 2020 plans, take a minute to catch up on app-dev news stories that will shape the next year. Here are the five top news stories for 2019, with analysis. Continue Reading
-
Feature
11 Nov 2019
Make people, not tools, the focus of DevOps initiatives
You can buy a DevOps tool for almost everything -- except people challenges. Learn what high-performing practitioners do to make DevOps culture productive. Continue Reading
-
Podcast
06 Nov 2019
Prioritize DevOps and Agile outcomes, not transformation
Tools are easy; people are difficult. So, when it comes to an Agile or DevOps transformation, focus on the desired outcomes, not the process changes, as we discuss in this podcast. Continue Reading
-
Guide
01 Nov 2019
How to improve code quality, from teamwork to AI features
Development teams must enforce code quality from day one. Take a multifaceted approach to write, and then manage, secure application code with this advice from experts. Continue Reading
-
Tip
26 Jun 2019
How GitHub and Bitbucket augment key Git features
Learn how GitHub and Bitbucket enhance the Git version control system, enabling management and security on top of Git's native abilities to clarify workflows and protect data. Continue Reading
-
Tip
24 Jun 2019
How to make distributed Agile teams efficient and collaborative
Agile teams don't always exist under one roof, but they should still be aligned in responsibilities and goals. Here's the best way to approach global Agile team management. Continue Reading
-
Tip
31 May 2019
How Agile and DevOps leadership empowers the whole team
A dictatorial style of leadership doesn't cut it in Agile and DevOps shops. Here's how managers can ditch bad habits and instead encourage team experimentation and decision-making. Continue Reading
-
Podcast
30 Apr 2019
Scrum author talks removing dev hurdles, old-world thinking
In this edition of the Test & Release podcast, Gunther Verheyen, a Scrum author and expert, breaks down how Agile helps free IT from a rigid industrial approach. Continue Reading
-
Tip
15 Apr 2019
Exercise risk management in Agile software development
With iterative development, teams can deliver features and patches quickly. And project managers must vigilantly avert new and more severe risks that pop up along the way. Continue Reading
-
Tip
05 Apr 2019
Take a shift-left approach, but avoid developer burnout
Shift left is often a net positive for software quality. Yet, the change moves more tasks to earlier in the app dev process. Take care not to bury developers. Continue Reading
-
Feature
14 Jan 2019
Why human instinct causes mistakes in project management
Project management isn't brain surgery, but it involves brain chemistry. A testing expert discusses how we instinctively value gains and losses and how it leads to bad decisions. Continue Reading
-
Tip
04 Jan 2019
How to keep developers and testers happy -- and productive
The stresses of software development can strain testers and developers' comradery. Foster a collaborative and communicative environment to keep the whole team productive. Continue Reading
-
Opinion
02 Jan 2019
Why I moved from programming to a software testing role
Testers rejoice when they find flaws, even as project managers gnash their teeth. Matt Heusser explains how, in QA, he learned to stop worrying about deadlines and love the delay. Continue Reading
-
Photo Story
12 Dec 2018
5 software development trends propel innovation in 2019
Get ready to jettison your comfort zone and dive into shift-right testing, IoT development and other emerging skill and coverage areas for software developers and testers. Continue Reading
-
Tip
10 Dec 2018
Foster cross-team collaboration with IM, mind maps and more
Build a collaborative workspace that's more than just an HR slogan. These tools get teams to talk and tackle problems together. Continue Reading
-
Tip
03 Dec 2018
Embrace these 5 tenets for better QA leadership
Knowledge and hands-on skills are always useful, but successful QA team leads also inspire and stand up for their teams. Here are five ways to remove team obstacles and coach great testers. Continue Reading
-
Tip
28 Nov 2018
Ways to partially implement Agile and still get results
Pair programming, iterative workflows, timeboxed builds and other Agile tenets benefit app dev teams. Here's how to incorporate Agile practices and culture with minimal disruption. Continue Reading
-
News
09 Oct 2018
CI/CD workflows, IT roles lead to organizational disharmony
Divides between IT teams and roles in an organization can impede software delivery, even if they use the right tools. Some companies have chipped away at those barriers. Continue Reading
-
Podcast
02 Oct 2018
Enterprise value streams' role in a software delivery model
Do software delivery teams overstress speed and discount value? Mik Kersten, CEO of Tasktop, which produces value stream tools, shares his thoughts in this Test and Release episode. Continue Reading
-
Tip
18 Sep 2018
How to foster collaboration in software development
App owners, developers and testers are friends -- not enemies. If it doesn't always feel that way on your collaborative team, use these techniques to foster better communication. Continue Reading
-
Tip
27 Aug 2018
How startups can accelerate a software product launch
At your software startup, product delivery must be top priority, even at the expense of some bells and whistles. Get creative with some shortcuts to deliver quality software. Continue Reading
-
Tip
12 Jun 2018
Enterprise software developers: Forget minor software bugs
Many enterprises think software isn't perfect unless they eliminate minor defects. However, this approach won't prevent major disasters, and it hinders the practices that would. Continue Reading
-
News
06 Apr 2018
IBM lures developers with AI and machine learning projects
IBM open source projects help to facilitate the creation of machine learning apps and grow that developer base. Continue Reading
-
Opinion
07 Feb 2018
How developers can use SageMaker for DevOps machine learning
SageMaker from AWS gives software developers a way to tackle AI and machine learning. But expert Torsten Volk said it will also require lots of experimenting. Continue Reading
-
Opinion
30 Jan 2018
Is there a software developer age limit? Apparently, it's 45
Software development is a young person's purview, according to a Harvey Nash Technology Survey. Expert David Savage explains how over-45s can stay in the game. Continue Reading
-
Conference Coverage
06 Nov 2017
Guide to DevOps Enterprise Summit 2017
Industry giants are coming together once again for the annual DevOps Enterprise Summit. Learn what is trending in DevOps, IT ops, AI and machine learning. Continue Reading
-
Opinion
22 Sep 2017
UX vs. UI design: It's complicated but important to understand
User experience is tied to user interface, but they're not the same thing in software design. Expert Jason Grant offers his take on how to use both to make better software. Continue Reading
-
Guide
23 Aug 2017
Making the Agile development model current again
From test automation to software design and empowering leadership, discussions at Agile2017 focused on how to move forward in the current state of the Agile development model. Continue Reading
-
Tip
24 Apr 2017
Documenting processes is crucial step in deploying enterprise software
An HR technology consultant outlines the steps needed to get a strong grasp on how your organization does things -- and how new software might make them run more efficiently. Continue Reading
-
Feature
02 Nov 2016
Use elicitation techniques to discover software requirements
Discovering project requirements can be challenging. An expert offers elicitation techniques you can use to discover business and software requirements. Continue Reading
-
Podcast
02 May 2016
Overcome inherent bottlenecks in app lifecycle management
The software development world is simply too busy to have inefficient ALM. Expert Gerie Owen reimagines app lifecycle management as something streamlined and totally painless. Continue Reading
-
Tip
20 Apr 2016
What modern test manager responsibilities entail
What does a test manager do? That's not the easiest question to answer, as responsibilities vary. Expert Matt Heusser explains the crux of the role and provides some tips as well. Continue Reading
-
Guide
25 Mar 2016
Guide: How to hire software developers
Looking to hire software developers? Find out the latest hiring trends, employment needs, software development training opportunities and skill levels in this guide. Continue Reading
-
Answer
08 Sep 2015
Product owners don't have time to write Agile user stories? You write them.
If the product owner won't or can't write the vital Agile user stories, expert Ben Linders explains how to take on this project yourself. Continue Reading
-
Feature
26 Aug 2015
Virtual worlds used as business collaboration tools
Consider virtual worlds as legitimate business collaboration tools. Not only might you save travel money, you might spur team creativity and innovation. Continue Reading
-
Answer
20 Mar 2015
Define project scope in terms of time, money and quality
We all want our projects to be on budget, on time and of high quality, but not necessarily in that order. What is your advice for balancing these needs? Continue Reading
-
Answer
31 Jul 2014
How to resolve team conflict
Arguing team members can derail a project. Project managers can help resolve the issue by finding its root cause. Continue Reading
-
Answer
23 Jul 2014
When tracking defects, make efficiency the end goal
Tracking defects can benefit the development team if done for the right reasons. Explore the reasons to track defects in this expert response. Continue Reading
-
Answer
17 Jul 2014
Software quality metrics paint partial project picture
QA consultant Gerie Owen discusses the use of two post-production metrics: defect removal efficiency and defect detection percentage. Continue Reading
-
Feature
10 Apr 2014
Knowledge, skills and abilities for software QA jobs
The right knowledge, skills and abilities for QA jobs don't necessarily include test script automation or security testing skills. Jenn Lent explains. Continue Reading
-
Tip
14 Feb 2014
Agile project management: Increasing business agility with Agile ALM
Increase business agility capabilities with Agile project management. Find tips and tools for Agile ALM best practices. Continue Reading
-
Answer
18 Sep 2013
The risks of Agile software development: Overcoming feature creep
Ellen Gottesdiener, founder of EBG Consulting offers insights on managing feature creep, the biggest pitfall of Agile software development. Continue Reading
-
Answer
26 Sep 2012
How does the role of project manager change in the cloud?
Agile and ALM expert Yvette Francino discusses how the role of project manager may change when applications are developed and tested in the cloud. Continue Reading
-
Tip
13 Jul 2012
Agile project management using the Cynefin framework
Learn how the Cynefin framework facilitates problem solving, Agile project management and teamwork. Continue Reading
-
Tip
16 Aug 2011
Agile software development: Tips for writing testable user stories
Testing pressures are always high on Agile projects. In this article we explore some of the ways adding clarity to stories can help make testing easier for all parties involved. Continue Reading
-
Tip
09 Mar 2011
Attracting the right Agile software developers
A lot of software development job candidates will claim to have Agile skills, but are they just throwing around buzzwords? In this tip, consultant Catherine Powell will help you find the qualified candidates who live out the values and practices of Agile in their daily work. Read more for ideas of how to attract Agile candidates and ensure those you hire will fit well on your Agile team. Continue Reading
-
Answer
21 Feb 2011
How to gain acceptance of organizational change
Any organizational change can meet with internal resistance. In this response, SSQ Site Editor Yvette Francino offers advice on how to win buy-in from those affected through honest communication and continuous improvement. Continue Reading
-
Tip
28 Dec 2010
Eight steps for a successful software release
Have you done everything to prepare for a successful software release? Software project manager Kay Diller describes eight things you can do to ensure your deployment will go smoothly. From creating your team to being prepared with a back-out plan, Diller steps you through important considerations covering all aspects of the project. Continue Reading
-
Tip
17 Feb 2010
Using Fist of Five, Planning Poker to reach Agile team consensus
In these tips, consensus-building tools such as Fist of Five and Planning Poker are introduced. Even when these tools are used, the team must decide how they are going to handle a stale-mate condition and move forward on decisions. Continue Reading
-
Answer
01 Feb 2010
What are the pros and cons of centralizing a QA or software test team?
Is it better to centralize a test team or have testers paired organizationally with developers? There can be advantages to either approach. This expert response examines some considerations and an alternative that will allow your quality team to work effectively with either model. Continue Reading
-
Answer
01 Feb 2010
Who determines the appropriate severity or priority for a defect?
There are often differences of opinion on the definition of severity or priority of a defect. The bottom line is determining when and if the defect will be fixed. Factors that need to be considered are customer urgency and time required to fix and test. This strategy takes into account needs of the customer, the developer and the tester. Continue Reading
-
News
09 Nov 2009
How software testers can get deliverables without nagging
A panel of software and project management experts take on "people management", offering tips and advice on how to avoid nagging while still getting desired results. Continue Reading
-
News
06 Oct 2009
Ways software project managers can cope with recessionary trends
Project management (PM) consultant Michelle LaBrosse describes proven approaches for PMs to make the most recessionary times. Continue Reading
-
News
05 Oct 2009
James Bach interview: Dispelling software testing myths
James Bach is a lot of things. A software consultant, author and trainer for starts, but he is also a topic of controversy in the software field, in this blog he describes why. Continue Reading
-
Feature
28 Jul 2009
Adaptation in project management through agile
Project managers often focus on following the test plan versus agile leaders who expect change and are prepared to adapt on the fly, learn how to transition quicly in this chapter from Agile Project Management by Jim Highsmith Continue Reading
-
Tip
23 Jul 2009
Expert shows seven ways to improve your project management abilities
Project management offices can benefit when the team has a diverse portfolio of skills. Learn how to become a better project manager by reading these seven suggestions, which range from developing talents and group leaders to better assessing software tools. Continue Reading
-
News
02 Mar 2009
How Covad made the switch to a distributed agile development process
Waterfall methodologies weren't working for Covad Communications, so the company switched its process to agile and cut costs while achieving faster project completions. Continue Reading