Overview

This 2-day workshop begins with an overview of key Agile values, methods, and practices. Participants then have the opportunity to experience an Agile project and explore the implications of Agile development methods for an independent Test/QA team.

The Agile project in this workshop is a paper-based simulation in which participants create and sell a product entirely on paper (no programming skills required). Each participant chooses a role on the team: product manager, developer, tester, or observer. In a series of iterations, the team attempts to deliver a product that the customer is willing to buy. Each successful delivery generates revenue for the company. But as with real projects, producing a working product on a tight schedule can be challenging.

After each iteration, participants reflect on key events, then adjust their team practices to increase their productivity for the next iteration. As a result, participants learn to apply the principles of visibility, feedback, communication, and collaboration to increase their rate of delivery. By the end of the workshop, participants will have a visceral understanding of Agile, and in particular the shifting role of Test/QA in the new world of Agile development.

Because this is an experiential workshop, much of the class time is spent on the simulation and debriefs. However, some class time is devoted to providing participants with an overview of Agile methods and definitions, demonstrating tools Agile teams commonly use, and discussing real life experiences as a tester on Agile software projects.

See the expanded course description for a full outline.