Managing Up: Communicating the Value of Testing Throughout the Organization
IMAGE
Presented at Software Quality Group of New England December, 2007
Dan Koloski
Web BU CTO and Director of Strategy Empirix
Agenda
Agenda
y The (slow) transformation of Enterprise IT
y What this transformation means for you
y What is Managing Up?
y How do I do it?
The (slow) transformation of Enterprise IT
The (slow) transformation of Enterprise IT
y “The IT model of today is outmoded – enterprises must focus on the business not tactical projects…”
y “Service levels worldwide are at risk – the IT organization must be dynamic and focus on the business…”
The (slow) transformation of Enterprise IT – cont’d
The (slow) transformation of Enterprise IT – cont’d
y The line of business is in control
y Software applications run the business
y Competitive pressures have increased
y Globalization is real
y Customers are more savvy
y Systems and demands are more complex
y Information is abundant yet scarce
What this transformation means for you
What this transformation means for you
y Your career is tied to your relationship to the business
y It’s up to you to communicate and build that relationship
“Managing Up”
“Managing Up”
y “Managing up is strategically working with the style and goals of another, blending them with your styles and goals to achieve results and accomplish your career objectives.”
– http://www.careerjournal.com (Wall Street Journal Career Site)
y “The best way to make a major impact in your
organization? Forge a strong relationship with your
boss…"Managing up" isn't manipulation. It's the surest route to giving your boss the cooperation he needs--and getting the resources you need to excel on the job.”
Communication artifacts are value “proof points”
Communication artifacts are value “proof points”
y Centralize, Centralize, Centralize!
y Our reports are not necessarily your reports
– ASK YOUR STAKEHOLDERS!
y “Communication” NEQ “Reports” – especially in load testing
y Lack of communication hurts you more than them
“It wastes the tremendous communicative power of graphics to use them merely to decorate a few numbers.”
Centralize, Centralize, Centralize!
Centralize, Centralize, Centralize!
y If YOU don’t know
what’s going on, how can you communicate about it externally?
y Your test management
repository is your first communication vehicle
y Must allow for
collaboration (Web-based, not files)
y Must allow for
Our reports are not necessarily your reports (1)
Our reports are not necessarily your reports (1)
y ASK your stakeholders what they want to know
y (Please!) Use the report customization that tools allow
– Default reports are a starting place
Default e-Tester Report
Our reports are not necessarily your reports (2)
Our reports are not necessarily your reports (2)
y Different customers want to see data different ways
y YOU want different customers to see data different ways!
y Actively manage the information flow – no happenstance
Detail Reports Dashboard Reports
“Communication” NEQ “Reports” in Load Testing
“Communication” NEQ “Reports” in Load Testing
y Collaboration during testing is essential for efficiency …
y … so your load tools should allow for collaboration
– Access and manipulate load test data live over the web
y Individual component owners (DBAs, Middleware, Apps, Network, ISP, Hoster, LOB, etc.) need to analyze load test data during the test…
y
...but the data each one needs is different!
– Multiple users logged into the same load session separately
Load Testing Tools DON’T Collaborate
Load Testing Tools DON’T Collaborate
y Load Testing Tools Apply Load and Make Measurements
y People (and their expertise & experience) Find Bottlenecks &
Resolve Them
y Collaboration With Experts Resolves Issues Faster & Cheaper
y Key to Successful Collaboration = Access to People & Access to
Measurements
In Load Testing, Communication is Real-Time
In Load Testing, Communication is Real-Time
y e-Load 8 is Web-enabled to allow collaboration
y Massive tuning efficiency gains when used properly
y Invite the business to attend!
Each user can view results from the same load test as it runs
A Word About Leadership
A Word About Leadership
y Taking the Lead Isn’t Easy
y Outside Consultants & Tool Vendors Do This All the Time! Why?
– We Get Paid on Results
– We Know it Gets the Job Done
– Internal “Walls” Don’t Bother Us
– You Can Do the Same Thing!
y Know Your Subject, Know Your Limits … People Like to Help, Just ask them!
Visit QAZone for the slides
Visit QAZone for the slides
y http://qazone.empirix.com
y Free resource, open to all
(Empirix & non-Empirix users)
– Forums (both QA-centric and Product related discussions)
– Knowledge Base
– Resource Center
– Events, Announcements, Community & Industry News
y Allows members to interact
with peers, industry experts and a larger Empirix audience
Thinking about it…some case studies
Summary
Summary
y Enterprise IT is changing… So…
y Your career is tied to your relationship to the business
y It’s up to you to communicate and build that relationship
Thank You!
Thank You!
y Dan Koloski
Director of Strategy, Web Business Unit Empirix