Date: 03 July 2008
Time: 8.00 am
Location: Burlington Hotel, Upper Leeson Street, Dublin 4
Sogeti hosted a special open half-day event in Dublin on Thursday, July 3rd. The theme of the event was "The Business Value of Test"
It was well attended by senior IT professionals and managers with responsibility for software quality.
All presentations can be downloaded by following the links below.
The fast-moving agenda started by looking at Test as a value add business rather than just a necessary technical activity and how to develop a business plan for testing or a business case for investment in any aspect of testing. This was followed by a series of presentations that reviewed the specific requirements to develop a business case for investment in Agile, Test Automation and Outsourcing (near-shore and far-shore). The presentations concluded with a review of the appropriate metrics to support the investment decision and to monitor performance against plan.
This was followed by highly interactive discussion facilitated by Susan Windsor, WMHL Consulting.
Presentations
Test as a Business within a Business - Declan Kavanagh. This presentation suggested that running your test organisation like your own business, with best practice business principles, significantly improves the performance of test and the visibility of its value to the organisation's business. This presentation reviewed and discussed the use of appropriate tools and techniques for managers to take steps to develop an entrepreneurial approach.
Top 10 Tips: Preparing a business case/plan for investment in Test - Declan Kavanagh. This presentation took participants through a complete test business planning cycle from defining the current situation to preparing a plan for the target situation. The target situation being identified as visible enhanced value perception (and reality) from the organisational investment in testing.
The Business Case for Agile - John McArdle. This presentation outlined how to identify if there is a business case for the introduction of Agile methods and how to prepare the way for a pragmatic introduction of appropriate methods.
The Business Case for Test Automation - Fran O'Hara. This presentation looked at the key issues that should be addressed when considering and introducing test automation, how to prepare a business case and ensure the identified return on investment (ROI) is achieved.
The Business Case for In/Outsourcing - Declan Kavanagh. This presentation reviewed and discussed the key considerations when considering in- or outsourcing of test (including near and far-shore); in particular, what are the risks, how can they be minimised and where are the hidden costs.
"The importance of metrics in the business" - Fran O'Hara. This presentation looked at the key role metrics play in preparing a business case, to include best practice implementation of metrics and ensuring that the desired benefits are being achieved.