Managers Introduction to TDD

Abstract

Agile software development is an approach rather than a defined methodology. Many distinct software development techniques and practices may be used in an agile context. How is a project manager to know which practices add value and which do not? This session focuses on one popular agile practice in particular: Test-Driven Development (TDD). The effect of TDD on project financials and timeline, on product quality, and on product longevity in production are explained. Managers also have the opportunity to experience the workflow of TDD first-hand using a tool with which most are familiar: Microsot Excel.

Co-presenter: Dave Nicolette

An IT professional since 1977, Dave has been heavily involved with agile software development since 2002. He is a senior consultant with Valtech Technologies where he serves as an agile team coach and mentor and ScrumMaster for clients and for internal development teams. He is active in local user groups and the online agile community, and appears as a speaker and workshop facilitator at industry conferences. His main professional interest is in helping drive industry adoption of agile and lean principles and practices, especially organizational transformation of large enterprises.

Co-presenter: Karl Scotland

Karl is a versatile software practitioner with a wide range of skills, including development, project management, team leadership, coaching and training. He has worked on domains including multimedia, neural network, interactive TV, billing and the web, and has experienced both a complete lack of process, and an overly rigorous one. When he discovered XP, and was given the opportunity to use it, he embraced it enthusiastically, and has never looked back. Karl is currently Engineering Program Manager with Yahoo! Europe, as well as championing agile software development within the London office. He has previously spent 5 years with BBC Interactive leading a team that developed software which delivered 78 services in 12 months, a feat which could not have been achieved without agility.

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