URL www.testingspot.net

Agile Alliance Board position statement for Erik Petersen

I've been in software development since 1986, mostly small teams on agile-style high risk custom software projects. My main focus now is testing and system test automation. I have also worked on several XP-based projects, as well as consulting and training. I've presented to user groups, conferences (won 2 best presentations and a best paper), and been heavily involved in mailing lists since 1996 (being in Australia, email can travel much easier than I can). Some of my discussions on the Agile-testing list have been very vibrant! Ive helped authors by reviewing various book drafts including

• The Art of Agile Development (Shore) ,
• Agile Estimating and Planning (Cohn),
• Manage It! (Rothman),
• Everyday Scripting with Ruby (Marick).

I'm known for my ideas on exploratory testing (co-discovering paired exploratory testing in 2001) and bug clusters (having opened the eyes of hundreds of developers and testers to them).

I'm also known for my passion for effective, appropriate software. This passion has to remain the focus of the Agile Alliance. On the flip side, we also need to work with commercial interests to get the software to users. We need to manage the momentum as agile goes mainstream, providing support for the design, development and delivery of software, while also sponsoring the search for tomorrows methods and tools. While many programs address this already, it seems there is a grass roots clamor for more. Anyone with a good idea and a plan could get a program running, and I encourage you to do so.

Personally, I want to address a challenge from Brian Marick, who recently stated the AA has failed to engage executives. I want to start an executive outreach program. We already work closely with customers, but I want to engage potential customers as well. My initial ideas include

• collating introductory material (or links) at the AA site,
• providing experience reports from executives (or links) at the AA site,
• providing guidance on agile criteria in the selection of software services or packages vendors (e.g look for TDD, regular customer releases, etc),
• providing guidance on the oversight of agile projects
• "talking to the customer", liasing with CIO and business groups to understand their other interests in "agile".

We can then leverage the IT media for publicity. There are articles being written that we should be able to provide supporting material for. We must educate the marketplace, so they understand what to look for and what makes software agile. Executives need to know Agile software is a logical first option not just a last resort, and bad software hiding under an agile banner is just false advertising.

Ideally, I'd like to augment a web and media presence with provision of AA members as speakers to local business-focussed IT groups (if this isn't happening already).

I've started a stub of an Agile For Executives wiki at agileforexecs.wikidot.com.

If you share my vision and passion, please consider voting for me. If you share my passion, consider taking the pledge. Feel free to email any questions/concerns (or your interest in contributing to my executive outreach proposal, or even new links for the testing spot) to

Tip of the Day - Check out Levi hand signal technique