Mar 15, 2020
The SPaMCAST 590 features my interview with Nancy Kastl. Nancy and I discussed testing and the future of the testing profession. The future of testing is not cut and dry; in the short run more automation and in the long-term more codeless testing and AI might replace entry-level testers. An eye-opening interview!
Nancy’s Bio:
Nancy Kastl is an accomplished professional with over thirty-five years of experience as a consultant, facilitator, and instructor in software quality and testing. As an entrepreneur and consultant, she brings her expertise in strategic planning, quality management, software testing, process re-engineering, and measurement to every engagement.
As the executive director of SPR’s Testing Services, she provides thought leadership to clients, formulates solutions to their needs, and provides daily guidance and oversight to SPRs on-shore testing team in Chicago. She is the founder and President of the Chicago Quality Assurance Association. Nancy is a frequent conference speaker and served as the QUEST conference chairperson for twelve years. She loves photography, being surrounded by nature, and traveling.
Reach out to Nancy on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/nancy-kastl-416170
And check out SPR at https://spr.com/work/
Re-Read Saturday News
This week we continue our re-read of Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High, Second Edition by Patterson, Grenny, McMillan, Switzler with Chapter 3, Start With Heart. This chapter begins to teach the reader “how” to dialog. Start with heart means that we have to establish our goal before getting involved in a dialog.
Week 1 - Logistics, Forewards, and Preface - http://bit.ly/2wls1Mq
Week 2 - Chapter 1: What’s a crucial conversation? And who cares? - http://bit.ly/3a7Kivp
Week 3 – Chapter 2: The Power of Dialogue – http://bit.ly/3aO4cMa
Week 4 - Chapter 3: Start With Heart - http://bit.ly/2UbJizK
If you do not have a copy or have tossed it at someone during a crucial conversation, it is time to buy a copy. Please use the link https://amzn.to/34RuZ6V (using the link helps support the blog and podcast).
Book Club Starting Soon
Jon M Quigley and I are starting an online book club to read and discuss the classic books that underpin the lean, quality and agile movements. The name of the book club is “Quality, Agile, and Lean Classic Books: Greatness in the Workplace”. The first book is Out Of The Crisis by Deming (don’t have a copy — https://amzn.to/32XAH81)
We are starting our dialog on Friday, April 10th and the event will run over 7 sessions (we will avoid as many religious and national holidays as possible). We are only opening 10 seats for each group of sessions. We are changing a one time fee of $3.13 which equates to 4.95 (ish) once Eventbrite factors in their fees to encourage people that sign up to show up.
More information and sign up at http://bit.ly/2IsPPkf
Next SPaMCAST
The SPaMCAST 591 will feature my interview with Shelisa Bainbridge. Shelisa is the Head of Human Centered Delivery (HCD) at Agile by Design. We talked about human-centered design, why design thinking is important, women in tech and agile, and more. This is a powerful interview with a ton of useful ideas.
Also, I may have some special content in the feed over the next few weeks. A little lagniappe because we all deserve it right now.