Subject: SPIN Meeting Announcement - Tuesday, January 15, Date: Sun, 23 Dec 2001 17:24:09 -0500 Our meeting location is at The MITRE Corporation! Because of security concerns, you'll need a Picture ID. And it's best to leave all carrying bags, backpacks, and briefcases in your car. Any items you do bring with you will be opened and inspected when you arrive. Software Process Improvement Network (SPIN) Meeting Announcement Topic: Writing Testing Lessons Speaker: James Bach When: Tuesday, January 15, 2001. 6:30pm-8:30pm 6:30-7:00 Networking and Round Tables 7:00-7:10 Announcements 7:10-8:10 Presentation 8:10-8:30 Questions and Answers Who: Everyone (Industry, Government, Academia) Location: The MITRE Corporation, 202 Burlington Rd. (Rt. 62), Building S, Bedford, MA 01730 More Info: See our web page, http://www.cs.uml.edu/Boston-SPIN (soon to be www.bostonspin.org) For SPIN info, contact Linda McInnis, LindaMcInnis@yahoo.com Boston SPIN meetings are free. No RSVP is necessary. Abstract: A year ago, Cem Kaner, Bret Pettichord and I became frustrated with the preachy and hidebound way that testing textbooks are written. We decided to try to write a different kind of testing book one where we offered, as simply and plainly as we could, useful advice about testing. We managed to write the book in about 5 weeks of furious work. Along the way, we learned a lot about putting wisdom into words; and what we learned may be relevant to any tester, in any company, who is trying to codify a test methodology and pass along what they know. About the Speaker: James Bach James Bach is the founder of Satisfice, Inc., a test training and consulting company in Virginia. James specializes in training testers in the art of high accountability exploratory testing. With Cem Kaner and Bret Pettichord, he is the author of Lessons Learned in Software Testing: A Context-Driven Approach. Boston SPIN Book Discussion Roundtable: Corps Business : The 30 Management Principles of the U.S. Marines by David H. Freedman Facilitator: Barbara Purchia Editorial Review: Amazon.com In Corps Business, author David Freedman examines the organization and culture of the United States Marine Corps and sees "the best management training program in America." For this book Freedman, a senior editor at Forbes ASAP and author of Brainmakers, trained with the Corps and interviewed scores of marines of every rank to discover 31 management principles "built around simple truths about human nature and the uncertainties of dynamic environments.... The Marines are used to facing entrenched enemies, short time-frames, chaotic conflicts, and unfavorable terrain --all of which have come to be hallmarks of the New Economy." Some of the ideas that Freedman encountered include Principle No. 1: "Aim for the 70-percent solution. It's better to decide quickly on an imperfect plan than to roll out a perfect plan when it's too late"; Principle No. 13: "Manage by end state and intent. Tell people what needs to be accomplished and why, and leave the details to them"; and Principle No. 21: "Establish a core identity. Everyone in the organization should feel they're performing an aspect of the same job." It's hard to argue with two centuries of battlefield success, and the wisdom and time-tested management philosophy dissected here should be a valuable prescriptive for any organization hell-bent on winning. --Scott Harrison Come join us on January 15 for a lively discussion of this book. About the Roundtables: Roundtables are focused group or "birds-of-a-feather" discussions, with a facilitator, to stimulate and moderate discussion. Roundtables are held during the Networking portion of the SPIN meeting. See our web page, http://www.cs.uml.edu/Boston-SPIN (soon to be www.bostonspin.org) to see which topics are selected for this SPIN meeting. Do It Yourself Resource Table: We are making available a Resource Table where you can place copies of Job Postings, Announcements, Resumes, Call for Papers and other Notices for SPIN attendees. Directions: A map and directions are attached to thismessage to ensure that you get our NEW location. Coming from 128 South or North 1. Take Exit 32A onto Route 3 North. 2. Proceed two miles on Route 3 North and take the first Exit 26 (for Route 62 Bedford). 3. Go down the ramp to the traffic signal. Continue straight across Route 62 onto Crosby Drive. 4. After a short hill, take the first right into the MITRE campus. 5. Follow the driveway, which bears left and then right and turn right into the parking lot (immediately after the third speed bump). 6. Walk into the courtyard between Buildings K and S and enter the S lobby to sign in. From New Hampshire 1 Take Route 3 South to Exit 26 (for Route 62 Bedford). 2. Turn Left on Route 62. 3. After going under Route 3 take a left at the traffic signal onto Crosby Drive. 4. After a short hill, take the first right into the MITRE campus. 5. Follow the driveway, which bears left and then right and turn right into the parking lot (immediately after the third speed bump). 6. Walk into the courtyard between Buildings K and S and enter the S lobby to sign in. From Logan Airport 1. Go through tunnel to Route 93 North. 2. Take Route 93 North eleven miles to Exit 37B (Route 128 (I-95) South). 3. Take Route 128 (I-95) South six miles to Exit 32A (Route 3 North). 4. After a short hill, take the first right into the MITRE campus. 5. Follow the driveway, which bears left and then right and turn right into the parking lot (immediately after the third speed bump). 6. Walk into the courtyard between Buildings K and S and enter the S lobby to sign in. Cancellations (including weather cancellations): Starting at 3pm, we'll notify you via email to the SPIN distribution list, we'll post the notice on the SPIN web page, and we'll send the cancellation announcement to Channel 7 TV and WRKO AM 680. SPIN Sponsors: MITRE Corp., Bedford, MA http://www.mitre.org Raytheon Corp., Lexington, MA, http://www.raytheon.com Edelman & Associates, http://www.edeltech.com Quality Search, Inc., http://www.qualsearch.com We thank the Computer Science department of UMass-Lowell for providing support and hosting our web page.