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25 October 2000
"Testing Times"
by: Michael Graf – Principal, Testing Services - IBM Global Services Australia and IBM A/NZ Testing Competency Leader.
With the passing of Year 2000 and the emergence of e-business and webcommerce, Information Technology has evolved and emerged as a critical activity for all businesses that operate in the new millennium. However, as developmental research pushes the code out faster, the job of the testers become increasingly difficult. Yet the focus on quality and time to market means that testing needs to be faster and better.... often contradictory aims.
So how do you cope with testing under these conditions? The focus on management of testing, as a stand-alone project or as part of a larger integration project, is increasing. The need for Project Managers to understand, appreciate and deliver testing services is similarly increasing. Today, organisations like IBM and Microsoft, the major financial institutions, and leading government and commercial organisations are prioritising their focus and effort on testing.
Michael spoke on how IBM Global Services Australia has implemented this focus on testing, about some of his experiences over the last 7 years of dedicated testing service.
Click here to view Michael's presentation in Adobe Acrobat format.
Biographical Notes:
Within IBM Global Services Australia, Michael Graf is the Senior Manager responsible for the delivery of Testing Services, across all clients and industries. Within this role, he works with clients and IBM internal departments to ensure that IBM delivers quality testing services in all engagements.
Michael joined IBM in 1990, working within what was the Australian Programming Centre at the time. He took on a key testing role within IBM's delivery of a cross-platform database management system. Over the years, he managed testing teams across a number of projects before taking on the leadership of IBM GSA's Test Centre. This is a dedicated organisation within the company, staffed with more than 300 testing professionals, supporting many clients across a multitude of industries. During these past 7 years, IBM's Testing Services has grown and evolved, living through Year 2000, the introduction of the GST and the explosion of e-Business and web-based development.... all key drivers highlighting the importance of testing.
Michael is also a member of the IBM Software Test global management team, has represented Australia and New Zealand on the IBM Global Services Testing Knowledge Core Team, and is the Testing Competency Leader for Australia and New Zealand.
Our roving digital photographer Graham Oliver snapped these images of the October proceedings.
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