RBCS Logo
Newsletter 
August 2010
 
In This Issue
Free Webinars
E-Learning Courses
Free Preview of E-Learning Course
ISTQB Certified Tester Courses
Other Public Courses
Green Tip
Lessons from Toyota's Debacle
Advanced Technical Test Analyst
Current RBCS E-Learning Courses
August "Rexisms"
Win an E-Learning Course!
Article Headline
RBCS Sponsors Bulverde Football
 

Quick Links
 

 Free Webinars
 

 
Test Return on Investment
 
 September 7, 2010
 swiss Q
Earn 1.5 PDUs for this course 
 
 
Advanced Software Testing:  Pairwise Testing

 October 5, 2010
 
Hiring Great Testers

 
November 2, 2010

swiss Q
Earn 1.5 PDUs for this course
 
Advanced Software Testing:  Testing Complex Logic with Domain Analysis
December 2, 2010

Get more information and register today!

 

 E-Learning Courses 

Assessing Your Test Team 
 
 US$ 499 

ISTQB Test Engineering Foundation  
 

PMI

Earn 22.5 PDUs for this course
 US$ 899
 

ISTQB Advanced Test Analyst
 
US$ 999 

ISTQB Advanced Technical Test Analyst

Sale $899(Regular $999)

ISTQB Advanced Test Manager      

PMI
 

Earn 31 PDUs  for this course 
 US$ 999 
  
Managing the Testing Process 

 
US$ 499


Pragmatic Software Testing
 
US$ 449
 

Requirements Engineering Foundation  

US$ 799
 

Risk Based Testing

US$ 449
 

Software Test Estimation
 
US$ 499


Each course includes three months of on-line access, notesets and text books where applicable, exercises and either sample exam questions (for ISTQB courses) or knowledge-check questions (for other courses). ISTQB courses are written against the latest ISTQB Foundation and Advanced syllabi released in 2007.  Prices shown are for asynchronous courses (pure e-learning).  Blended courses (with a facilitator) and custom training packages are also available. 

For more information and to purchase today click here!
 

Preview the Foundation Level E-Learning Course for Free
 
 If you would like to try the first two chapters of our Test Engineering Foundation e-learning course for free and without obligation click here to access it.
 
ISTQB Certified Tester
Public Courses 
  

Test Engineering Foundation Level

 

 swiss Q 
 Earn 22.5 PDUs for this course
 
September 13-16,
Toronto, Canada
 
 October 19-22,
Washington, DC
 

November 1-4,
Boston, MA

Advanced Test Manager 

PMI

Earn 32.5 PDUs for this course
 

 
September 13-17,
Atlanta, GA
 
November 1-5,
Seattle, WA
 
December 6-10,
Silver Spring, MD
     

Advanced Test Analyst
 
  
 
 
September 27-October 1,
San Diego, CA
 
October 11-15,
McLean, VA
 
November 15-19,
Austin, TX
 
November 29-December 3, Toronto, Canada

Get more information and register today!  
 

Other Public Courses 
 

Managing the Testing Process 
 
November 29 - December 1,
Atlanta, GA
 

Requirements Engineering Foundation 

November 15-17,
San Francisco, CA
 

Get more information and register today!
 

Green Tip 
 

recycle globeNext time you're at the grocery store, pay attention to how much packaging all of the food comes in. You can reduce your household waste by purchasing items that have minimal packaging, buying the largest size of an item you can reasonably use, and buying in bulk.

Tip provided by our partner BeGreen www.BeGreennow.com.   

Dear Reader,

It's that time again: time for another dose of software testing facts, news, and trivia from RBCS.  I hope you had a great summer, and are looking forward to a productive fall.

Since we have a full newsletter, I'm going to keep this intro letter brief.  We've got a short article for you about quality lessons you can learn from Toyota's problems.  We also have a pointer to a recorded webinar, where you can learn about what we've learned from test assessments.

Speaking of webinars, we've got a special treat below for those who attend our webinars.  Here's a hint: It's about e-learning, and there's some more information about our e-learning, too.

Of course, we've got the usual batch of Rexisms--along with a guest-ism.  Take a look--and submit your own ism for next time.

Finally, I hope you enjoy the newsletter.  Perhaps you feel it doesn't come frequently enough?  For those of you who want a more regular dose of software testing facts, or those of you who want to discuss a topic with me, check out the RBCS Blog.  You can read my about-once-a-week thoughts on software testing, comment on what I've written, and even ask me to post on something specific.

Regards,
Rex Black, President
 
fb icon
twitter icon
Become a fan of RBCS on Facebook and follow RBCS on Twitter to network with other testers, and to receive up to the minute event schedules, news, and exclusive offers and discounts.
 
RBCS Podcast Listen to us on iTunes!
 
YouTube Subscribe to our video channel on YouTube!  
 
 
   
How to Improve Software Quality: Lessons from Toyota's Debacle 
by Rex Black 
 

How the mighty have fallen.  Starting in the 1980s, Japanese companies became legendary for quality, and none more legendary than Toyota.  Today, Toyota leads the news ­due to quality problems.  The situation is so severe that Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda personally appeared at a Congressional hearing.  In that hearing, Toyoda said, "We know that the problem is not software, because we tested it." 

Is this a realistic way to think about software quality assurance?  In fact, increasing indications (including reliable information from confidential sources in Japan) are that some of the problems are software-related.  Let's look at the quality and testing lessons IT professionals draw from Toyota's debacle.  Who knows, this article might help you avoid a sweaty session in front of angry Congresspeople. Let's start with that quote from Toyoda, because it's so categorical­ and so wrong. 

 
View the original article in its entirety at eWeek or on our Blog Page.
 
 
ISTQB logoDid You Hear? ISTQB  Certified Tester Advanced Technical Test Analyst is Now Available!  
 
Over time, we have received countless requests for the ISTQB Certified Tester Advanced Technical Test Analyst course.  Written by Rex Black and Jamie Mitchell, this training course presents a comprehensive overview of methods and techniques for deriving and specifying software tests based on the system's requirements and design ("black box tests") as well as its implementation and structure ("white box tests"). Upon completing the course, attendees will be able to select and apply techniques for test case derivation such as state-based testing and control flow testing as well as static and dynamic analysis. We look at non-functional testing techniques such as reliability testing, portability testing, performance, load and stress testing. We also discuss how to succeed in building robust automation architectures and using a variety of tools to reach a quality target.  
 
To purchase your e-learning version of this course for a special promotional rate of $899 (regularly priced $999), visit our store today!  You will have course access within hours!
 
To attend live public delivery of the course, visit our store.  Live course delivery dates to be scheduled soon.  
 
This course has been submitted for accreditation. This course follows the ISTQB Advanced Level Syllabus 2007.


Blended e-learning, licenses and volume discounts are also available for companies.
 
 
RBCS E-Learning  
 
Advances in technology, busy schedules and affordability have contributed to the overwhelming popularity of online training in almost every industry.  Because  of increasing demand, we have tripled our e-learning course line up over a very short period of time.  In fact, a team of RBCS employees are dedicated solely to the development of new e-learning courses, and the enhancement of existing e-learning courses.
 
Whether you require a certification course or a non-certification course, all courses include three months of unlimited online access with an option to purchase an additional three months for a low fee of $25.

Take a look at our current stock of e-learning courses and click on the course name for detailed information regarding learning objectives and included materials. 

Certification courses:

Requirements Engineering Foundation (an IREB and IIBA course) 
ITSQB Test Engineering Foundation Level

ISTQB Certified Tester Advanced Test Analyst
ISTQB Certified Tester Advanced Technical Test Analyst       
ISTQB Certified Tester Advanced Test Manager   
ISTQB Certified Tester Advanced - FULL (package)

Non-Certification courses:

Assessing Your Test Team
Managing the Testing Process                                    
Pragmatic Software Testing                                      
Risk Based Testing                                                     
Software Test Estimation   

Bulk discounts, enterprise licenses and reseller licenses are available.   Email us at info@rbcs-us.com or call us at +1 (830) 438-4830 today!

 
 
August "Rexisms" & a Guest "Ism" 

Some of you may have heard Rex's sayings over the years. We decided to coin them "Rexisms" for your reading pleasure. So here they are to ponder - some useful aphorisms to help you plan, prepare, perform, and perfect your testing activities, compiled from over a quarter-century of software and systems engineering experience.  
  • "The CEO of Toyota said, 'We know that the problem is not software, because we tested it.'  That's okay.  I'm not surprised that a car-company CEO does not understand the limitations of software testing.  I was the only one to correct him on it publicly.  That's not okay." 
  • "Quick: Give me the elevator speech on why what you do for your organization matters."
In June, we put out a call for "isms," asking you to share a priceless tidbit, quote or saying regarding software testing.  We looked at your responses and decided to share this gem from Anthony Bock, Test Lead, Independent Verification Services, SingTel Optus Australia:
  • "90% of the project takes 90% of the time.  The last 10% seems to take another 90% of the time!"
Got an "ism" of your own?  Send it to info@rbcs-us.com for possible inclusion in the next newsletter. 
 
 
 No Purchase Necessary to Win:
Attend a Free Webinar, and You Might Win an E-Learning Course of your Choice
 

 
We realize that budget and time constraints can prevent individuals or test teams from attending training.   With that in mind, we introduced our free webinar series last year, in the depths of the Great Recession.  Once a month, Rex Black presents a 90 minute Webinar, not once, but twice, to make sure it's convenient for all our clients and colleagues, all around the world.


Because the recession seems to be sticking around longer than anyone might want, we decided last month to begin our "attend a webinar, win an e-learning course" giveaway. Webinar attendees are automatically entered into a drawing to win their choice of an e-learning course.  Congratulations to Rawane Imadi who was our randomly selected winner after the August 3, 2010 webinar, "Advanced Software Testing: Use Cases."


Visit our training page to see a complete webinar schedule and a list of our e-learning courses! Winners can choose any one of our Green Delivery e-learning courses.  The winner then receives three months of unlimited access to online course, just like a paying customer. (The only difference is that we cannot include exam voucher for winners who choose certification courses.) Being Green Delivery courses, they have no carbon footprint, which means no include hardcopy materials or textbooks need be sent.  Everything is bundled in the e-learning course.   


So just sign up for a webinar, show up at whichever webinar session is most convenient, and--who knows--you might be the lucky winner of some valuable free training.  Either way, you're sure to learn something.
 
What Would You Find if You
Assessed Your Test Process?
 

As you might know, RBCS offers detailed test process assessments for clients around the world.  In the course of these assessments, RBCS consultants have uncovered some interesting--and at times surprising--findings for our clients.  Are you interested?  Rex has done a popular keynote speech on this topic at conferences around the world, but you can check out the recorded webinar from the convenience of your computer.  Just go to Six Surprising Findings from Test Assessments.  Don't have time to watch the webinar? Just read the slides! 
 
 
 RBCS Sponsors Bulverde Football
Bulverde Football
RBCS, Inc. is a proud sponsor of Bulverde Football, the home of the Bulverde Texans.  Go, fight, win, Texans!