Customer Reviews

Managing the Test People: A Guide to Practical Technical Management

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have had the pleasure of working with Judy for almost a decade now, first as a consultant working in her test team at a (long defunct) dot-com era start-up, and more recently with her as an associate working with RBCS from time to time. Judy is always ready to tell the honest truth, and always in a friendly, happy way, and that's the way reading this book feels: Like a friend giving you honest advice, advice you really need and advice you're really happy to receive.

You can tell Judy's been there, done that, and gotten the silly launch T-shirt quite a few times. Here, she shares with you what she's learned about managing a test team in that process. Some of it is painful, but it needs to be said. Much of it is hopeful, positive, and downright funny, though. She'll inspire you to do your best work as a manager, even under tough circumstances.

I already knew this from working with her, and now everyone who reads this book will know: Judy clearly loves being a test professional, and she really wants to see test teams that are well-lead by fellow enthusiasts for the profession. If you are a test manager, whether (though especially) you are new to test management or an experienced old hand, you should pick up this concise yet wide-ranging book. You'll have fun reading it, and you'll be a better test manager for having done so.

Rex Black
President, Rex Black Consulting Services, Inc.
CTO, Pure Testing, Pvt Ltd
President, American Software Testing Qualifications Board
President, International Software Testing Qualifications Board

I am a 23 year veteran developer who got behind the technology curve and ended up in management. Having been self-employed, my people skills were pretty good, but, having been a loner for the most part, my management skills were nil. To the rescue was the book Managing the Test People. The Perfect Beast is the metaphor for an organization charged with testing developed software. The beast must be congenial on the outside and tenacious on the inside in order to accomplish its task. The book is concise yet thorough in the coverage of management topics related to creating and nurturing the beast. It has an easy reading style that makes it ideal for a management neophyte like myself and could easily apply to the management of any technical organization.

This is a good book for those that have chosen to manage technical people. It provides the truth about how it really is as opposed to how it is theoretically supposed to be in any technical leadership role. With the ups and downs in the world of software quality and software development this book is a required tool for those in technical leadership roles that have maintain a world in whic both type of professionals must live. Selecting the right employees, promotions, layoffs, and the aftermath of it all is what a technical leader has to deal with as they rise and fall. A roller coaster ride does not halfway describe the life that one lives in carrying out the required responsibilities and duties in a high tech environment as a leader. Fortunately the author of this book, Judy McKay has over twenty years experience in software management and tells the truth about the profession so what she conveys will help anyone that will be, or has already been in technical management. I would strongly suggest to keep this book at your desk at all times, you will need it as you hold tight for the high tech roller coaster ride. This book is strongly recommended as a reference guide as you begin to or continue to blaze your trail.

As a test lead who may become a test manager soon, I found this book relevant and practical now, but I also plan to reread it when/if I become a manager. I loaned it to my manager, who also said it was good. It's full of relevant stories that reassured me our company is not the only crazy one. A good QA team is as much about people and the relationships between them (and with people in other departments) as it is about bugs and tests. This book covers the big picture of a Test team without blurring too many details.

This book contains good principles for technical management. If you are not in the software test business, there is some irrelevant material to wade through.

Written for managing a test-dept of a software development company, but I still found that 80% of it is good for all of us, even those in small places with just a few people you can use at least 60% of this book, which i consider good when it comes to IT related material.
It is a small but very good book, explains management and leadership in a pretty good way, I found it very useful anyway.
4 out of 5 stars because nothing is perfect - a few small issues, but if you read the first 3 chapters fully, then skim the rest (the whole thing), then start at chapter 4 and read the parts you are interested, you will have covered the shortcomings because you skimmed the rest of it :)

I try not to read others review before writing mine.. But I found this review to hold very true..

"You can tell Judy's been there, done that, and gotten the silly launch T-shirt quite a few times. Here, she shares with you what she's learned about managing a test team in that process. Some of it is painful, but it needs to be said. Much of it is hopeful, positive, and downright funny, though. She'll inspire you to do your best work as a manager, even under tough circumstances"

I wish that we had more people like Judy involved in software development. She really inspired you to make the tough decision that will ensure project success. I found this book both educational and inspirational. A worthwhile read to anyone frustrated with problems in modern software development processes. I would recommend this to anyone consider a future in technical management or software testing. Yes as software engineers we do spend much of our time performing these roles.

This book was a donation to the SGV.Net Developer group. We are a group of software engineers who strive to learn the latest in technology. We would like to thank our supports for providing this book.

MANAGING THE TEST PEOPLE: A GUIDE TO PRACTICAL TECHNICAL MANAGEMENT is a key 'must have' reference for any library catering to business or software managers: it fills a gap in the literature, comes from an author who has some 20 years experience in the software management industry, and tells how to use specific technical management strategies beyond the usual general methods to get the most from a test team. From politics to the special requirements of technical leadership, MANAGING THE TEST PEOPLE comes from real-world case histories and issues and is an excellent business reference.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

Test Scenario - Checking "Managing the Test people" aka "The Book"

Test Input - The book, your favorite drink

Test Action - Reading book on a peaceful evening

Expected Result - "Some" enlightenment on managing QA people

Actual Result - "Exceptional" value addition for all interested QA professionals who want to lead people AND make a difference at their work place. Each and every chapter of this book is very well written making it a pure pleasure to read. Book is full of practical stuff and written in very informal way with no excessive verbose, helping readers to get the underlying thought/point super quick and implement it for better results.

Test Case Status - A big PASS!!