Software Development Productivity
through
Process Customization and Automation
(Joint meeting with IEEE Computer
Society)
October 14, 2010
Speakers: Ryan Gritz, The
Knot, Inc., Mindy Krupp, The Knot, Inc., and Bob Hardister, Overwatch Systems
Abstract:
This presentation will explore the potential benefits of process
development and automation for application lifecycle management (ALM). The
current version, ALM 2.0, describes a vision for the application development
infrastructure that provides functional integration of the software development
lifecycle from high-level customer requirements to code check-in, testing,
release and deployment. This talk will address the potential of ALM 2.0 to
improve collaboration and productivity through cross-functional process
automation. To illustrate the issues, a specific example will be presented
involving SCRUM software development supported by Microsoft’s Visual Studio ALM
toolset including Team Foundation Server (TFS). The presentation will describe
the “out-of-the-box” high level workflows, how these can be adapted and
automated to facilitate implementation and reduce process overhead. The
presentation will show TFS 2008 and a live demonstration of the new TFS 2010
features.
About the Speakers:
Ryan Gritz is the
Director of QA and Release Engineering for The Knot Inc. He has
experience in growing QA organizations, implementing company-wide SDLC
processes, release management, implementing Agile processes, and ALM. At
The Knot he led and coordinated the implementation of TFS to manage the company’s
SDLC processes. As the company evolved from a waterfall approach to Agile
development, he evolved the SDLC within TFS, implemented and grew release
management processes, and grew the QA organization to follow this growth
domestic and internationally.
Mindy
Krupp is Release Coordinator for The Knot Inc. Working closely with Ryan,
she managed the implementation of TFS. She now manages and owns the
change management process for the entire company both in the US and for The
Knot’s China offices. She has spent the last two years developing,
testing, improving and implementing the SDLC both locally and with their
international team. She also works very closely with all teams to
coordinate and schedule all releases to production for the entire company.
Bob
Hardister is a Principal Systems and Software Administrator for Overwatch
Systems, Textron Inc. here in Austin. His experience spans from business
process reengineering through management of software product development. As a
Senior Manager for Deloitte Consulting, Bob led systems analysis and
procurement for state government business process re-engineering projects in
Kentucky, Michigan and Texas. He has introduced and implemented CMMI and Agile
development for multiple software organizations, most of which were supported
using Microsoft’s Team Foundation Server (TFS). He and Ryan are co-founders of
the Austin TFS User Group.