Whatever software testing and QA needs you may have, I'm here to help!  

Whether you need support in software testing consulting, software QA consulting, software testing assessments, or other services, chances are I have "been there, done that" and can help you through the challenges of software testing (I think there is a book on that topic!).

I can even support your testing efforts with an independent test team I have personally trained. These testers are ISTQB Foundation Level certified and have great testing skills. We call this approach "co-sourcing". It is an attractive alternative to traditional test outsourcing. You can learn more by writing me from the Contact Us page.

Here are some of my consulting services. 

Testing Assessments 

I offer a variety of software testing assessments, including software test process assessments, software test tool assessments, and software test team skill assessments.

There are times when you need objective, informed guidance for your software testing and QA efforts. Your needs may be occasional or ongoing, such as helping you grow into the role of software tester or software test manager. 

Here are a few examples of my software testing consulting services: 

Fractional Software QA Director - Hiring a full-time senior director can be costly and somewhat risky. With over 40 years of experience in software quality, leading QA teams, and defining QA programs and processes, I join your senior leadership team to provide strategic direction for your software quality efforts and to establish new processes or improve existing ones.

General Consulting - Whether you have one question or twenty about software testing and quality, I can consult with you either in person or by phone. I can also provide remote consulting via Zoom and similar platforms. For this service, I bill in hourly increments for conference calls and daily rates for in-person visits. 

Mentoring and Coaching - You may need a series of ongoing consultations to help you reach your goals. I can coach and lead you in developing your software testing and leadership skills. Typically, mentoring is conducted monthly in 30-minute sessions via telephone or virtual platforms. 

Project Consulting - If you have a large project with a lot of investment on the line, you need to consider the services of an independent consultant for the following reasons: 

• Added accountability: An independent consultant can ask the hard questions to ensure the project stays true to the test plan. 

• Problem-solving skills: An independent consultant can have an objective view of the problem and its solutions. Plus, a consultant has often seen similar problems in the past and can bring multiple solutions to the table. 

• Candid communication: People tend to delay delivering bad news out of fear. An independent consultant can tell senior management things that employees may be afraid to say. 

Deliverable reviews: It's always a good idea to get external feedback on requirements, use cases, test plans, and other project documents. I have seen many of these types of documents and can typically find gaps and inconsistencies. 

Review facilitation - Reviews depend heavily on effective human interaction. If a project team lacks an effective review moderator, reviews will likely not be successful. I can help mentor moderators and start you on the right footing. 

Software Development Life Cycle Development and Consulting - Without an appropriate SDLC,  there's no structure for software testing, QA, or other project activities. It's not always easy to find the right lifecycle for your projects and organization.  I can help you work through the process of defining a life-cycle project that meets your needs. 

Retainer-based Consulting 

For a reasonable monthly fee, you can have access to me for a set number of hours each month. Whether it's one hour or ten, I can be your accessible software testing resource whenever you need advice, answers, reviews, or any other testing service. Fees depend on the desired time commitment. 

The retainer periods are 6 months and 12 months. I typically do project consulting for a set number of days per month (typically fewer than 5) and focus my efforts on strategic points in the project, such as test planning, test execution, and test evaluation. My project consulting approach is a mix of on-site visits, conference calls, and off-site document reviews. 

To learn more about my consulting approach,  please contact me from the Contact Us page.