Specification by example (SBE) is a collaborative approach to defining requirements and tests for based on capturing realistic examples instead of abstract statements. It is the corner-stone of any successful requirements and testing and requirements strategy with agile and lean processes, such as Scrum, Extreme Programming and Kanban.

This half-day or one day awareness seminar is aimed to motivate and inform a larger group about behaviour driven development and specification by example. As a result, the particopants will have a good foundation for further research and adopt the chosen practice faster by avoiding common problems.

Key learning points

This seminar is based on Gojko Adzic’s books Specification by Example, Bridging the Communication Gap and Fifty Quick Ideas to Improve Your Tests. The key learning objectives for the participants are:

• key benefits that successful teams get from specification by example
• key principles underlying successful process implementations: deriving scope from goals, specifying collaboratively, illustrating using examples, refining specifications, automating validation without changing specifications, validating frequently and evolving a living documentation system
• key practices to support the principles, and how teams use them in different contexts, from investment banking to web development, from small collocated teams to distributed groups of teams
• how specification by example fits into Kanban/Scrum
• getting started – key steps to take and key things to watch out for

Feedback from previous participants:

• Great value achieved, specifications with examples and executable specifications will become an important addition to our agile processes. I have already managed to inspire our Test Manager and key team member of our teams – Martin Fredriksson, Technical Architect, Centiro Solutions AB
• It is a good intro to the topic and it is well worth attending. It gives a lot of ‘aha’ thoughts – Stefan Schwartz, Software Configuration Manager, ICA AB
• Good training to learn about improving requirements process – Jan Van Reusel, Software Factory Manager, Cegeka
• Supports formal Agile training brilliantly as it gives you insight to real, practical techniques and examples that will help facilitate true collaboration and as a result eliminate waste and raise quality – Jenny Martin, Systems Delivery Manager, Groupe Aeroplan
• Highly recommend it. Definitely takes quality techniques to a new level – Drew Preston, Development Services Manager, G3 Global
• So much challenging and interesting information on eliminating waste in software development. Everyone should join – Morgan Johnston, Agile Lead/Developer, Digiterre
• It was very helpful to start questioning myself on better ways to get requirements – Benjamin Arroyo, Software Consultant, Bespokia Ltd
• Thought provoking, inspiring, collaborative. Don’t think about it, just go — Chris Carney, Quality Engineering, UBS