Quality Talks Podcast

Quality Talks Podcast

Stu & Chris together, have more than 30 years combined experience in the quality, software testing and the general technology industry, and on the Quality Talks podcasts they will be discussing, along with special guests, all the hot topics on everyone minds.....and those that may not be :)

  1. 6 DAYS AGO

    From The Royal Air Force to Leading Quality with Stephen Platten

    Summary In this episode Stu Day welcomes Stephen Platten to explore his unique journey from the RAF to software testing, uncovering lessons in leadership, quality, and adaptability that can transform your approach to testing and management. Stephen shares insights on community building, the application of stoic philosophy in testing, and navigating the challenges of AI in the industry. He emphasises the importance of control, organic growth, and resilience in professional development. Discussion Topics: Transition from military to software testing Leadership and trust in teams Lessons in quality engineering and testing strategies Community of practice and organic growth Stoic philosophy applied to testing and industry challenges Managing AI and technological change in testing environments Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Quality Talks Podcast 02:01 Meet Stephen Platten: A Journey from RAF to QA 03:27 Early Days in the RAF: Lessons in Quality 13:15 Transitioning to Civilian Life: From RAF to Software Testing 18:30 Key Lessons and Skills from Military to QA 22:37 Expectations and Communication in the Workplace 25:39 Structure and Freedom in Testing 26:23 Pragmatism in Leadership 30:10 Leadership Lessons from the Military 35:22 Empowering Teams and Mentorship 39:29 Building Communities of Practice 46:02 Navigating Community Engagement Challenges 48:17 The Journey into Stoicism 56:14 The Role of Community in Testing 01:02:13 Adapting to AI in Testing 01:14:10 The Unique Mindset of Testers 01:20:41 End Resources: Stephen Platten on LinkedIn - https://linkedin.com/in/stephenplatten

    1hr 21min

  2. 1 APR

    The Small Changes Series: Ep5 - 5 Steps To Prevent Burnout

    Summary: In this episode, Stu Day explores practical strategies to prevent burnout, emphasising self-awareness, reflection, boundary-setting, and maintaining curiosity. Learn how small daily changes can significantly improve your well-being and sustain high-quality work. Key Take-aways: Acknowledging signals of burnout is the first step to prevention.Regular reflection helps identify patterns and early warning signs.Using tools like the stress bucket and zone model can aid in managing stress.Setting clear boundaries in work hours and communication prevents overwork.Maintaining curiosity keeps your professional role engaging and sustainable. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Burnout Prevention 01:42 Acknowledging and Reflecting on Feelings 05:31 Getting Things Out of Your Head 13:36 Setting Clear Boundaries 19:51 Reach Out & Ask For Help 23:49 Protecting Your Curiosity 26:23 Be At One With Yourself 28:13 Bringing It All Together 30:42 Self Reflection Questions 33:20 Wrapping Up This Series 34:06 End Resources: More on the Stress Bucket, Zone Model and Micro Behaviours can be found in this blog post: https://medium.com/quality-talks/emotional-intelligence-and-micro-behaviours-building-a-culture-of-care-in-tech-leadership-c0da968425dc

    35 min

  3. 25 MAR

    Embracing Creativity: Squiggly Lives Over Squiggly Careers with Luke Lattimer-Rogers

    Summary: In this engaging episode, host Stu Day chats with special guest Luke Lattimer-Rogers about squiggly lives and careers, systems thinking, creativity, and the importance of embracing a non-linear approach to professional growth. They explore how diverse experiences and a humanistic perspective can enhance quality and innovation in tech, and much more. Key Takeaways: Squiggly lives over squiggly careers Systems thinking in tech and quality The role of creativity and storytelling The importance of diverse experiences and learning loops Leadership and organisational culture for squiggly careers Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Squiggly Lives 02:51 The Concept of Squiggly Lives 05:30 Creativity in Careers 08:27 Understanding the Audience 11:11 Bringing Squiggly Lives into Quality 14:14 The Human Element in Quality 17:01 Personal Squiggly Experiences 19:42 Career Progression and Flexibility 22:38 Apprenticeships and Learning 25:13 Team Collaboration and Communication 28:11 The Value of Listening and Observing 36:09 Embracing T-Shaped Teams and Squiggly Careers 37:45 Incentivising Employee Retention and Growth 40:00 The Importance of Mentorship and Cross-Department Collaboration 41:51 Creating a Safe Space for Creativity and Learning 44:43 The Role of Education in Fostering Creativity 48:15 Encouraging Creative Thinking in Tech 52:16 The Value of Failure and Resilience in Creativity 57:52 Diverse Perspectives for Better Outcomes 01:01:25 The Importance of Shadowing and Understanding Roles 01:06:18 Designing Systems for Squiggly Careers Resource Links: Luke Lattimer-Rogers LinkedIn Page: ⁠linkedin.com/in/luke-lattimer-rogers-86461931⁠ Luke's article on squiggly lives: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/squiggly-lives-over-careers-luke-lattimer-rogers-rtole/ Lukes Books - Wisdom of Mud: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0GK57QQ17?binding=kindle_edition&ref_=saga_dp_ss_dsk_sdp&qid=1774349781&sr=8-1

    1hr 15min

  4. 18 MAR

    The Small Changes Series: Ep 4 - Recognising The Signals Of Burnout

    Summary In episode 4 of “The Small Changes” Bitesize Series, Stu Day explores the emotional side of being a quality professional, focusing on burnout signs, causes, and the importance of mental health for quality professionals. Learn how to recognise early warning signs and triggers so that you can act to prevent burnout and maintain high standards along with your own & team well-being. Takeaways 1. Burnout often starts with good intentions and overcommitment. 2. Loss of curiosity is a key sign of emotional fatigue. 3. Feeling responsible for everything can lead to burnout. 4. Constant firefighting drains mental and emotional energy. 5. Early recognition of signs can prevent long-term damage. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Quality Talks Podcast 01:17 Understanding Burnout in Quality Professionals 04:32 The Good Intentions Behind Burnout 08:22 Signs of Burnout: Loss of Curiosity 10:16 Feeling Overwhelmed by Responsibility 13:34 The Impact of Mental Fatigue 16:05 Emotional Shutdown and Disengagement 18:28 Recognising Signs in Yourself and Others 21:48 Reflection on Burnout and Mental Health 25:12 End Resources Mental Health Foundation - https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/

    26 min

  5. 11 MAR

    Bump, Bump, Bump: Surely There’s Another Way - with Chris Pratt

    Summary Join Stu Day and special guest Chris Pratt as they explore the evolution of quality assurance, systems thinking, and the importance of systemic change in software testing. Discover how lessons from manufacturing and historical insights can transform modern quality practices, and how what we consider "new" ideas now, are actually old ideas being recycled. Key topics Systems thinking and its role in qualityHistorical influence of manufacturing on software testingThe shift from inspection to prevention in qualityThe importance of storytelling and communication in qualityChanging organisational culture towards quality Chapters 00:00 Intro: Bump, Bump, Bump 02:56 The Importance of Self-Reflection in Quality 06:46 Challenging Traditional Testing Methods 11:55 The Factory School of Testing 18:03 Realising the Need for Change 22:11 Perception vs. Reality in Quality Assurance 25:19 Shifting the Narrative in Quality Assurance 28:15 The Evolving Role of Quality Professionals 31:35 Navigating Technological Change in Quality Assurance 35:28 Communicating Quality in Business 39:35 Learning from Manufacturing: Quality in Software 43:54 Making the Invisible Visible in Quality Assurance 52:16 Navigating Communication in the Tech World 55:23 The Role of Quality in Testing 58:16 Understanding Context in Quality Practices 01:01:04 The Evolution of Testing and Quality 01:04:14 Systems Thinking in Quality Assurance 01:08:26 The Future of Quality Education 01:12:15 Final Thoughts on Continuous Learning and Quality 01:21:44 Close Resource Links Chris Pratt LinkedIn Chris Pratt's Blog Deming's System of Profound Knowledge The Phoenix Project by Gene Kim, Kevin Behr, and George Spafford The Goal by Eliyahu M. Goldratt - Donella Meadows' Thinking in Systems Rapid Software Testing by James Bach and Michael Bolton

    1hr 22min

  6. 4 MAR

    The Small Changes Series: Ep3 - Influence The System, Not Just The Software

    Summary In this episode, Stu Day shares practical tips for lone QA professionals to influence quality across their teams, by focusing on the system, not just the software. Discover how asking better questions, participating in non-QA meetings, pair testing and publicly recognising quality efforts can drive systemic improvements. Takeaways Asking thoughtful, risk-focused questions can spark wider team discussions.Involving yourself in design and architecture meetings increases influence.Pair testing with developers enhances understanding and qualityPublic recognition of quality efforts boosts morale and encourages best practices. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Influencing Quality as a Lone QA 01:11 The Power of Asking Better Questions 02:14 Questions That Drive Broader Conversations 05:44 Engaging in Non-QA Meetings 06:39 Participating in Design and Architecture Discussions 09:55 Pair Testing with Developers 13:39 Turning Bugs into System Questions 18:15 Publicly Appreciating Quality Contributions 20:53 Influencing Beyond Testing 22:55 Final Thoughts and Community Question 23:37 Close

    24 min

  7. 25 FEB

    It's Quality Party Time: Introducing Wizzo, Your AI Quality Companion - with Christine Pinto

    Summary In this episode of Quality Talks, hosts Stu and Chris welcome Christine Pinto (co-founder & CTPO of Epic Test Quest) to discuss the launch of Wizzo, an AI quality companion designed to enhance team collaboration in software testing. Christine shares insights into the journey of developing Wizzo, emphasising the importance of effective testing that focuses on quality rather than quantity. The conversation explores the role of AI in quality assurance, the significance of defining requirements, how Wizzo's coaching approach fosters human-AI collaboration to improve testing outcomes and much, much more. Key Takeaways Community is essential for innovation and support in AI development.Prompt engineering is complex; tools that minimise prompt needs are valuable.Real-world testing and community feedback accelerate product development. Resources: Christine's LinkedIn Page: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/christine-pinto/⁠ Add Wizzo directly to your Slack: https://api.epictestquest.com/slack/install/direct Try Wizzo out in our Sandbox: https://epictestquest.com/sandbox Join our Community of Design Heroes: https://join.slack.com/t/etqcommunity/shared_invite/zt-3qebb30f5-rM8cpZ6OlDyVc_X3CJS15g Follow ETQ on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/epictestquest Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Anticipation 01:15 Celebrating Wizzo's Launch 05:24 Introducing Wizzo: The AI Quality Companion 12:09 The Role of AI in Quality Assurance 19:11 Human-AI Collaboration in Testing 24:25 Wizzo's Persona and Coaching Approach 26:30 Clarifying AI Interactions 29:21 The Role of AI in Team Dynamics 32:31 Human Oversight vs. AI Autonomy 35:15 Quality Assurance in AI Development 39:38 The Importance of Human Collaboration 43:36 Navigating the Rapid Evolution of AI 52:03 Integrating AI Tools for Efficiency 54:08 The Setup: A Minimalist Approach 56:31 Setting Boundaries in Work and AI 58:05 Community Building: Lessons Learned 01:02:49 The Role of Community in Product Development 01:06:09 Understanding Through Accountability 01:10:50 Exploring Wizzo: The Sandbox Experience 01:17:42 Parting Thoughts: The Importance of Community 01:20:06 End of the Party

    1hr 20min

  8. 18 FEB

    The Small Changes Series: Ep2 - Adding Quality Without Slowing Teams Down

    Summary In the 2nd episode of the Quality Talks Bitesize series: Small Changes That Make a Big Difference to Quality - hosts Stu and Chris discuss their tips on how to enhance quality in teams without causing delays. They explore the perception of quality as a friction point, the importance of focusing on flow rather than gates, and the need to shift conversations left in the development process. The hosts emphasise reducing unnecessary checks and adopting a positive communication approach to foster collaboration and efficiency. Takeaways Quality is often perceived as a friction point in teams.Focusing on flow rather than gates can enhance efficiency.Shifting conversations left helps prevent issues early on.Reducing checks can streamline the quality process.Saying "Yes...AND..." instead of no encourages open communication.Quality should be a continuous process, not a phase.Engaging in early conversations can align team goals.Understanding roles within the team enhances collaboration.Quality coaching is essential for team dynamics.Creating a culture of psychological safety improves communication. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Quality Talks 01:15 Quality as a Friction Point 01:50 Focusing on Flow, Not Gates 06:32 Shifting Conversations Left 09:33 Reducing Rework Instead of Adding Checks 17:34 The Power of 'Yes, And' 25:46 Audience Question 26:29 End

    27 min
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About

Stu & Chris together, have more than 30 years combined experience in the quality, software testing and the general technology industry, and on the Quality Talks podcasts they will be discussing, along with special guests, all the hot topics on everyone minds.....and those that may not be :)

Information

  • Creator
    Quality Talks Podcast
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    47
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Quality Talks Podcast
  • Show Website
    Quality Talks Podcast