Quality Talks Podcast

Quality Talks Podcast
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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. 16H AGO

    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

  2. MAR 11

    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

    1h 22m

  3. MAR 4

    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

  4. FEB 25

    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

    1h 20m

  5. FEB 18

    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

  6. FEB 11

    Quality As A System: How Systemic Thinking Can Transform Quality with Philippa Jennings

    Summary In this episode of the Quality Talks podcast, host Stu Day and guest Philippa Jennings delve into the intricate relationship between systems thinking and quality. They explore how quality is not merely a function of testing but a holistic system that involves people, processes, and culture. Philippa shares her insights on the importance of psychological safety, effective communication, and the need for collaboration across teams. The conversation emphasises the significance of understanding the problem before seeking solutions and the role of leadership in fostering a culture that prioritises quality. Key takeaways include the need for feedback loops, the impact of metrics on behaviour, and the importance of defining quality within an organisation. Takeaways Quality does not equal testing; it's a holistic system.Psychological safety is essential for open communication.Collaboration should be prioritised over individual metrics.Understanding the problem is crucial before finding solutions.Feedback loops are vital for continuous improvement.Culture and values significantly influence team behaviour.Metrics should encourage quality, not just speed or quantity.Testing should focus on baking quality in from the start.Effective communication goes beyond just moving tickets.Leadership plays a key role in shaping quality culture. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Overview of Systems Thinking 03:04 Philippa Jennings: Journey into Quality and Testing 05:52 Shift Left: Understanding the Concept and Its Implications 08:28 Quality as a System: Exploring Systemic Quality 11:17 The Seven Parts of Quality as a System 16:23 The Importance of People in Quality Systems 21:55 Understanding Problems: The Key to Quality 27:06 Processes and Workflows: Ensuring Quality Throughout 32:45 The Role of Technology and Tools in Quality 38:35 Conclusion: The Future of Quality in Systems Thinking 41:08 The Impact of Tools on Work Processes 42:07 Understanding Feedback Loops 46:40 The Importance of Monitoring and Metrics 50:29 Cultivating a Culture of Psychological Safety 01:02:46 Leadership and Decision-Making in Quality 01:10:22 Key Takeaways for Quality Improvement 01:16:32 Close

    1h 17m

  7. FEB 4

    The Small Changes Series: Ep1 - Making Quality Visible

    Summary Introducing a new Quality Talks Podcast bitesize series focusing on Small Changes That Make a Big Difference To Quality In this 1st episode - Making Quality Visible, Chris and Stu share their top tips on how you can do this which include, the importance of reporting on impact rather than just activity, visualising risk, making quality conversations unavoidable, and the significance of delivering bad news calmly. Takeaways Stop reporting activity and report on impact.Visualising risk is crucial for understanding quality.Make quality conversations unavoidable.Don't be afraid to share bad news early.The art of storytelling makes quality relatable.Understanding your audience is key to effective communication.Quality advocates should encourage discussions at all levels.Feedback, whether good or bad, is essential for growth.Calmly delivering bad news builds confidence in your audience.Quality conversations should be integrated into all aspects of the organisation. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the Bite-Sized Series 01:37 Reporting Impact vs. Activity 06:33 Visualising Risk in Quality 11:39 Making Quality Conversations Unavoidable 16:44 Sharing Bad News Calmly 25:37 Challenge for the Audience 26:29 End

    27 min
  8. Feeling Behind With AI? Don't Panic, You Are Not Alone - with Ash Gawthorp

    JAN 28

    Feeling Behind With AI? Don't Panic, You Are Not Alone - with Ash Gawthorp

    Summary In this episode of the Quality Talks podcast, host Stu Day and guest Ash Gawthorp discuss the rapid changes in the tech industry driven by AI advancements. They explore the implications of Andrej Karpathy's tweet expressing feelings of inadequacy among programmers, the evolving nature of software development, and the critical role of testing in ensuring quality in AI-driven systems. The conversation emphasises the importance of human oversight, the need for explicit verification, and the evolving dynamics between developers and testers in a landscape where AI is increasingly taking on coding tasks. Key insights highlight the value of existing software testing skills in navigating this new environment and the necessity of adapting to maintain confidence in software outputs. Useful Links: Ten10 Website: https://ten10.com/ Ash Gawthorp's Article: https://ten10.com/blog/why-software-testing-just-became-the-most-important-skill-in-technology/ Andrej Kaparthy's Tweet: https://x.com/karpathy/status/2004607146781278521 Boris Cherny Tweet: https://x.com/bcherny/status/2004887829252317325 Takeaways Many in tech feel overwhelmed by rapid AI advancements.Andrej Karpathy's tweet resonated with many programmers.The pace of change in software development is unprecedented.Testing is crucial in AI-driven development environments.Human oversight is essential in AI applications.Testers have a unique skill set that is increasingly valuable.Observability and testability are paramount in AI systems.The role of the verifier is becoming more important than the builder.Imposter syndrome is common among experienced professionals.Continuous quality is vital in software development.  Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the Tech Landscape in 2026 02:50 The Impact of AI on Software Development 06:14 The Shift in Software Development Workflows 10:22 The Non-Deterministic Nature of AI 11:33 Building Confidence in AI Outputs 15:34 The Role of Testing in AI Development 17:27 The Importance of Skepticism in Testing 21:25 Prompt Engineering and Its Challenges 22:52 Verification and Observability in AI Systems 28:05 Human Oversight in AI Development 31:45 The Evolving Role of Testers 37:06 The Future of Software Development and Testing 43:59 Key Takeaways and Closing Thoughts 49:52 Close

    50 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
    44
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Quality Talks Podcast
  • Show Website
    Quality Talks Podcast