Quality Talks Podcast

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

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

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

Summary

In this episode of the Quality Talks podcast, host Stu Day and guest Megan Ozanne discuss the pitfalls of an automation-first approach in software testing.
They explore the importance of team communication, identifying pain points, and building a capable team.
Megan shares her insights on developing an automation-first maturity model, engaging with stakeholders, and measuring impact.
The conversation also touches on improving communication through techniques like the Three Amigos approach, capturing conversations in tickets, and navigating pushback from leadership.
Megan emphasises the need for empathy in leadership and the challenges of remote work, concluding with key takeaways for listeners.

Takeaways

Start with the conversations, not the test suites.
Fix the conversations that the teams are having.
It's all about conversations.
Engage with stakeholders to drive change.
Everyone's opinion is valid, even if it's not the path you want to go down.
Gather as much data as you can beforehand.
Visibility and communication are key.
Develop an automation first maturity model.
Measure impact through storytelling, not just metrics.
Empathy is crucial in leadership. 

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Quality Talks Podcast
01:49 Understanding the Automation First Trap
04:06 Challenges in Automation Implementation
06:00 The Importance of Team Communication
10:14 Gathering Insights from Team Members
11:35 Using Maturity Models for Team Development
14:20 Engaging with Stakeholders Effectively
17:35 Measuring Impact and Metrics
18:28 Improving Communication with Three Amigos
23:21 Navigating Remote Work Dynamics
27:26 Building Empathy in Leadership
31:20 Conversations with Senior Leadership
35:02 The Challenges of Remote Conversations
38:55 Key Takeaways and Closing Thoughts
40:45 End

Summary

In this episode, hosts Stu Day and Chris Henderson reflect on the year 2025, discussing the growth and engagement of the podcast, the challenges of mental health in the workplace, and the evolving role of AI in shaping careers. 

They emphasise the importance of community support and effective communication in navigating these changes, while also exploring emerging trends in quality engineering and testing for 2026.

Takeaways

2025 has been a year of significant growth for the podcast.
Engagement from listeners has remained high throughout the year.
Mental health challenges in the workplace are prevalent and need addressing.
Control the controllables to navigate mental checkouts.
Metrics should tell a story, not just be numbers.
AI is a tool, but community will shape our careers.
Human interaction will be crucial in the tech industry moving forward.
Continuous learning and adaptation are essential in a rapidly changing environment.
Effective communication is key to influencing teams and driving change.
Leadership in quality requires a broad understanding of various disciplines.

Chapters

00:00 Reflecting on 2025: A Year in Review
21:44 Navigating Mental Checkouts in the Workplace
28:26 The Role of Metrics in Quality Assurance
34:38 AI vs Community: The Future of Careers
36:02 Embracing AI: The Community's Role
46:30 The Future of Work: Human Interaction and AI
56:51 Trends in Quality Engineering: Skills for 2026
01:07:19 Closing out 2025