Quality Talks Podcast

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

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

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