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Four Years On: Remembering the #TestBashathon for UNICEF Covax
Four years ago today, Bruce Hughes (the legend) and I joined Ministry of Testing’s #TestBashHome virtual conference and began our marathon, something that felt equal parts ambitious and absurd: we would stay online, awake, and fully engaged for every minute of the 24‑hour programme. Our goal was simple yet urgent: to raise funds for UNICEF’s…
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Validate and Iterate with Quality in Mind
A successful Quality Engineering Framework Adoption is not a one-time initiative but a continuous journey of validation and refinement. Ensuring quality remains a strategic enabler that requires structured reflection, iterative improvement, and a commitment to transparency. Objectives: Actions: Outputs: Why This Matters Quality is not a destination but an ongoing process. By validating and iterating…
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Structuring a Sustainable Quality Engineering Strategy
A strong Quality Engineering Strategy extends beyond testing; it integrates quality into every stage of the SDLC, shaping how teams collaborate, design, develop, and deliver software. It is not a static document but a living framework that evolves with the organisation’s needs. Defining the Quality Engineering Strategy The insights gathered from discovery sessions, risk-based discussions,…
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Facilitate Discovery Sessions with Quality at the Core
Quality isn’t improved in isolation. Structured, collaborative discussions are essential for aligning teams on expectations, risks, and shared ownership. Discovery sessions provide the foundation for a Quality Engineering Strategy that remains relevant, context-aware, and continuously evolving. Informing the Quality Engineering Strategy The first four steps in the Quality Engineering Adoption Framework shape a targeted and…
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Analysing the Quality Landscape
With a solid understanding of culture and stakeholder expectations, it is time to assess technical practices. Quality engineering is not only about testing; it encompasses how well the entire system supports the delivery of reliable, maintainable, and high-value software. This stage evaluates the effectiveness of current processes, tools, and technical debt to establish a measurable…
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Exploring the Culture of Quality
A well-engineered approach to quality isn’t just about processes and tools; it’s about people. Culture plays a significant role in shaping how quality is perceived, prioritised, and embedded into an organisation’s day-to-day operations. Understanding this cultural landscape is essential for driving meaningful, lasting improvements in quality engineering. Assessing Collaboration and Ownership of Quality Quality isn’t…
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Engaging Stakeholders with Quality-Focused Conversations
Once the current state of quality within an organisation is understood, the next step is to engage with stakeholders to uncover their perspectives, challenges, and expectations. Quality is not owned by a single team or function; it is shaped by multiple roles across the organisation. Understanding these different viewpoints is crucial for building a successful…
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Setting the Stage with a Quality Perspective
Before proposing meaningful improvements related to quality engineering within an organisation, it is essential to clearly understand where things currently stand. This first step is about defining what quality means in your organisation, identifying key goals and constraints, and establishing a baseline for improvement. Without this foundation, any transformation efforts risk being misaligned with business…
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Quality Engineering Adoption Framework: A Strategic Implementation
Establishing the Context Quality Engineering is not a synonym for testing or QA. It encompasses the entire lifecycle of software development, from design and requirements engineering through to release engineering and everything in between. It is about ensuring that quality is embedded at every stage, with teams working in a coordinated, transparent way, aligned on…
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Five Principles for Quality Engineering Consultancy That Drives Change
A few years ago, I had a valuable conversation with Dr. Vera Baum about what it really takes to lead quality engineering in a consultancy. It wasn’t just about delivering testing services. It was about how a consultancy should approach quality as a whole – how it builds expertise, delivers value, and integrates quality into…
Chris Armstrong 