How QA Builds Better Products with Jay Aigner

In this episode of Product Driven, Matt Watson speaks with Jay Eigner, founder and CEO of JDA QA, about the critical role of Quality Assurance (QA) in software development. They discuss how developers can contribute to testing, the importance of collaboration between QA and development teams, and the need for QA to be embedded within product teams. The conversation also covers strategies for prioritizing testing, identifying what to test, and the enduring necessity of manual testing in an increasingly automated landscape.

Takeaways

QA is essential for building better products.

Developers have unique insights into testing their own code.

Collaboration between QA and developers enhances product quality.

QA should be involved early in the development process.

Understanding user functionality is key to effective testing.

Many organizations waste time testing unnecessary features.

Manual testing will always have a place in QA.

Exploratory testing helps uncover hidden issues.

Automation tools assist but cannot replace human insight.

Effective communication and curiosity drive better outcomes.



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Chapters

00:00 Introduction to QA and Product Development

02:43 The Role of Developers in Testing

05:12 The Importance of QA in the Development Process

07:45 Embedding QA in Product Teams

12:27 Prioritizing Testing in Software Development

15:10 Avoiding Wasted Testing Efforts

17:07 The Future of Manual Testing