QUALITY BOSS

QUALITY BOSS focuses on empowering women in tech, leadership, and quality engineering. It addresses challenges such as stereotypes and confidence, promotes effective communication and time management, and advocates for continuous learning and resilience. It also emphasizes self-care and community support among women in the workplace.

Women in Tech Leadership Quality Engineering Personal Development Time Management Self-Care Community Support

The hottest Substack posts of QUALITY BOSS

And their main takeaways

Deciding What to Work On

0 implied HN points • 20 Nov 23
💼 Business Productivity Management Leadership Time management Strategy
  1. The Eisenhower Matrix helps prioritize tasks by looking at both urgency and importance. This way, you'll focus on what really matters instead of just what's urgent right now.
  2. Tasks fall into four categories: do it now if it's both urgent and important, schedule it later if it's important but not urgent, delegate if it's urgent but not important, and delete it if it's neither.
  3. Using this system can help you manage your time better and make sure that you work on tasks that have the most impact. Consistent practice will make it easier to decide what to work on.

Meet Bug, the QUALITY BOSS Mascot

0 implied HN points • 06 Nov 23
🕹 Technology Software Quality Assurance Development Leadership Women in Tech
  1. The mascot is a firefly named Bug, symbolizing the journey towards achieving high quality. Bug is meant to guide and inspire everyone to reach excellence.
  2. The term 'bug' usually refers to problems in software, but here it's reimagined as a positive force for growth. Each bug is seen as a chance to improve and learn.
  3. Bug not only represents quality but also highlights unique experiences in the tech industry, especially for women. This fosters a community focused on exploration and learning.

Alternate Titles

0 implied HN points • 25 Oct 23
🎭️ Culture Gender Issues Workplace dynamics Identity Leadership Social Commentary
  1. Starting with a placeholder title can help you launch faster. It’s okay to choose something that captures your message, even if it feels temporary.
  2. The word 'boss' can have mixed feelings, especially for women. It's important to think about how a title reflects your values and the message you want to share.
  3. Trusting your instincts is key. Ultimately, you should choose a title that feels right for you and aligns with your identity and goals.

Quality Assistance, Not Assurance

0 implied HN points • 18 Oct 23
🕹 Technology Software Development Quality Engineering Team Collaboration Process Improvement
  1. Quality Assistance means Quality Engineers work closely with developers. They help ensure high-quality software by sharing best practices and tools, rather than just checking for mistakes later.
  2. This approach moves away from the old method where a separate QA team is responsible for quality. Instead, everyone in the organization shares the responsibility for maintaining quality throughout the entire development process.
  3. Finding and fixing bugs early saves time and money. Waiting until the end of a project to test can cost a lot more if errors are found later.

Spoons

0 implied HN points • 16 Oct 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health Self-care Productivity Life Balance Personal Growth
  1. We often think we don't have time, but it's really about not having enough energy or motivation to do things. It's easy to binge-watch shows instead of tackling things we care about.
  2. Keeping track of how we spend our time can help us realize where we might make changes. By logging our activities, we can identify where we're losing time and adjust our priorities.
  3. Establishing routines and saying no to unnecessary commitments can free up our time and energy. Setting specific goals also helps us stay focused on what we truly want to accomplish.
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Quality Engineering Basics: Risk Analysis

0 implied HN points • 04 Mar 24
🕹 Technology Software Engineering Testing Risk Analysis Product Development
  1. Risk analysis helps us focus on the most important bugs to fix. Instead of trying to eliminate all bugs, we prioritize those that could hurt the user experience or company revenue.
  2. To assess risk, we look at the impact of a bug and how likely it is to happen. Using a simple scoring system can help us decide which features to test first.
  3. Risk analysis should include checks on security and user experience, not just how well something works. Understanding all risks helps ensure we can test our products effectively.

Reflecting on International Women's Day

0 implied HN points • 09 Mar 24
🎭️ Culture Women's Rights Diversity Coaching Mentoring Leadership
  1. Many times, companies and people celebrate International Women's Day with gestures that feel empty, like giving flowers. These actions don't help women reach equality or gain visibility in their careers.
  2. This year, the focus is on the 'Lift as We Climb' idea, which means helping each other grow and succeed. Offering coaching or mentoring can be a powerful way to support other women.
  3. Impostor syndrome can make you doubt your value, but everyone has unique contributions to make. Helping others transform their lives through coaching and mentoring is an important and rewarding pursuit.

Quality Engineering Basics: Prioritizing Bugs

0 implied HN points • 18 Mar 24
🕹 Technology Software Development Quality Assurance Project management Automation
  1. Understanding how to prioritize bugs is key for efficient quality engineering. It's important to have a common agreement on what each priority level means.
  2. Using a matrix to categorize bugs by their scope and impact can help in deciding their priority. This method allows teams to see which bugs are more urgent and need immediate attention.
  3. Automation tools, like GitHub actions, can streamline the bug prioritization process. They can help automatically assign priority based on set parameters, saving time and reducing errors.

Coming soon to Substack!

0 implied HN points • 29 Nov 23
🕹 Technology Social media Digital Publishing Content creation Blogging Online Platforms
  1. QUALITY BOSS is shifting its content from WordPress to Substack. This means they are changing platforms for their posts.
  2. While the transition is happening, there may be some minor issues. They are asking readers to be patient during this time.
  3. You can subscribe to their updates on Substack once they are set up. This will keep you informed about new content and changes.

Bite-Sized Self-Care Challenge Day 10

0 implied HN points • 10 Jan 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Self-care Mental health Physical activity Wellness Practices Mindfulness
  1. Dancing can boost our mood and help us feel better, even when we're not in the best situation. It's a fun way to release tension and enjoy ourselves.
  2. You don't need to be a great dancer to have fun. Just move in a way that feels natural and forget about being perfect.
  3. Listening to upbeat music and taking a few minutes to dance can be a great addition to self-care. It's a simple way to bring joy into your day.

Quality Engineering Basics: Exploratory Testing

0 implied HN points • 26 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Software Testing Quality Assurance Product Development User Experience
  1. Exploratory testing is a flexible approach that doesn't need detailed preparation. It lets testers use their skills and creativity to find bugs efficiently.
  2. Using test charters can help focus exploratory testing. You can define what to explore, how to explore it, and what you want to learn.
  3. To improve your testing, think about worst-case scenarios for your product. Coming up with nightmare headlines can help guide your exploratory testing efforts.

Bite-Sized Self-Care Challenge: We Did It!

0 implied HN points • 31 Jan 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Self-care Mindfulness Mental health Personal Development Lifestyle
  1. It’s great to celebrate your small self-care wins, no matter how big or small they are. Every little step counts toward better self-care.
  2. Self-care can be personal and should fit your own needs, so choose activities that you enjoy or that help you relax.
  3. The journey of self-care continues beyond challenges, so keep exploring new ways to take care of yourself every day.

On a break...

0 implied HN points • 20 May 24
🎭️ Culture Family Social Community Support Personal
  1. The creator is taking a short break due to a family emergency. It's important to prioritize family in tough times.
  2. They appreciate the support and understanding from their audience. It's nice to know that people care during difficult moments.
  3. The creator plans to return soon. Taking breaks can help recharge and come back stronger.

Quality Engineering Basics: Bug Reporting

0 implied HN points • 19 Dec 23
🕹 Technology Software Testing Quality Assurance Development Process
  1. A good bug report should have a clear title that describes the issue. This helps others understand the problem quickly without needing to read everything.
  2. Including steps to reproduce the bug is essential. This allows developers to see the issue themselves and figure out how to fix it.
  3. Adding relevant details like environment information, expected vs. actual results, and visual aids like screenshots makes the report more useful and helps prioritize the fix.

Bite-Sized Self-Care Challenge Day Four

0 implied HN points • 04 Jan 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Self-care Fitness Exercise Health tips Lifestyle
  1. Taking a few minutes to stretch can really help improve your posture and flexibility. It's an easy way to counter the effects of sitting all day.
  2. There are simple stretches you can do at home or work that don't take long, like hamstring stretches and shoulder rolls. They can make a big difference in how you feel.
  3. Incorporating stretching into your daily routine is a great self-care practice. It keeps your body relaxed and helps prevent stiffness.

Bite-Sized Self-Care Challenge Day 12

0 implied HN points • 12 Jan 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Self-care Mental health Habit formation Personal Growth Lifestyle
  1. Being kind to your future self can help you build better habits. When you do something small now, like cleaning, it makes tomorrow's life easier.
  2. Think about how you will feel later when you see a task is done. This can help motivate you to complete small chores right away.
  3. Small actions, like putting dishes in the dishwasher, can create a cleaner and more pleasant environment for yourself in the future.

Quality Engineering Basics: Automated vs. Manual

0 implied HN points • 11 Mar 24
🕹 Technology Software Testing Automation Quality Assurance Risk management Frameworks
  1. Deciding which tests to automate or run manually is important. You should look at the risk level and necessary effort for each test.
  2. Using a scoring system can help prioritize tests. This involves scoring impact, likelihood, frequency, and the effort required for manual or automated testing.
  3. Starting small with your scoring approach is a good idea. You can adjust the numbers until you find what works best for your testing needs.

Bite-Sized Self-Care Challenge Day 23

0 implied HN points • 23 Jan 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Self-care Personal Growth Mental health Learning Skill development
  1. Learning something new can be exciting and helps us grow. Spend a little time today exploring a topic that interests you.
  2. Even a few minutes of learning can teach you a lot. You could check out fun facts or simple life skills to improve your day.
  3. Ask yourself what you learned today or if you take time to learn regularly. It's a great conversation starter!

Three Things to Change Exercise: A Different Kind of Retrospective

0 implied HN points • 28 Feb 24
💼 Business Leadership Teamwork Communication Management Agile
  1. Encourage your team to suggest three changes they want to see. This helps everyone share their ideas on what could improve the team's work environment.
  2. Once you gather suggestions, look for common themes and discuss them as a group. This makes it easier to find important issues to focus on.
  3. After identifying top changes, involve the team in brainstorming ways to implement them. Working together on solutions strengthens teamwork and leads to better outcomes.

Quality Engineering Basics: Types of Testing

0 implied HN points • 19 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Software Testing Quality Engineering Automation Development
  1. There are two main types of testing: functional and non-functional. Functional testing checks if the software meets its intended requirements, while non-functional testing looks at things like performance and security.
  2. Testing can also be categorized by the level, such as unit, integration, system, and acceptance testing. Each level focuses on different parts of the software and helps ensure everything works together smoothly.
  3. Finally, there are different ways to test, including manual and automated testing. Manual testing involves humans checking software directly, while automated testing uses tools to run tests automatically. Both are important for delivering a quality product.

Bite-Sized Self-Care Challenge Day 28

0 implied HN points • 28 Jan 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Self-care Nutrition Mental health Lifestyle Fitness
  1. Drinking tea has many health benefits, like boosting your immune system and reducing inflammation. It can also help prevent heart disease and cancer.
  2. Taking a moment to enjoy a cup of tea is a great way to relax and be present in the moment. It can serve as a mini-escape from the day-to-day stress.
  3. If you don't like tea, you can enjoy other warm drinks like hot water with lemon or honey. The key is to find a cozy beverage that makes you feel good.

Bite-Sized Self-Care Challenge Day 26

0 implied HN points • 26 Jan 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Self-care Mental health Personal Growth Habits
  1. Setting intentions helps you stay focused on your goals. It's important to have a clear direction for what you want to achieve.
  2. Instead of relying on motivation, build a plan or system to support your intentions. This approach makes it easier to stick to your goals even when motivation fades.
  3. Choosing a word or theme for the year can guide your actions and decisions. It adds meaning and intentionality to your daily choices.

Bite-Sized Self-Care Challenge Day 25

0 implied HN points • 25 Jan 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Self-care Mental health Physical health Wellness Practices Lifestyle changes
  1. Taking regular breaks is important for maintaining focus and productivity. It helps clear your mind and prevents you from ignoring basic needs like hydration and hunger.
  2. Scheduling breaks can be effective. Using tools like a visual timer can remind you when it's time to step away and recharge.
  3. You can use your break time for simple activities like stretching, getting water, or just relaxing. Choose whatever helps you feel refreshed.

Bite-Sized Self-Care Challenge Day 24

0 implied HN points • 24 Jan 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Self-care Mental health Happiness Community Kindness
  1. Doing something nice for others can also make you feel good. Kindness can boost your mood and spread happiness.
  2. Simple acts like holding the door open or buying coffee for someone can brighten someone's day. These little gestures can create a positive impact.
  3. Connecting with friends or family, even just by sending a letter, shows you care and can strengthen your relationships.

Bite-Sized Self-Care Challenge Day 19

0 implied HN points • 19 Jan 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health Self-care Personal Development Stress Relief Humor
  1. Laughter can make you feel really good and helps with stress. It's great to find ways to laugh more often.
  2. Finding something funny can be a simple way to boost your mood. Whether it’s a joke, a show, or a comic, enjoy what makes you laugh.
  3. Laughing helps face tough times and makes scary situations feel less overwhelming. It's like a special power we all can use!

Bite-Sized Self-Care Challenge Day 14

0 implied HN points • 14 Jan 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Self-care Mental health Boundaries Stress management Personal Development
  1. Learning to say no is important for your well-being. It helps you put your own needs first and avoids burnout.
  2. Setting boundaries can ease stress and improve your time management. Saying no allows you to focus on what really matters.
  3. Practicing saying no can be tough at first, but it gets easier over time. Start small and gradually work up to tougher situations.