In the past, QA often got involved late in the software delivery lifecycle. The last couple of years we saw a move towards Shift-Left testing, which integrates QA in the planning and/or design stage of the project. Even more recent, Shift-Right testing, which focuses on conducting testing activities and monitoring after the development process, has gained attention. This shows that companies are on a slow path towards a QA culture that is embedded in the entire organisation.
Traditionally, software developers are primarily focused on writing code to meet specific requirements. In a more QA-driven culture, developers are no longer confined to this siloed role as they become integral contributors to the entire software lifecycle. Quality becomes everyone’s responsibility, and developers are encouraged to consider it at every stage.
5 consequences of a QA-focused culture
Cross-disciplinary skills & collaboration
A QA-focused culture fosters collaboration among developers, testers, product managers, and other stakeholders. Rather than viewing QA as a final checkpoint, your developers will work closely with QA teams throughout the development process. This collaborative environment promotes knowledge sharing, reducing the “us versus them” mindset and encouraging a unified team effort. For developers, this means acquiring new skills, such as understanding testing frameworks, automation tools and quality metrics.
Increased effiency with built-in quality
The adoption of a QA-driven culture incorporates “shift-left” testing practices, where quality checks are performed earlier in the development lifecycle. Combining QA processes with DevOps (QAOps) ensures continuous testing throughout the development cycle, promoting collaboration and faster delivery of high-quality software. This approach minimises the time and cost associated with discovering and fixing defects late in the process. For developers, this translates to fewer last-minute firefights and a more predictable workflow.
Elevated career prospects
Mastery of QA principles and testing techniques makes developers invaluable assets to their teams. Moreover, the QA-driven mindset will help your team align with industry trends such as DevOps and agile methodologies. Teams who adapt are better equipped to thrive in modern software development environments.
Innovation and creativity
When your teams embrace a quality-first approach, they gain greater confidence in their work. Knowing that their code has been rigorously tested and validated allows teams to innovate without fear of breaking existing functionality. This confidence encourages experimentation and fosters a culture of creativity.
Decreased technical debt
An increased focus on quality reduces technical debt, freeing up resources for new initiatives rather than patching old problems. By delivering high-quality products, your teams contribute to customer satisfaction and organisational success.
Want to know more?
We recently published a complete whitepaper with new insights on QA. The increased focus on non-functional testing is but one of them. Download the entire whitepaper and discover valuable other insights from our QA experts.
