Quality is no coincidence

When a tester stops hiding behind the test manager and starts asking the right questions, it’s not just the quality of the software that changes - it’s the entire team dynamic. Quality is not a method, but an attitude: it is created where technical craftsmanship meets human values and where teams not only work through test cases, but also live responsibility. Especially in times when AI is becoming increasingly automated, software testing is once again becoming what it always was: people business.

Podcast Episode: Quality is no coincidence

In this episode, I am a guest on my own podcast. And Florian Fieber takes over the moderation this time. Why? Well, there’s an occasion: I was awarded the German Prize for Software Quality this year. In our conversation, we talk about the background, the podcast and the human component in technology development. For me, quality is more than just test data and scripts. It’s about creating an environment in which teams can live quality. We also take a look at the future role of people and AI in testing.

“If a team really lives quality and doesn’t just scrub test cases, then the whole topic has reached a completely different level.” - Richard Seidl

Richie is an expert in software quality and agility and a passionate optimist about the future. As a consultant, coach and mentor, he supports corporations, startups and SMEs on their way to more quality in their software. He has seen a lot of software in his professional career: good and bad, big and small, new and old. Software so beautiful it makes you want to cry and software that makes your toenails curl. One thing is clear to him: if you want to create excellent software today, you need to take a holistic approach to the development process: people, context, methods and tools - only when everything works together does a mindset for potential development and innovation emerge, and he shares his experience in several specialist books, articles and lectures.

Highlights der Episode

• Quality is a lived attitude in the team, not just operational test case processing.
• Testers are often the single point of truth in the project and need strong communication skills.
• Test fundamentals remain indispensable - also to be able to evaluate AI-generated test cases.
• People create trust in quality, no machine can replace that.
• Asking questions early on in the project is a core competence that must be practiced.

Why good software quality is more than just technology: focusing on people

A prize for attitude, not just method

Richie Seidl was awarded the German Prize for Software Quality this year. Anyone listening to or reading the podcast episode will quickly realize that it is about much more than clean test logs or sophisticated testing tools. The focus is on an idea that Richie emphasizes again and again: without people, nothing works when it comes to quality. It’s not just technology and processes that determine good software. It’s the attitude that counts, i.e. how we think about errors, collaboration and communication.

Richie explains that this approach is based on his own experience. In projects where methods and tools were top-notch, but the team was not “picked up”, quality faltered. Frustration arose. The decisive change came when he realized that people need appreciation, room for questions and trust. Quality is then no longer a separate activity, but is lived in the team - almost as a matter of course.

Soft skills? Indispensable in testing

This image of the tester as a quiet “nerd” is long outdated. Richie describes how testers today are string-pullers, questioners and networkers. No software can do without testing, but success only comes when someone connects people, gathers information and communicates clearly. Testers are the ones who see the big picture. That’s why so many lateral entrants come into testing: artists, humanities scholars or experts from other fields bring different perspectives, enrich teams and help to build better products.

Current research, reports Richie, also supports this: soft skills such as communication, empathy and curiosity count more than ever. It is no coincidence that topics such as mental health, imposter syndrome and resilience are repeatedly addressed in the podcast and receive a lot of positive feedback.

Basic knowledge remains - AI is not a panacea

Despite all the changes, the basics remain important. Richie emphasizes that everyone in the team should have a basic understanding of test methods. Equivalence partitions, test types, test levels - this is not fossil knowledge, but continues to help evaluate the work of the machine and humans. Because even if AI can now generate many test cases: An experienced tester must assess and understand the results. Technology is a tool, but not the goal.

This leads to the discussion about AI. Will it replace humans in testing? Richie is relaxed about that: Testing is and remains a people business. Trust is built between people, not between developers and machines. A human writes the test report, evaluates risks and ensures that the right software is delivered, not just any software.

Sharing knowledge: The podcast as a community platform

It’s no coincidence that Richie has been running a podcast for over 150 episodes. Even before he started, he was looking to exchange ideas, first in writing and later in conversation. In the podcast, he regularly invites experts, asks practical questions or discusses soft skills-related topics. The motivation: to give back knowledge that he himself has gained through the community, at conferences and from books.

The podcast is more than just a hobby. It creates a point of contact for German-speaking and international listeners who want to think outside the box. Because the feedback for English episodes has increased, there is now even a spin-off: “Software Testing Unleashed” brings international voices and perspectives into play.

Humanity as an investment in quality

In conclusion, one key point remains: passion and human curiosity are not soft topics. They determine whether teams grow, learn from mistakes and ultimately create truly better software. If you only focus on processes and tools, you overlook the most important thing - people. The German Award for Software Quality shows this: Not only technical skills, but also attitude, communication and the courage to ask questions are rewarded.

The conclusion is: good software quality needs technology, organization, but above all people - and a community that talks to each other.