DiscoverArguing AgileAA224 - QA is the Bottleneck? | Why Your Testing Team Isn't the Real Problem
AA224 - QA is the Bottleneck? | Why Your Testing Team Isn't the Real Problem

AA224 - QA is the Bottleneck? | Why Your Testing Team Isn't the Real Problem

Update: 2025-08-13
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Description

Is your QA team really slowing down delivery, or are they just revealing the cracks in your development process? In this episode of Arguing Agile, we're talking about one of the most persistent myths in software development and reveal why QA teams are often unfairly blamed for systemic issues.

We explore:

  • The shift-left movement and why QA belongs in customer conversations
  • How collaboration breakdowns create false bottlenecks 
  • Why treating QA as a cost center backfires
  • Real strategies for breaking the cycle of blame
  • The hidden value QA brings to lean startup principles

From waterfall thinking to modern agile practices, we break down why QA teams are actually your best allies in creating customer value - if you let them.

#QualityAssurance #AgileCoaching #ProductManagement

REFERENCES
Arguing Agile 211 - Communication is Product's Only Job)
Arguing Agile 201 - Mastering Stakeholder Communication and Management
Arguing Agile 199 - W. Edwards Deming's Profound Knowledge for Transforming Organizations

LINKS
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@arguingagile
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/362QvYORmtZRKAeTAE57v3
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/agile-podcast/id1568557596
Website: http://arguingagile.com

INTRO MUSIC
Toronto Is My Beat
By Whitewolf (Source: https://ccmixter.org/files/whitewolf225/60181)
CC BY 4.0 DEED (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.en)

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AA224 - QA is the Bottleneck? | Why Your Testing Team Isn't the Real Problem

AA224 - QA is the Bottleneck? | Why Your Testing Team Isn't the Real Problem

Brian Orlando