In the weeks following the Pacific Northwest Software Quality Conference, the conversation has continued—vibrant, thoughtful, and full of pride. Across LinkedIn, participants have been sharing their takeaways, their gratitude, and their visions for where software quality is heading next.
Here’s a look at what the community has been saying.
“Just arrived from the future. Let me show you how we test software with AI testing agents.”
— Jason Arbon
Posts like Jason’s captured the spirit of innovation that ran through this year’s program. PNSQC 2025 wasn’t just about tools or techniques—it was about exploring how AI is reshaping the craft of testing itself. From keynote sessions to hallway conversations, the focus on human-machine collaboration made clear that quality engineering is evolving faster than ever.
“I’m thrilled (and humbled) to share that I won the Top Presenter 2025 at the Pacific Northwest Software Quality Conference.”
— Millan Kaul
Moments like these remind us that PNSQC is not just a conference—it’s a community that lifts each other up. Presenters, authors, reviewers, and attendees all contribute to a shared pursuit of excellence, and that collective recognition is what sustains the event year after year.
“I met someone at #PNSQC this past week who described himself as part of a CI …”
— Joshua Kerievsky
Conversations like this are what make in-person gatherings so valuable. Many attendees spoke about spontaneous exchanges—meeting fellow engineers, test managers, and product leaders who challenge assumptions and inspire new ideas. These informal interactions often spark the innovations that become next year’s presentations.
“Technical papers 2025 – Pacific NW Software Quality Conference… thank you to everyone who submitted.”
— Nishadhi Nikalandawatte
This post underscores a defining feature of PNSQC: active contribution. Beyond attending talks, our community writes, reviews, and publishes technical work—keeping the conference rooted in shared research and practical experience.
“Jeff Sing on Navigating Tech Careers at PNSQC.”
— PNSQC Official Post
Quality isn’t just about testing code—it’s about building sustainable careers and communities. Sessions that addressed professional development, communication, and leadership drew strong engagement, reflecting the holistic nature of the PNSQC mission: to advance software quality and the people who make it happen.
“I attended the Pacific Northwest Software Quality Conference this week. PNSQC is an all-volunteer organization dedicated to bringing Quality …”
— Jan Lundeen
Perhaps the most meaningful thread through all these posts is gratitude—for the volunteers who organize, review, mentor, and host every session. That volunteer spirit has kept PNSQC thriving for over four decades and continues to define its authenticity and warmth.
The online enthusiasm of the past few weeks shows that PNSQC 2025 was more than an event—it was a catalyst. Participants left energized to keep learning, mentoring, and experimenting with new approaches to quality in an AI-driven world.
If you attended, we invite you to keep sharing your reflections and insights on LinkedIn using #PNSQC. And if you missed this year’s conference, stay tuned: recordings, papers, and next year’s call for proposals will be announced soon at pnsqc.org.
Together, we’re shaping the next chapter in software quality—one conversation at a time.
· Can you share a memorable moment in your career?
I've been fortunate to have many memorable moments throughout my career... some of them were amazing and some of them were trauma inducing, and yet I've learned something from all of them. One of my favorites was being given the opportunity to teach an immersive on the job SDET training for veterans transitioning out of the military into civilian life. It was 40 hours of in class work and another 10 - 15 hours outside of the classroom for 4 months. We were smack dab in the middle of COVID and so the class was virtual. Over the course of those 4 months I watched these students transform and push themselves so far out of their comfort zones despite going through one of the difficult periods of time and having all kinds of personal emergencies arise including child birth, children in the hospital and even had one student who lost their mom to COVID during the training. Yet, they continued to show up every day. It was one of the most humbling experiences I have had in my career and I was honored to be able to be a part of their development for that short while. I've been able to watch them grow over the past few years and it's been awesome to see them grow into quality leaders themselves.
· How did you first hear about PNSQC, and what made you want to participate this year?
Oddly, I had never heard of PNSQC until last year. Seems crazy that I wouldn't have heard of it at some point but I was excited to volunteer and participate in any way and took the opportunity to put together a poster paper for last year's event on ethical models and quality. It started some fantastic conversations and so I've developed that into the talk that I was invited to give this year. So thrilled to be back with this group!
· What’s your talk about, and why is this topic important to you?
I have the opportunity to speak on two different topics that are at the top of my list in terms of importance. The first is on Ethics in Quality and will present some of the challenges that testers are being faced with as we enter this next era of technological advancement. I look forward to sharing some perspective on the topic and also hopefully presenting some challenging scenarios that we can work through together. In addition, I'm excited to share my workshop focused on systems thinking. A skill that, as my former leadership coach put well, "You can solve all of the world's problems no matter how complex they are if you can think in systems". I truly believe that and have seen the impact in my own career and in the teams I've been fortunate enough to lead.
· What’s one key takeaway you hope attendees will leave with after your session?
My goal is always to leave my audience more curious than when they came in and with a few new approaches to solving the problems they are currently facing in their day to day.
· Who has influenced your work or thinking the most, and why?
I'm not sure there has been just one person... I'm influenced and inspired by almost everyone I interact with. I know that the team members I have been fortunate enough to lead have all left a mark and I've learned something unique from each and every one of them. I've had leadership coaches and therapists who have helped me push beyond my own patterns and get out of my own way. I've learned that having a strong community has made a massive difference in my ability to be successful as a tester and as a leader.
· What innovations in technology are you most excited about right now?
Lately I've been connecting more with AI researchers who are deep diving on why models hallucinate and also decomposing the underlying way that the models adapt in the way that they answer questions... It's been eye opening just how much, even those who created these models, don't know and are still discovering. I think the innovations that most excite me are the ones that are committed to utilizing the right technology for the right thing in responsible ways. Technology has the capacity to change lives, but these newer technologies come with a cost and I'm not sure the majority of the population really gets the level of computing that these models require. I think the most impactful innovations will be in raising awareness to how to use these technologies in the most responsible ways to get the best outcomes instead of wasting these resources on low value activities.
Robots are no longer confined to factory floors or science fiction. They’re increasingly part of our everyday world—assisting in hospitals, automating warehouses, and even entertaining us with choreographed dance moves. Behind every graceful spin and synchronized routine, however, lies an invisible foundation: embedded software testing.
Embedded systems differ from traditional software because they don’t just run on a screen—they interact with the physical world. That means:
Precision is paramount. A mistimed command could mean a robot is off-beat, or worse, unsafe.
Resilience is critical. Robots need to recover from unexpected inputs—like a signal delay or sensor error—without breaking their performance.
Adaptability is required. Embedded software must operate across changing conditions, environments, and real-time feedback.
Testing embedded software ensures that a robot isn’t just functional but reliable, safe, and consistent in execution. For professionals in quality assurance, it’s a reminder that the stakes in robotics go beyond usability—they touch safety, performance, and trust.
This year’s Pacific Northwest Software Quality Conference (PNSQC) theme, Quality Intelligence, is all about the evolving ways we measure and assure quality in complex systems. What better way to see those principles come alive than through the first-ever Dance Bot Showcase?
PNSQC invites you to experience this interactive competition where high school robotics teams program and choreograph their robots to dance in sync with music. It’s more than entertainment—it’s a hands-on demonstration of how creativity, code, and testing intersect.
The Showcase will feature:
Live Performances: Teams showing off not only technical skill but also artistic flair, proving that quality isn’t just about efficiency—it’s about experience.
Student-Led Fireside Chat: Future engineers discussing the testing challenges they face when programming choreography and managing embedded systems.
End-User Quality Judging: Judges will evaluate robots with criteria much like end-users evaluate software—on usability, resilience, and delight.
Watching a robot dance is fun. But the lessons go deeper:
End-user quality is universal. Whether it’s a web app, a mobile device, or a dancing robot, the user’s perception defines success.
Testing under real-world conditions matters. Just as robots must be tested against unpredictable music timing, our systems must be tested under load, stress, and edge cases.
The next generation is already thinking about quality. These students are not just programming—they’re testing, iterating, and learning to value resilience and adaptability.
The Dance Bot Showcase bridges generations of software professionals and students. For seasoned QA experts, it’s a reminder of the creativity that underlies great software. For students, it’s a chance to step into the professional community and see how testing principles apply in practice.
When robots dance, it’s not just performance—it’s quality in motion.
Join us at PNSQC.org to support the next generation of quality-focused thinkers and see how a robot’s groove can inspire the future of software testing.
Are you just getting started in software quality assurance or exploring your first role as a tester? PNSQC 2025 has a curated Newbie Track designed specifically for people like you. Whether you’re a student, a recent career-changer, or simply looking to sharpen your foundation, these sessions will give you the tools, mindset, and community to launch your QA journey.The Pacific Northwest Software Quality Conference (PNSQC) was founded more than forty years ago with a mission to share knowledge and advance software quality. Today, that mission has evolved to something broader and more vital: Enabling Quality Through Community.
From the beginning, PNSQC has sought to be a true bastion of meritocracy — a place where ideas are evaluated on their value, not on who presents them. Anyone with insights to share about quality is welcome.
As we look ahead, we recognize that strengthening community requires bringing in a wider range of voices. Diversity and inclusion remain essential to our mission. While continuing to honor important dimensions such as race, gender, and cultural identity, we are also working to broaden participation across age, professional background, and disciplines not always associated with software quality. Quality touches every sector of technology and society, and PNSQC strives to reflect that breadth.
In 2024–25, PNSQC has begun forming partnerships with organizations that share our values of inclusion and innovation:
ProjectLEDO — empowering emerging leaders through mentorship and career opportunities.
Blacks in Technology — building the largest global community of Black technologists and creating pathways for advancement in tech.
Youth Cyber Defender — inspiring and equipping the next generation of cybersecurity and technology professionals.
These collaborations represent just the start. Our outreach plan also aims to engage local universities, professional associations, and community groups — creating more entry points for people to connect with quality practices and one another.
Expanding participation is not just about extending invitations. It also requires creating structures that make engagement possible. At PNSQC, this means:
Offering diversity scholarships, volunteer opportunities, and discounted attendance options.
Designing introductory and junior-level tracks alongside advanced technical content.
Encouraging first-time authors and presenters, knowing that new perspectives help the field grow.
We aim to ensure that anyone interested in quality — whether a student, a seasoned professional, or someone entering another discipline — feels welcome and supported.
Outreach is a long-term commitment. The steps we are taking now will shape the future of PNSQC for years to come. We invite companies, universities, organizations, and individuals to collaborate with us to build a more inclusive quality community.
Together, we can expand the boundaries of what quality means — not only in software, but in the communities we serve and the innovations we unleash.
Learn more at pnsqc.org and join us in enabling quality through community.
I first got to know about PNSQC from peers in the testing community, but what stood out to me as I learned more was how genuinely impactful this conference is. I found that PNSQC creates a great space where practitioners, leaders, and researchers come together to share real-world experiences and innovations. It has built a reputation as one of the most respected conferences for quality professionals, and that really resonated with me. I wanted to participate this year because it felt like the right moment to contribute my own work while also learning from others who are shaping the future of software quality. For me, PNSQC is more than a conference, it is a community that pushes all of us forward.
My talk is titled “Layout Validation Using Generative AI: A New Approach to Ensuring UI Consistency.” It is about how we can use AI to catch layout issues that traditional testing methods usually miss. Problems like misaligned buttons, overlapping text, or inconsistent spacing may seem small, but they can make a product feel broken to the user.
This topic is important to me because I have always cared about the connection between quality and user experience. Users do not separate functional bugs from visual ones. They just notice when something feels off. QA has to be about more than preventing bugs, it has to be about safeguarding how a product feels in the hands of real people. Generative AI opens up exciting possibilities here. It allows us to validate design consistency across platforms in smarter, faster, and more scalable ways.
I have been influenced by many mentors and colleagues, but the strongest influence on my thinking has been the end users of the products I work on. Seeing how people actually interact with what we build reminds me that quality is not about perfection in a lab environment. It is about delivering value quickly, adapting fast when things change, and still maintaining a high bar for experience.
In today’s world, we cannot afford to spend months developing and testing before releasing. We have to move fast, and QA has to adapt to that reality. I like to think of QA as the brakes on a car. Brakes are not there to slow you down, they are what make it possible to drive faster with confidence. That philosophy drives how I approach every project: enabling teams to move quickly while ensuring that what reaches the user feels consistent, reliable, and high quality.
The Agile Manifesto was created in 2001 by 17 software professionals who were frustrated with rigid, document-heavy development processes that often failed to meet customer needs. Agile caught on quickly because it directly addressed the failures of traditional "waterfall" development, which was too slow and rigid for the increasingly complex, fast-paced nature of software. By prioritizing flexibility, collaboration, and rapid feed back, Agile delivered more reliable products that better met customer needs
Of course, as Agile spread, some began to see it as just another marketing buzzword. But Agile has always been more than that — it’s a mindset centered on adaptability, customer collaboration, and continuous improvement, not just a set of rules or frameworks.
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Hello PNSQC community,
I’m Reet Kaur, founder of Sekaurity, an advisory practice focused on AI security, governance, and risk. My career has taken me through leadership roles at Fortune 100 and 500 companies across finance, retail, higher education, and biosciences. Along the way I have learned that while technology evolves quickly, trust and resilience are built over time.
Something fun about me? I once dreamed of becoming a fighter pilot in the Air Force. I also imagined myself as an actor, which ironically sparked my love of public speaking and storytelling later in life. And outside of work, I have a deep interest in holistic health, from learning about herbs and natural remedies to exploring traditional approaches to wellness.
This October at PNSQC 2025, I will be speaking on a side of AI we do not talk about enough:
AI Quietly Breaking Quality? The Hidden Risks Lurking in LLM Driven Apps.
Unlike traditional software, AI does not usually “crash.” Instead it drifts, hallucinates, or quietly decays. The failures are subtle, but over time they pile up, eroding trust, inflating support costs, and introducing security gaps.
Think about:
• Chatbots manipulated into unsafe responses
• Fraud detection models that decay silently
• Third party wrappers that break overnight
• Outputs that sound confident but are flat out wrong
These are not hypotheticals. They are happening in production systems today.
In my talk I will share real world case studies and practical steps teams can take to reduce these risks, from data validation and drift monitoring to policy enforcement, explainability, and vendor risk management.
Because with AI, quality is not a one time launch metric. It is a lifecycle responsibility.
I am looking forward to connecting with you all at PNSQC, sharing what I have learned, and learning from your experiences too.
See you in October.
Reet Kaur
Meet Our Keynote Speaker Mesut Durukal and his talk about Quality Assurance:
Can you share a memorable moment in your career?
It was the decision to move to Japan from my hometown. It not only paved the way for experiencing unique Japanese culture, but also for my professional growth.
How did you first hear about PNSQC, and what made you want to participate this year?
I am following conference networks and trying to participate in as much as I can. Once I became aware of PNSQC, I realized the good structure and amazing speakers. Along with the presentation, writing an article was another great idea which appealed to my interest. After having an experience at PNSQC for 3 times now, I am looking forward to another one this year.
What’s your talk about, and why is this topic important to you?
My talk is about the Quality Assurance approaches. But what makes it unique is, I will cover their background from early foundations. As a person living in Japan, I am aware that most recent QA approaches were initiated here like Kaizen, Total Quality Management, Lean Development and others.
What’s one key takeaway you hope attendees will leave with after your session?
I believe the most impactful way is beyond explaining principles, discussing why they are important. By being aware of the history and the development background of QA approaches, one of the key takeaways would be understanding why quality should be in focus and trying to put Quality in focus in the development processes.
Who has influenced your work or thinking the most, and why?
Those industry leaders like W. Edwards Deming and Noriaki Kano.
What innovations in technology are you most excited about right now?
I think there is no way to not mention AI for this question. By more generalizing it, I am curious about the future of Product Management including the development lifecycle. What will humans do, what will computers do, and will there be some other factors in the loop?
In my talk and paper, I’ll explore how LLMs can revolutionize traditional defect triage by drastically cutting down Mean Time to Detect (MTTD) and Mean Time to Repair (MTTR). I’ll walk through architecture patterns, real-world use cases, and lessons learned while implementing LLM-based automation in high-velocity development environments. Attendees can expect practical takeaways on tool selection, implementation pitfalls, and the future of AI-assisted software quality.
On a lighter note, outside of work, I enjoy numismatics, philately exhibitions, and exploring new places with my family. I also mentor aspiring tech professionals and startups interested in applying GenAI responsibly.
Utsav Patel:
As a technology strategist and researcher with a Ph.D. in Technology and Innovation Management, I’ve spent over 15 years working across diverse industries—from healthcare and telecom to retail and logistics—helping teams embed intelligent automation and AI-driven practices into their software quality pipelines. My core passion lies in harnessing emerging technologies like Large Language Models (LLMs) to enhance reliability, reduce defect resolution time, and drive quality upstream in the SDLC.
I came across PNSQC through its strong reputation in the testing community and was drawn to the technical depth and practical relevance of its programming. It’s an honor to present this year on a topic I’m deeply passionate about: LLM-Powered Defect Triage – Intelligent Root Cause Analysis in Minutes.
Finding New Cheese: Adapting to a World of Accelerated Change
By Philip Lew, President of PNSQC
“It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent; it is the one most adaptable to change.” – Charles Darwin
We live in a world moving faster than most of us ever imagined. Economic, technological, and societal changes aren't just accelerating—they’re compounding. In the past, we could afford to learn something once and ride the wave of that knowledge for a decade. Today, your ability to adapt is more valuable than any technical skill.
And in our world—software testing and quality assurance—this truth is unavoidable. We're not just adapting to change but trying to lead through it.
The drivers of change are multi-faceted:
Moore’s Law still rules – computing power is doubling; costs are halving.
Market globalization is erasing borders faster than policies can adapt.
AI and automation are revolutionizing how we test, deploy, and deliver software.
And yes—software ate the world, and now AI is nibbling at the corners.
In testing, what was once manual and isolated is now continuous, integrated, and often driven by machine learning models analyzing patterns faster than any human could.
The question isn't whether you're using AI in testing. The question is: are you learning fast enough to keep up with the cheese as it moves?
Look, I love the rise of artificial intelligence in testing. But before we automate our learning, we must learn how to learn.
Ask yourself:
Do you understand how your brain processes information?
Can you identify when you're reacting emotionally versus rationally?
Are you aware of biases (like confirmation bias or the Dunning-Kruger effect) that might cloud your test strategies?
AI can’t fix flawed thinking. It only accelerates it.
That’s why we need a personal algorithm—not just for testing code, but for testing ourselves.
Here's where the testing world is heading:
AI for Testing – from test case generation to anomaly detection
Automation Across APIs and Mobile
Self-healing Test Suites
Synthetic Test Data and Environments
Integration of Toolchains and Feedback Loops
But here's the kicker: none of them matter if you're solving the wrong problem.
We don’t just need testers—we need critical thinkers who ask better questions, adapt faster than code can compile, and build bridges between logic and emotion, data and judgment.
This isn’t just a keynote title—it’s a call to arms.
Learn how to learn. Study how you process information. Understand repetition and the illusory truth effect.
Upgrade your beliefs. Be willing to discard outdated assumptions.
Frame problems correctly. Sometimes the problem isn’t the bug—it’s the blind spot.
Use AI wisely. Automate the tedious. Focus your brainpower on the ambiguous.
You are the technology. Update your firmware.
I'll deliver this talk live at the upcoming PNSQC Monthly Meetup on May 20th. This will be a dynamic, interactive session on building resilience in your career, mindset, and test frameworks.
Location: Hope Chinese Charter School 3500 SW 104th Ave, Beaverton, OR 97005
Time: 6:00 PM PT
Speaker: Philip Lew (that’s me)
Register now → Reserve your spot
Tax season is behind us, but great ideas are still rolling in—and we want more! The PNSQC Call for Proposals is now officially extended through May 5th, giving you extra time to polish your ideas, find your inspiration, or finally submit that talk you’ve been thinking about since last year’s conference. The link to send in a proposal is www.pnsqc.org/cfp.
Everything You Need to Know About Registering for PNSQC 2025
Are you ready to attend the Pacific Northwest Software Quality Conference (PNSQC) 2025? Whether you plan to join us in person or virtually, securing your spot early comes with some great benefits! Here’s a quick guide to help you navigate the registration process and make the most of available discounts.
Unfortunately, I could not attend the most recent PNSQC Meetup on Agile Politics, so I decided to watch the recording. What I noticed right away was the different angles and distances people used to present themselves. Based on the angle of view of someone's face (left, right, up, and down), and distance, you get a whole different feeling and perspective. Some of the characteristics (certainly not exhaustive but a good start) I noticed included:
On April 18th, Women Who CODE announced that they were closing, even though they hadn’t accomplished their mission. The primary reason cited by WWC is the lack of funding. The technical market is tight right now and the first thing that tends to go is “the frivolous stuff”. We are terribly disappointed that our industry believes that “Empowering diverse women to excel in technology careers” is considered a frivolous endeavor.
Ready to boost your expertise in AI and Machine Learning? Join us in supporting the PNSQC community by entering our raffle for complimentary AI training!
In the dynamic realm of software development, staying at the forefront of innovation is crucial for professionals aiming to thrive in an ever-evolving industry. One prime opportunity to engage with cutting-edge trends, network with industry leaders, and enhance your skills is the Pacific Northwest Software Conference (PNSQC). As an annual gathering of some of the brightest minds in software development, PNSQC offers a unique platform for professionals to learn, connect, and drive innovation. In this blog post, we explore the compelling reasons why participating in the Pacific Northwest Software Conference is a must for software enthusiasts.
In the post-COVID world, the PNSQC found it appropriate to revisit and re-evaluate our organization's core values. Since our founding in 1982, we have experienced many changes (i.e., increases and decreases in interest, venue changes, shifts in participants and volunteers) over the past 42 years. These various fluctuations prompted the organization to deeply examine our original mission and create a new one. Our new mission statement is 'Enabling Quality Through Community'. We believe that this mission will help align our organization with the present as well as carry us forward into the future.
The Pacific Northwest Software Quality Conference (PNSQC) recently hosted a dynamic meetup titled "Step Up Your Career Game: February's Job Hunting Workshop Awaits," drawing professionals from the tech industry for an insightful evening of career development discussions and strategies. Held in a hybrid format, both in person at the NE Broadway McMenamins and online, the event garnered significant participation from individuals eager to enhance their job search techniques and refine their career paths.
“The sizzling US labor market is good news for American workers and President Joe Biden, whose message on the nation’s booming economy may be starting to get through. It’s a bittersweet state of affairs though for those on Wall Street hoping for the Federal Reserve to start dropping interest rates soon. The January jobs report blew estimates out of the water and appears to affirm (yet again) the wrongheadedness of almost two years of recession predictions. The Fed is still pursuing its soft landing in the fight against inflation while the US has added thousands of jobs and broken with the pre-pandemic trend of weak wage growth. In the US version of post-Covid recovery, employers have been able to hire at a steady clip, allowing for business growth, while wages continue to outpace inflation, boosting workers’ spending power even in the face of rising prices.”
Thanks to all for attending today and joining our community. In line with our meeting title, we used Claude to write up this summary.
Give and You Shall Receive
As mentioned in a complementary blog (It's Not As Hard As You Think), one of the key things that has differentiated PNSQC from the ‘other’ conferences is our pursuit of deep knowledge fostered by asking for technical papers as a key part of the process of being a presenter. Anyone who submits an abstract, gets accepted to the conference, and comes to present is required to complement their presentation with a peer-reviewed paper. You may think that this is a lot to ask, but it's not as hard as you think, and the benefits you get will surpass your expectations. Listen to some of our past authors on their paper writing and presenting experience at PNSQC and read on!
Authors and their dedicated efforts to producing high-quality papers and presentations are the keys to ensuring a high-quality conference. PNSQC would like to take this opportunity to thank all authors for their participation. We hope you find this PNSQC Author Guidance document useful during your paper preparation. Writing a PNSQC conference paper, presentation, poster, tutorial, or workshop is not trivial. PNSQC deeply appreciates your efforts. With this said, we believe that while Generative AI can aid you in writing your paper, we don't expect it to write your paper for you. Our GenAI policy outlines our position and this is especially critical since your paper will be published in our annual proceedings and we must comply with Amazon's publishing rules.
Creating a practical experience-focused paper for the PNSQC conference is a great way to share your insights with the community.
Since PNSQC began in 1982, one of the key things that has differentiated us from the ‘other’ conferences is our pursuit of deep knowledge. We implement this idea by asking for technical papers as a key part of the process of being a presenter. Anyone who submits an abstract, gets accepted to the conference, and comes to present is required to complement their presentation slideshow with a peer-reviewed paper.
Andrea Goulet has a tendency to take the counter-intuitive view. For years with CorgiBytes she focused on the idea of remodeling legacy software rather than writing new systems. Rather than siloes of professional specialists, she suggests bringing the whole team approach to work. And while many believe that we are building software free from organizational constraints, she enjoys pointing to Conway's Law that says "Any organization that designs a system (defined broadly) will produce a design whose structure is a copy of the organization's communication structure."
For PNSQC 2023, we have chosen the theme "Amp it up! Transforming Quality." There are many ways to amplify your voice and your influence on quality in your organization, and Selena Delesie has a depth of experience in implementing them throughout her career. Selena will present the keynote Amplifying Agile Quality Practices at PNSQC 2023 in October.
You may recognize Karl's name as the co-author of the book "Software Requirements." In addition to being a software engineer, consultant and trainer, focusing on process improvement, Karl enjoys playing music. PNSQC has asked him to be a keynote speaker and workshop presenter at the 41st PNSQC this October. PNSQC volunteer Sam Simataa recently interviewed him to catch up on what Karl has been thinking about lately.I received this letter the other day from a teacher with the local high school’s robotics team in Portland, Oregon. It was rewarding to receive these kind words knowing that PNSQC is making an impact in the local community above and beyond our conference and extending into the future.
“I would like to thank you and PNSQC committee for accepting Portland high school robotics team paper submissions in the past. It gave students a great opportunity to showcase their accomplishments in software quality excellence. In addition, students were also able to connect with professionals at the conference and learn from everyone in this area.
Every paper presented at the Pacific NW Software Quality Conference over the years has started with an abstract. You might be wondering “What is an abstract and how do I get an idea for one?” PNSQC President Philip Lew takes you through the process in this blog post.
At the PNSQC 2023 March Meetup, Bhushan Gupta provided an orientation on attack surfaces, vectors, and methods of penetration for web applications. Then, he looked further into a method for quantifying the risks and assigning security priorities before the code is written. 
We are actively looking for people willing and able to help us over the coming months to help us make 2023 our best year yet.
As part of our tradition for the last few years to kick off the conference year, we'll be holding our annual Quality Jam on Feb 8, 2023. The Quality Jam features a half-dozen lightning talks of 10-12 minutes as a warm-up to the October conference where we also kick off the Call for Papers. The event, to be held live at the Golden Valley Brewery in Beaverton, Oregon will also be hybrid-virtual.
PNSQC 2022 Invited speaker and seasoned Quality Assurance Engineer Michael Larsen sat down to answer some questions to share with the PNSQC community. You're not going to want to miss his talk in October! If you don't have your conference tickets yet, there's still plenty of time to sign up here.
Interviewer: How do Accessibility and Inclusive Design relate to Quality?
Michael Larsen: If a product is difficult or impossible to use, we can't rightly call it a quality product. When we ignore users with disabilities or put them on the back burner, so to speak, we are telling a population of users that they will be receiving a sub-par service or product, one in which they will not be able to use effectively. To me, that goes against Quality in any meaningful sense that I am aware of.
Invited speaker and Security expert Yesenia Yser recently took time out of her busy day to interview with PNSQC, and we know you'll enjoy all she shared! Remember that you can still sign up for October's conference and hear her talk entitled "Supply Chain Security: Threats, Defenses and How We Can Help."Interviewer: You have a master's degree in digital forensics. Can you describe the field in a nutshell, and what drew you to pursuing this degree?
Yesenia Yser: Digital forensics is the digital practice of forensics, instead of a physical body or biometric, it is focused on digital data such as network, mobile devices. According to NIST, “Digital forensics is the field of forensic science that is concerned with retrieving, storing and analyzing electronic data that can be useful in criminal investigations.”
In high school, I was obsessed with the TV show, NCIS and their gothic forensics scientist, Abbey. She did a mixture of digital and criminal forensics. I was also so fascinated with this area of security work. When I was looking into my degree, I wanted to focus on cyber security, but there was no degree path with this focus outside of the Master’s degree at UCF. I focused my education on accomplishing this degree.
PNSQC 2022 Keynote speaker, Performance Engineering enthusiast, developer and computer games enthusiast Kaushal Dalvi took the time to answer some questions to share with the PNSQC community. If you hadn't already made a note to attend his talk in October, you will after reading the following interview! If you don't have your conference tickets yet, there's still plenty of time to sign up here.
Kaushal Dalvi: The simplest definition of quality that I have found myself using more and more is Josephs Juran's "fitness for use" definition. In that view, quality is an all-encompassing umbrella term that covers all of the '-ilities'. However, in most day to day conversations when one speaks of quality, the intention is to speak of functional correctness, as opposed to conformance to non-functional requirements.
From that perspective, I would still point back to Juran's definition of 'fitness for use'. If an application does not function correctly, it is not fit for use even if it is extremely performant. And an application that functions correctly but takes too long to return the response in a usable time-frame is again, not fit for use. So, long story short, there are thresholds of functional correctness and performance and the other '-ilities'. If a system, app or functionality falls outside this fitness for use threshold, then the other '-ilities' may not matter in that case.
Keynote speaker and seasoned Quality expert Julia Pottinger graciously took some time to interview with PNSQC, and we are thrilled to share her words with the community. The following Q&A make us all the more excited to hear her talk in October, and believe it will do the same for you. Enjoy, and see you at the conference! There's still plenty of time to sign up here.Interviewer: You talk about balancing learning on the job with learning on our own time. Is it expected that you should learn during company time?
Julia Pottinger: Companies should invest in the upskilling of their employees. There is a balance between how much you invest into your own learning and growth outside of work hours, while still having dedicated time from your job to learn. Learning on company time takes different forms, attending conferences, paying for courses/training budget, certifications, brown-bag sessions, workshops, peer coaching/programming etc. I expect guided learning by a company where employees learn during company time.
Panel on the Trends and Future of QA
Does this sound familiar? You’ve spent the last few years building up your company, learning new ways to work remotely, restructuring your department, strengthening your team, and moving ahead of the competition.
But, now, pundits are saying a downturn is coming. Will all that you’ve gained in recent years be lost?
Three Steps … How To Attend the PNSQC Conference
You’ve heard the buzz about PNSQC 2022: Top-flight speakers, powerful technical program, and three days (Oct. 10-12). You want to attend! But will your boss give you the green light? More importantly, will the boss let you put the bill on the company tab?
We are here to help you get to Yes! Here are tried and true steps for convincing your boss to cover your attendance.
If you’re here reading PNSQC blog content, and have not yet submitted a proposal for a conference paper, there’s an excellent chance that our poster option may be a great fit for you!
The recording for PNSQC's April 2022 meetup, “The Evolution of Enterprise Software System in the State Regulatory Space - From Monolith to Microservices,” is available on the PNSQC Youtube channel. Subscribe to the channel to get regular updates from all the recorded events.
Four Trends Showcase The Challenges And Opportunities.
A guest post from Bridget Hughes, of mabl software.
PNSQC and the Statewide QA Program of the State of Oregon co-hosted an Accessibility Workshop & Meetup on March 30, 2022. As a hybrid event, there were some 60 people that participated – both via Zoom and in person at our NE Portland venue.
This is the first in what we hope becomes a series of blog posts from people in the PNSQC community about how we navigate careers in Quality.
By Rachael Lovallo
My career as a tester began with quitting.
Tips on writing a successful abstract from Senior Test Engineer and PNSQC Presenter Rachael Lovallo.
Are you considering submitting a proposal to present at PNSQC’s 40th anniversary conference in 2022? The abstract is your chance to state your case and win over the review committee.
"You’re pretty smart for a girl."
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PNSQC volunteer Heather Wilcox describes the challenges and opportunities for women in technical roles. The path is not always easy, but here are some ideas for balancing the scales.[/caption]
I know now that this sentence is a micro-aggression. However, In January of 1995, when I started my first job in the software industry, it was something I heard all the time and, although I hated it, I got used to it. After deciding to abandon an advanced degree in Anthropology, I looked at my talents and decided that maybe my skills in small network administration and my lifelong love of technology might serve me well in the software industry. It took a few job interviews, but I finally snagged myself an entry-level position in technical support for a large software company.
“Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose.” -Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr
This quote roughly translates into English as “the more things change, the more they stay the same.” This is a common refrain among tech workers, especially software quality professionals.
PNSQC successfully started the 2022 conference year with a Quality Jam. This evening of lightning talks was designed to kick off the call for paper proposals for the 2022 conference.
2021 marked the second year of a fully-digital conference, and going digital means we recorded every talk. With more than 50 talks, panels, and discussions packed into two days, there’s so much you may have missed or want to revisit.
This year’s conference covered so much: From common testing challenges to how to implement lasting change within your team.
With more than 50 talks, panels, and discussions packed into two days, there’s so much you may have missed or want to revisit. This marked the second year of a fully-digital conference, and going digital means we recorded every talk.
It’s funny how many still think that a single best automation testing tool exists. That’s like saying mint chocolate is an all-time favorite ice-cream flavor when many may think it tastes like toothpaste.
By Adam Satterfield, Katalon Evangelist
The Pacific Northwest Software Quality Conference puts quality at the forefront. The conference programming emphasizes evolving technical, management, and process practices, plus the methods needed to develop high-quality software.
