High value activities: The faces of quality
05 Jun 2026
A This Week in Quality (TWiQ) evolution, we switched on the cameras for the first time! Thank you to Demi, Preeti and Gary for being the first people to do that. 🎉
Do listen and now watch the episode: Link coming soon.
We had an important discussion about the challenges of identifying and expressing our High Value Activities.
One of Demi's signals for a taking on a high value activity is when a developer says "You can't test that!" Challenge accepted, eh Demi?!
Preeti emphasised that we shouldn't hand over merging a pull request to AI as this is a high value activity. It's part of a process that is critical that should remain in human hands. However, using AI to review a pull request is ok.
Gary highlighted that a lot of his high value activities are instinctive. Often asking, "where do I need to go to have the biggest impact for the current situation?" As Gary put it:
Do listen and now watch the episode: Link coming soon.
We had an important discussion about the challenges of identifying and expressing our High Value Activities.
One of Demi's signals for a taking on a high value activity is when a developer says "You can't test that!" Challenge accepted, eh Demi?!
Preeti emphasised that we shouldn't hand over merging a pull request to AI as this is a high value activity. It's part of a process that is critical that should remain in human hands. However, using AI to review a pull request is ok.
Gary highlighted that a lot of his high value activities are instinctive. Often asking, "where do I need to go to have the biggest impact for the current situation?" As Gary put it:
"Humans need confidence. AI always has confidence. Software is going to humans with the intention of benefiting people. People need to know that it’s going to be good."
Simon Tomes
Community Lead at MoTaverse
he/him
Hello, I'm Simon. Since 2003 I've had various roles in testing, tech leadership and coaching. I believe in the power of collaboration, creativity and community. 🎓 MoT-STEC qualified. I get real joy working with and supporting our wonderful MoTaverse community.
“Thanks for making me feel so confident about myself.” | “I'm so grateful for all you do in the MoTaverse community, I learn so much as a result!” | “A simple chat with Simon in person absolutely changed everything.” | “Simon is one of the best people that I've ever met to have conversations with. He's so grounded in his way of thinking and articulates his thoughts so well and his feelings and his knowledge about community and everything.”
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Cassandra H. Leung
Interesting! Will TWIQ be a camera-on event from now on, or was this more of a one-time thing?
Simon Tomes
Hey Cassandra,
We've decided to stick with cameras-on for TWiQ. Hosts will keep them on, yet it's optional for anyone who joins the stage.
Folks can also continue to hang out in the chat or just listen in without participating in the chat.
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Into the MoTaverse is a podcast by Ministry of Testing, hosted by Rosie Sherry, exploring the people, insights, and systems shaping quality in modern software teams.
