Take the 5 minute challenge! What are Risks?
26 Jun 2026
During a Software Testing Live with Ben Dowen and Melissa Fisher, I was reminded of a Club post from 2017.
I set a little challenge that I think is fun to do again.
I set a little challenge that I think is fun to do again.
- Start a five minute timer
- Answer the question: What are risks?
- Comment on this Moment with your answer
Here's what I wrote back then:
Risks are…
- Something that informs where and how we might test
- Something that could happen and isn’t proven
- Something in dreamland that needs investigation to see if it’s real
- An assumption that informs testing activity
- A way to prioritise exploration
- Something to help us think critically about our product
- Something you don’t want your customers to experience
- Something we should investigate
- Something that helps us focus and scope our testing
- A communication tool to have discussions with the business
After all these years I think they are still helpful. And folks during Software Testing Live shared all sorts of ideas about what risks are. It was very cool!
How about you? Take the challenge and share your thoughts about risks. There's no right or wrong answer so just go for it! 🤝
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.”
Open To
Write
Teach
Speak
Mentor
CV Reviews
Podcasting
Meet at MoTaCon 2026
Review Conference Proposals
Sign in
to comment
Let agents spin up stateful API simulations so they can deliver better work, without hitting your live endpoints.
Explore MoT
What I learned about influence by becoming a stakeholder
Learn with me about what Accessibility is, why it's important to test for and how to get your team started with an Accessibility testing mindset
Debrief the week in Quality via a community radio show hosted by Simon Tomes and members of the community
