Thoughts before MoTaCon: Quality management systems that care
24 Sep 2026
In this moment:
Melissa Fisher
Continuing with an experiment. Let's look at the talk and workshop descriptions of MoTaCon 2026 and share my thoughts and reflections before the talk/workshop has happened. And then, hopefully, share my thoughts after MoTaCon — for those I'm able to attend live.
Melissa Fisher is running a workshop called 'Build your own Quality Management System'.
Melissa Fisher is running a workshop called 'Build your own Quality Management System'.
My mind instantly jumps to systems thinking and the power of, well, thinking in systems. It's a capability I think we need to keep working on more than ever as humans continue to outsource our systems thinking and critical thinking to AI agents.
I once remember Melissa describing how much she enjoys exploring how human thinking works – she has a degreee in neuroscience! So I imagine Melissa's workshop will help participants take steps back before diving into the detail of how to set up and run a Quality Management System (QMS).
I reflect that when thinking in systems it's important to attempt to join up what might not be so obvious and clear. In community we find this just takes time and care, every day connecting the dots a bit more with helpful data and observations. I wonder if there's gonna be a bit of that in the workshop. As in, creating a QMS that cares – one where quality is care is at the core of how a system can be set up and led with. Like a guiding principle when things don't quite add up or make sense.
Some questions:
- Where does quality still live as a single function in your organisation, rather than a system everyone shapes?
- What would a quality management system that genuinely cares look like where you work?
- Where does care show up, or quietly go missing, in how your team handles quality?
- What language lands best when you describe quality to leadership as an organisational system?
- What's the smallest incremental change that could earn leadership trust in a new quality approach?
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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