Activity

Lead Quality Engineer
He/Him
I explore the world of software development and testing. Join me as I continue my adventures, discovering the wonders of quality.
Ben Dowen
Ben Dowen
earned:
<a href="https://www.ministryoftesting.com/this-week-in-testing-episodes/the-quality-conversation-is-real-the-ai-hype-isn-t-ep-105" rel="noopener nofollow">The quality conversation is real, the AI hype isn't - Ep 105</a> image
The quality conversation is real, the AI hype isn't - Ep 105
Ben Dowen
Ben Dowen
contributed:
Explore how testers cut through AI hype with visualization, community stories, and quality coaching. image
Explore how testers cut through AI hype with visualization, community stories, and quality coaching.
Ben Dowen
Ben Dowen
earned:
<div>Thanks for joining the stage during today's This Week in Testing.</div> image
Thanks for joining the stage during today's This Week in Testing.
Ben Dowen
Ben Dowen
contributed:
Ben Dowen
Ben Dowen
earned:
<div>Thanks for another excellent episode of Software Testing Live. </div> image
Thanks for another excellent episode of Software Testing Live. 
Ben Dowen
Ben Dowen
earned:
<div>Just watched Ben Dowen's Masterclass Teamwork Makes The Dream Work which was linked in the chat at Software Testing Live. It was the perfect resource at the perfect time! I have been thinking about how to map out knowledge/confidence gaps and I love this approach, so thank you for sharing.</div> image
Just watched Ben Dowen's Masterclass Teamwork Makes The Dream Work which was linked in the chat at Software Testing Live. It was the perfect resource at the perfect time! I have been thinking about how to map out knowledge/confidence gaps and I love this approach, so thank you for sharing.
Ben Dowen
Ben Dowen
earned:
<div>Hosted another excellent Software Testing Live.</div> image
Hosted another excellent Software Testing Live.
Ben Dowen
Ben Dowen
earned:
<div>Loving the Software Testing Live sessions. So glad to catch this one live this evening. Always a fun time and learned new things, and appreciated the tools and knowledge shared.</div> image
Loving the Software Testing Live sessions. So glad to catch this one live this evening. Always a fun time and learned new things, and appreciated the tools and knowledge shared.
We've been focusing on iterative improvements for TestBash.

This year we'll announce some bigger than normal changes, but in the meantime, I've been quite happy with the many smaller changes we'... image
We've been focusing on iterative improvements for TestBash. This year we'll announce some bigger than normal changes, but in the meantime, I've been quite happy with the many smaller changes we'...
Ben Dowen
Ben Dowen
earned:
<div>Great to see your "<a href="https://www.ministryoftesting.com/talks/build-a-quality-career" rel="noopener nofollow">Build a quality career</a>" talk featured on the MoT homepage. </div> image
Great to see your "Build a quality career" talk featured on the MoT homepage. 
Collect and share your impact stories to show your value and support your career growth image
Collect and share your impact stories to show your value and support your career growth
Ben Dowen
Ben Dowen
earned:
Ben Dowen
Ben Dowen
contributed:
Collect and share your impact stories to show your value and support your career growth image
Collect and share your impact stories to show your value and support your career growth
First day of 99 Second Talks at TestBash Brighton 2024 image
First day of 99 Second Talks at TestBash Brighton 2024
Ben Dowen
Ben Dowen
earned:
<div>Thanks for answering questions about TestBash and for suggesting an update to the TestBash event page FAQ. </div> image
Thanks for answering questions about TestBash and for suggesting an update to the TestBash event page FAQ. 
Explore different mindsets to improve testing, overcome bias, and add more value. image
Explore different mindsets to improve testing, overcome bias, and add more value.
Ben Dowen
Ben Dowen
earned:
<a href="https://www.ministryoftesting.com/memories/have-you-been-a-solo-tester-in-your-organisation" rel="noopener nofollow">Have you been a Solo tester in your organisation?</a> image
Have you been a Solo tester in your organisation?
Ben Dowen
Ben Dowen
contributed:
It was so great to listen to Twit Episode 103 where we had a talk around being a solo tester in the organisation. 
Watch out the full episode to understand the challenges, struggle, mindset, conve... image
It was so great to listen to Twit Episode 103 where we had a talk around being a solo tester in the organisation. Watch out the full episode to understand the challenges, struggle, mindset, conve...
Ben Dowen
Ben Dowen
earned:
<a href="https://www.ministryoftesting.com/this-week-in-testing-episodes/everyone-s-invited-to-the-qa-party-ep-103" rel="noopener nofollow">Everyone’s invited to the QA Party! - Ep 103</a> image
Everyone’s invited to the QA Party! - Ep 103
Ben Dowen
Ben Dowen
contributed:
Swap stories of solo testing, discover creative ways to spark quality conversations, and hear how AI and community “QA parties” are shaping modern testing. image
Swap stories of solo testing, discover creative ways to spark quality conversations, and hear how AI and community “QA parties” are shaping modern testing.
Ben Dowen
Ben Dowen
earned:
<div>Thank you for hosting This Week in Testing. You were awesome! 🤩<br><br>You and Judy Mosley were an excellent co-hosting combo. <br><br>
</div> image
Thank you for hosting This Week in Testing. You were awesome! 🤩You and Judy Mosley were an excellent co-hosting combo. 
Ben Dowen
Ben Dowen
earned:
<div>Thank you for being an amazing This Week in Testing co-host. It's aways feels so calm and welcoming that I want to stay forever on the show.</div> image
Thank you for being an amazing This Week in Testing co-host. It's aways feels so calm and welcoming that I want to stay forever on the show.
Ben Dowen
Ben Dowen
earned:
<a href="https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/86620" rel="noopener nofollow">🍎 MacOS Desktop App Automation</a> image
🍎 MacOS Desktop App Automation
Ben Dowen
Ben Dowen
achieved:
This badge is awarded to members who update their profile with a new photo. image
This badge is awarded to members who update their profile with a new photo.
Ben Dowen
Ben Dowen
achieved:
This badge is awarded to members who visit the Ministry of Testing site 404 times image
This badge is awarded to members who visit the Ministry of Testing site 404 times
Ben Dowen
Ben Dowen
achieved:
This badge is awarded to members who visit the Ministry of Testing site 99 times image
This badge is awarded to members who visit the Ministry of Testing site 99 times
Ben Dowen
Ben Dowen
achieved:
This badge is awarded to members who update their social links on their profile. image
This badge is awarded to members who update their social links on their profile.
Ben Dowen
Ben Dowen
achieved:
This badge is awarded to members who add their pronouns to their member profile, helping create a more inclusive community. image
This badge is awarded to members who add their pronouns to their member profile, helping create a more inclusive community.
About Me:

I’m coming from: Surrey/London, England

My role is: Lead Quality Engineer

I’d love to meet others who are into: quality engineering, leading quality teams, building quality cultu... image
About Me: I’m coming from: Surrey/London, England My role is: Lead Quality Engineer I’d love to meet others who are into: quality engineering, leading quality teams, building quality cultu...
Ben Dowen
Ben Dowen
achieved:
This badge is awarded to members who indicate they are open to work, writing, teaching, speaking, mentoring, CV reviewing or internships. image
This badge is awarded to members who indicate they are open to work, writing, teaching, speaking, mentoring, CV reviewing or internships.
Ben Dowen
Ben Dowen
earned:
<a href="https://www.ministryoftesting.com/memories/stec-is-complete-19-modules-58-voices-and-jam-packed-portfolio-to-show-your-growth" rel="noopener nofollow">STEC is complete 🎉: 19 modules, 58 voices, and jam packed portfolio to show your growth</a> image
STEC is complete 🎉: 19 modules, 58 voices, and jam packed portfolio to show your growth
Ben Dowen
Ben Dowen
contributed:
Eighteen months, 19 modules, and 59 amazing contributors later, the MoT Software Testing Essentials Certification is complete!

Looking back, my favourite part has been seeing so many community m... image
Eighteen months, 19 modules, and 59 amazing contributors later, the MoT Software Testing Essentials Certification is complete! Looking back, my favourite part has been seeing so many community m...
Ben Dowen
Ben Dowen
earned:
<div>Thanks for starting lots of convos and for sharing many things on the MoT Slack. It's much appreciated! </div> image
Thanks for starting lots of convos and for sharing many things on the MoT Slack. It's much appreciated! 
Ben Dowen
Ben Dowen
earned:
<div>Thanks for reporting a broken link in a very popular article :) Much appreciated!</div> image
Thanks for reporting a broken link in a very popular article :) Much appreciated!
Ben Dowen
Ben Dowen
earned:
<div>On getting your Slack channel idea accepted and implemented :)</div> image
On getting your Slack channel idea accepted and implemented :)
Ben Dowen
Ben Dowen
earned:
<div>Thank you for going above and beyond in July 2025. Team MoT sees you and appreciates you, as does the community. Your positive impact and interactions make a difference.</div> image
Thank you for going above and beyond in July 2025. Team MoT sees you and appreciates you, as does the community. Your positive impact and interactions make a difference.
One of the things I've been doing more of recently is talking to quality people in the MoTaverse. A spark emerges every time I speak to someone. It makes me realise I should have been doing this mo... image
One of the things I've been doing more of recently is talking to quality people in the MoTaverse. A spark emerges every time I speak to someone. It makes me realise I should have been doing this mo...
Find out what’s really behind testing hires that fail (hint: it’s rarely because the tester couldn’t handle the job!) image
Find out what’s really behind testing hires that fail (hint: it’s rarely because the tester couldn’t handle the job!)
Honored to have been invited to a Podcast with the CEO herself in Leading with Quality series. Where we sat and talk about the reality of Quality, how it should or may look like and most importantl... image
Honored to have been invited to a Podcast with the CEO herself in Leading with Quality series. Where we sat and talk about the reality of Quality, how it should or may look like and most importantl...
Ben Dowen
Ben Dowen
earned:
<div>Thanks for pair prompting with me today!</div> image
Thanks for pair prompting with me today!
RCRCRC is a regression testing heuristic developed by Karen Johnson that helps identify areas that need testing when software changes.

Recent: new features, new areas of code are more vulnerable... image
RCRCRC is a regression testing heuristic developed by Karen Johnson that helps identify areas that need testing when software changes. Recent: new features, new areas of code are more vulnerable...
Identify what test strategy will work for your context image
Identify what test strategy will work for your context
Strengthen your test automation strategy by shifting tests closer to the code for greater reliability and maintainability image
Strengthen your test automation strategy by shifting tests closer to the code for greater reliability and maintainability
Create strategies that guide your testing choices and give your tests structure image
Create strategies that guide your testing choices and give your tests structure
Dive into the handy Test Heuristics Cheat Sheet, new and improved for today's modern testing professional. Support your testing efforts and generate test ideas. image
Dive into the handy Test Heuristics Cheat Sheet, new and improved for today's modern testing professional. Support your testing efforts and generate test ideas.
Ben Dowen
Ben Dowen
earned:
Ben Dowen
Ben Dowen
contributed:
<div>A way to record, plan and communicate a piece of work. A ticket can also be called an issue, and can be of different types such as Task, Bug, Story and Epic.<br><br>Many teams also create custom types of tickets that are relevant for their domain or project. For example, when integrating Test Case Management tools into other work planning tools, you might have types such as Test Case, Test Set and Test Execution.<br><br>Tickets are often linked either with flat or hierarchical relationships. For example many Stories may belong to an Epic, or a Test Case may Test one or more Stories. Some more generic relationships simply use "related", without specifying the type of relationship. Other relationships might indicate project planning, such as Blocks, or Do After.<br><br>Tickets typically have at least:</div><ol>
<li>A title or summary</li>
<li>Description</li>
<li>Status</li>
</ol><div><br></div><div>There are many other fields a ticket might have, depending on the tool, configuration, domain or project.<br><br>As a ticket is worked on, it can move though various states, depending on the tools used and their configurations, these state transitions may be gated. For example, you may set it up so tickets in the "To do" status can only transition into "Cancelled" or "In progress". You might also have rules, so certain fields are required to allow a state transition.<br><br>Some tools allow automations, for example connecting CI systems to ticket management systems, so when a branch is made that refers to the ID of a ticket, the two are linked, so you can see code changes made as part of that ticket. Many other integrations and automations exist.</div> image
Definitions of Ticket
Ben Dowen
Ben Dowen
achieved:
This badge is awarded to members who confirm their tickets to Leading with Quality 2025 image
This badge is awarded to members who confirm their tickets to Leading with Quality 2025
Ben Dowen
Ben Dowen
earned:
<div>Software testing live is powerful.<br><br>It amplifies the right kind of signal in the testing world. All the best!</div> image
Software testing live is powerful.It amplifies the right kind of signal in the testing world. All the best!
Ben Dowen
Ben Dowen
earned:
<a href="https://www.ministryoftesting.com/this-week-in-testing-episodes/how-to-test-a-stage-99-times-over-ep-99" rel="noopener nofollow">How to test a stage 99 times over - Ep 99</a> image
How to test a stage 99 times over - Ep 99
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