Quality is a choice
“Our product should be perfect, with zero bugs! Also, our budget is limited.”
The truth is that quality isn't an exact science. Perfection comes at a cost.
What to consider when determining the level of quality:
- Industry context: Highly regulated sectors demand rigorous QA. For non-critical products, speed to market can be balanced with zero flaws.
- Product maturity: Early-stage products can tolerate some imperfections if they deliver value. As the user base grows, the margin for error shrinks.
- Time allocation: Every hour spent on testing is not spent on new features. Choose wisely.
- User feedback: Sometimes, launching and iterating based on real-world usage is better than aiming for theoretical perfection.
Quality is a deliberate choice, not a fixed set of measures. A technical leader's job is to balance quality and speed at each stage of the product's lifecycle.