Software Testing Unleashed · 2026-03-05 · 34 min
How Testers Can Use Economics to Influence Quality Decisions in Software Development In this episode, I talk with Vitaly Sharovatov about the economics of testing. We ask how testers can sell quality to managers who think in money, risk, and time. Vitaly frames testing like insurance. You pay now to lower the chance or impact of pain later. He shows where to find numbers that speak. Churn, support hours, rework in Jira, failed handoffs, and regulatory risk. Start small. Pair with developers, cut waste, count saved hours, and share clear wins. Then aim bigger. Shorter time to market, better UX, fewer angry users. "We are paying with efforts and time for things which don't occur, which is very, very strange to do." - Vitaly Sharovatov As a quality enthusiast, Vitaly Sharovatov believes that people should take pride in their work and companies should aim to produce high-quality products. He has spent the last 23 years in IT, focusing on engineering, QA, and mentorship. He is also a huge animal lover and has saved and raised more than 50 cats and dogs.