“Without change there is no innovation, creativity, or incentive for improvement. Those who initiate change will have a better opportunity to manage the change that is inevitable…”

– William Polland

It was February 26, 2008 when our manager called an emergency meeting for the whole RQA Team. We all thought that the meeting was only all about our latest release (R2C) but all of us expect for the wrong one. It was a shocking and surprising news hearing the words: “simula ngayon, kayo na ang hahawak sa buong Safeway RQA…!”

It was the day that RQA Walnut Creek component was removed. The only one that was left in WC was the manager Pat Buckman and his 2 resources who were still on medical leave until mid of 2008. This event was an un-expected Safeway laid off employees when it shutdown the Corporate IT office in Arcadia. In Walnut Creek, 10 of 13 RQA employees were sent back to stores. It then marked the start of the new era for RQA, the period then so-called ‘Transition’, the time when everything is new, everyone grasp for the new one, and every deeds build the base. How will then RQA transform from the traditional life we used to live to the promise of the new astonishing verve? Can we say it’s a curse since more loads, time, and efforts versus limited labs, equipments, and resources? Or it’s just a blessing camouflaged in other forms?

Flashback of the Past

It’s interesting to know that 4 years ago, RQA Manila was first established by 4 women only. They were the first to install, configure, and test the POS we are testing today. As years gone by, more and more people became part of the growing RQA family. From 4 women increased to 20 headcounts now.

Previously, RQA Manila was just like an extension of the WC. Walnut Creek was the master and commander while Manila is only the follower. Functional Testing, Retail Testing, and Test Coordination were all done in Walnut Creek. What is left in Manila was only the Regression Testing.

On my early days here before the transition, what I usually did was just regression testing. I was not allowed to edit the test scripts without the approval of WC. They were the one that creates lab images, while we only copy it. They were the one to decide if it is a defect or not, we just only inform them if we suspect one! They have the power over us! Back-up, Implementation, Test plans, Test Cases, and Test Logs were all being completed there.