As a QA professional, if you don't perceive yourself as being an integral part of the software development process, you are missing the point of your function.

As a QA professional, if you don't perceive yourself as being an integral part of the software development process, you are missing the point of your function. The entire software development process involves professionals who currently have no recourse beyond "getting the frack out" when their working conditions become abusive. I don't think we need to open our history books to remind ourselves that industries don't self-regulate until they are forced to.