© 2013 Congruent Compliance LLC 1
Courage and Freedom in Exploratory Testing
October 2013
© 2013 Congruent Compliance LLC 2
Griffin JonesConsultantAgile / Testing / Regulatory
October 2013
This Presentation Covers …• How to think about Exploratory Testing• The questions to ask yourself• Project roles and Exploratory Testing• Warning Signs• Project stories and a stump-speech
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EXPLORATORY TESTING IS …Simultaneous …
• Test Execution• Test Design• Learning• Optimization
Execution
Design
Learning
Optimization
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EXPLORATORY TESTING IS …
… not your Hands.
The thoughts inside your Head…
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EXPLORATORY TESTING
… requires …
… and …
… to Question
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FOUR QUESTIONS …Performance• Should I change how I perform a task?
Redesign• Should I redesign the task?
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… FOUR QUESTIONSMission• Am I working on the correct mission?
Learning• Am I learning
and adapting?
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1. PERFORMANCEShould I change how I perform a task? • Intentional Alternation and Variation
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2. REDESIGN Should I redesign the task? • Intentional Galumphing …
… or cut the Gordian-Knot
… or cut-to-the-chase
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3. MISSION Working the correct mission? • Who values the mission, and Why?
Ask the Zero Questions• Is this a problem for me, right now?• Anything not worth doing, …• Where’s the Beef?
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4. LEARNING Am I learning and adapting? • Can I solve my own problems?• Am I self-healing?• Am I aware of the greater context?• … or am I stuck
and need a jiggle?
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DoerManager-of-DoerClient
THREE ROLES: STORIESExecution
Design
Learning
Optimization
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WARNING SIGNS OFSUPERFICIAL COMMITMENT
Abdication• Refusing responsibility
Resignation• Mentally Unengaged with the Design
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WARNING SIGNS OFSUPERFICIAL COMMITMENT
Mechanistic Efficiency• Using people like Machines
All Success – No Failures, No Slack• And no Learning
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THE FINAL QUESTIONConstantly ask yourself …
What is the best test, I can perform right now?
… and do that.
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How to Think about ET• Having the Courage to Think
The four questions to ask yourself• Should I change how I perform a task?• Should I redesign the task?• Am I working on the correct mission?• Am I learning and adapting?
SUMMARY … AHOW COURAGE AND FREEDOM
INFLUENCE
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Project Roles and Exploratory Testing• The courage and freedom need for each role
Four Warning Signs • Abdication, Resignation, Mechanization,
All Success
The Final Question• What is the Best Test,
I can perform right now?
SUMMARY … BHOW COURAGE AND FREEDOM
INFLUENCE
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IMAGE CREDITS …http://thecrossovertest.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/courage21.jpg
http://blogs.yis.ac.jp/18heminke/files/2013/01/freedom-jumping_00376259-1s2s8xq.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Computer_keyboard.gif
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ad/ThinkingMan_Rodin.jpg
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/df/Our_Community_Place_Sandbox.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Soup_Spoon.jpg
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Sand_sorting_tower.jpg
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… IMAGE CREDITShttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ford_assembly_line_-_1913.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Alexander_cuts_the_Gordian_Knot.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Perilsofpauline.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Hereford_bull_large.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Vinyl_very_dusty.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:EdwardVIIIcoin.jpg
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QUESTIONS AND STORIES
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Griffin Jones
October 2013
