16 July 2024 Leave a comment QA
It’s common to notice a decline in the discovery of new bugs as familiarity with a product increases. This psychological phenomenon can affect various aspects of software testing, from API testing to comprehensive test planning. Keeping a fresh perspective is essential to identify new issues and ensure thorough testing. Here are some effective strategies to maintain that “beginner’s mind” approach.
1. Employ User Personas
One practical approach is to set up personas based on real-world users. By adopting different personas during testing, you can simulate various user interactions and uncover unique issues. For example:
“Today I’m going to be Andy, the super user of the system. Andy is very sharp with numbers and is responsible for the system’s administration. He enjoys watching sports on weekends and long walks on the beach with his dogs. He also likes to dabble in coding over the weekends.”
This method helps testers step into the shoes of diverse users, providing new perspectives and identifying potential problems that might otherwise be overlooked.
2. Rotate Testing Assignments
Rotating assignments within the team can be beneficial. By swapping projects or tasks, testers can break the monotony and gain fresh insights. This strategy not only rejuvenates the testers but also brings new ideas and approaches to the testing process.
3. Conduct Non-Technical Testing Exercises
Engaging in non-technical testing tasks can refresh the mind. Assigning tasks like composing test cases for household devices (e.g., blenders or vacuum cleaners) can stimulate creativity and break the routine. This practice helps in reloading the team’s mental state, allowing them to return to software testing with renewed vigor.
4. Incorporate the “Tours” Concept
Implementing the “tours” concept involves exploring different aspects of the software through varied perspectives. This method encourages testers to delve deeper into the software, understanding more about its interactions and discovering subtle issues.
5. Seek External Feedback
Bringing in fresh minds through usability testing, bug bashes, or beta testing can provide invaluable insights. External testers can offer new perspectives and identify issues that internal teams might miss due to familiarity.
6. Encourage Paired Testing
Paired testing with developers, product managers, or even end-users can inspire passion and bring diverse viewpoints to the testing process. This collaborative approach helps in maintaining a fresh outlook and enhances the overall quality of the product.
7. Change Testing Approaches
Switching testing strategies can also be effective. For instance, trying Boundary Value Analysis (BVA) or other testing methods can break the routine and uncover new issues. Observing how end-users interact with the software can also provide new testing possibilities.
Maintaining Freshness with Repeato
Utilizing a no-code test automation tool like Repeato can significantly streamline the testing process. Repeato leverages computer vision and AI to create, run, and maintain automated tests for iOS and Android apps. Its ease of setup and use allows testers to quickly adapt and modify tests, ensuring that the testing process remains efficient and effective. This flexibility helps in maintaining a fresh perspective, as testers can easily switch contexts and explore different aspects of the software with minimal effort.
For more information on how Repeato can enhance your testing strategy, explore our documentation or contact us for a demo.
