Grand Testing Master Theory Mind

Mapping Workshop

Graham ThomasIndependent Software

Testing Consultant

Stockholm3rd December 2007

AbstractThis workshop is an opportunity to

contribute to the development of the Software Testing Body of Knowledge

Through the medium of Mind Mapping, a quick, simple and effective way for groups to work together

We will look at the structure of Software Testing, and then go on to examine what constitutes good testing practice

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Agenda

Introduction 10 mins

Brainstorming 10 mins

Break-out 1 30 mins

Energiser

Break-out 2 - 30 mins

Learning Points - 5 mins

Conclusion - 5 mins

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Chess Grand Master Cluster Theory

Less ExperiencedSmaller memory clustersDon’t give whole picture

Grand MasterOverlapping memory clustersGive whole board

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Build up Testing Clusters

SOFTWARE

TESTING

Subject

Subject

Subject

Subject

Subject

Subject

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Chance Discovery Analysis

Use Chance Discovery Analysis to discover the unseen commonalities

(Chance discovery is a class of algorithms to discover relationships in unstructured data – Les Hatton)

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Three Good ThingsA few years ago I was invited to a corporate Clay

Pigeon shooting day. I had never shot before, but it sounded like fun so I thought that I would give it a go.

In the morning we had a practice at the six disciplines. I had never shot before so I was put into the absolute beginners group.

I was hopeless. I couldn’t hit anything.The coach was very good. He had a look at what I

was doing, and for each discipline, just told me 3 simple things, that I could relate to, that would help me.

In the afternoon I won the individual competition – with a high score, and two 6’s.

And that got me to thinking about 3 good things. If only we could do that for Software Testing.

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Brainstorming If you know the answer,

please don’t keep it to the end!

We don’t have a year! So lets see what we can do in 90 minutes!

We are going to use the Mind Mapping tool

An excellent example of how far thinking and collaboration tools have developed

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An introduction to Mind Mapping Mind Mapping

o The Mind Map Book: Radiant Thinking - Major Evolution in Human Thought – Tony Buzan

o ISBN 978-0563487050

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An example Mind Map

Based on Tony Buzan’s technique10

How to Mind Map

1. Start at the centre of the page

2. Don’t be serious

3. Free associate

4. Think as fast as you can

5. There are no boundaries

6. Don’t judge too fast

7. Go, go, go .....

8. Add relationships and connections

1. Our mind focuses on the centre of the page. That’s why mindmapping begins with a word or image that symbolises what you want to think about, placed in the middle of the page

2. Write down or draw the first things that come up in your mind when you start to think about the problem, related issues, people, process, goals . . . Put your thoughts around the central thought. Put down everything even if it looks strange or unimportant

3. As ideas emerge, print one or two word descriptions of the ideas on lines branching from the central focus. Allow the ideas to expand outward into branches and sub-branches. Put down all ideas without judgement or evaluation

4. Come up with an explosion of ideas. Translate them into words, images, codes or symbols

5. Think “out-of-the-box”. Everything is possible. Use wild colours, fat coloured markers, crayons. Or skinny felt tipped pens. You haven’t lived until you’ve mindmapped an idea with hot pink and day-glo orange crayons!

6. Again, everything is possible. Unrelated issues might be relevant later on. Think like you are brainstorming. Otherwise your mind will get stuck and you’ll never generate those great ideas

7. Keep your hand moving. If ideas slow down, draw empty lines and watch your brain automatically find ideas to put on them. Or change colours to re-energise your mind. Stand up and mindmap on an easel pad to generate even more energy

8. Sometime you see relationships and connections immediately and you can add sub-branches to a main idea. Sometimes you don’t, so you just connect the ideas to the central focus. Organisation can always come later; the first requirement is to get the ideas out of your head and onto paper

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Rules of the Day

P

This is a workshop so:o There are no bad ideaso Be creativeo Take riskso No criticism allowed

If there is something that we don’t know how to deal with we will put it in the car park

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Break-Out 1Mind Mapping Testing Clusters Part i

o In your groups, work on the Flip Chart to draw a Mind Map for Software Testing

o Group together related activitieso Draw links where necessary

Part iio Group feedbacko Build common Mind Map

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Energiser

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Mind Control

Group Questions• Think of a vegetable• Think of a flower• Think of a colour• Think of a tool• A number between 1 & 10• A European City

• A Software Testing Technique

Predictions

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Break-Out 2

Mind Mapping 3 Good Things Part i

o Work through your original Mind Mapso Where you can, add in 3 good things

• Those things that you know to be good• That work for you• And you would tell to others in order to help them

Part iio Group Feedbacko Build common 3 Good Things Mind Map

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Learning Points

What did you learn form the workshop today?

What will you take away from today?

Feedback on how the workshop went today?

Suggestions for future direction for the work?

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Research

Managing Knowledge at UTHSCSA: A Shared Vision for the Future

Knowledge Typology Map - unreferenced

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Summary I hope that you can see the same possibilities that I can for

the Grand Testing Master Theory,

You have helped too Develop Software Testing Cluster Mind Mapso Identify Industry Best Practice with 3 Good Things exampleso Furthered the work on a Software Testing Body of Knowledge

If you would be interested in doing further work in this area please talk to me afterwards, drop me an e-mail, or visit my website for a link to the MindMaps

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Contact Details

Graham Thomas

Independent SoftwareTesting Consultant

graham@badgerscroft.com +44 7973 387 853 www.badgerscroft.com

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