This document discusses how a team at Infragistics uses mind maps to support exploratory testing. The team builds a mind map for each new feature to identify test conditions, ideas, and variables to cover. Mind maps help the team iterate over existing test ideas, identify new test conditions and ideas, and maintain a common understanding of features. The team references mind maps during exploratory testing sessions but does not track the sessions in the maps. Mind maps are updated based on product changes and stored in a repository with naming conventions. The approach helped the team share knowledge and avoid rethinking test ideas from scratch.

1. MIND MAPS TO SUPPORT
EXPLORATORY TESTING
A team approach
Claudia Badell
cbadell@infragistics.com
@claubs_uy

2. URUGUAY

3. WORK EXPERIENCE
• Senior Quality Engineer, Infragistics, 2009
• TestingUy - www.testinguy.org
ABOUT ME 
STUDIES
• Computer Engineer
• Certified Scrum Master
• Rapid Software Testing course with Michael Bolton
• Association for Software Testing courses
(Foundations & Bug Advocacy)
• ISTQB Foundation
• …
PAST WORK EXPERIENCE
• Test Manager, Tester, Business Analyst
• Teacher for Computing Science Department within the
School of Engineering at Universidad de la República
@claubs_uy

4. 1 CONTEXT
2 OUR APPROACH
3 LESSONS LEARNED
AGENDA
4 Q&A

5. AGENDA
1 CONTEXT
2 OUR APPROACH
3 LESSONS LEARNED
4 Q&A

6. THE PRODUCT UNDER
TEST
• In the market since 2012
• Nine major releases, several
intermediate updates and silent
updates

7. • Developers (7)
• Visual designers (1)
• Interaction designers (1)
• Technical writer (1)
• Testers (1)
THE TEAM
Testing is
performed by
most of us

8. Before mind maps

9. CHECKLISTS
• Test ideas and variables to cover
• Kinds of errors we were looking for
• Solutions risks
• Known issues and decisions

10. • Writing checklists with the feature developers helped identify testing variables
from inside the code
• The testing variables and ideas to cover were explicitly shared by the team
• It was difficult to represent dependent test variables
CHECKLISTS
• It was difficult to see the big picture of what we were modeling

11. What is mind mapping?

12. A mind map to describe a mind map

13. • Organize and visualize ideas
• Identify dependencies
• Discuss ideas
• Enhance creativity
• Share knowledge
MIND MAPS HELP US

14. 1 CONTEXT
2 OUR APPROACH
3 LESSONS LEARNED
4 Q&A
AGENDA

15. How do we design
our mind maps?

16. We build a mind map for each feature

17. A mind map includes test conditions,
ideas and variables to cover a feature

18. Let’s see an example!

24. • Emphasize related test ideas
• Use symbols, notes and colors
• Represent cross-feature test conditions and
dependencies
GUIDELINES & STRUCTURE
CONVENTIONS TO
We defined a ‘meta language’ to
elaborate our mind maps

26. EVANGELIZING THE
APPROACH IN THE TEAM
• Internal workshops
• Applying it

27. How do we use our mind maps
when applying an exploratory
testing strategy?

28. We use mind maps as
reference for exploratory
sessions

29. We don’t track sessions

30. We reuse mind maps to avoid
re-thinking test ideas, conditions
and variables from scratch

31. Mind maps are extended or
updated according to
changes in the product

32. We track effort and charters
in tasks in our track system

33. • Repository
• File naming conventions
STORING OUR
MIND MAPS

34. 1 CONTEXT
2 OUR APPROACH
3 LESSONS LEARNED
4 Q&A
AGENDA

35. • Iterate over existing test ideas
• Identify test conditions and ideas better
• Have a common understanding of the features
• Share knowledge
MIND MAPS HELP US

36. George E. P Box
All models are wrong,
but some of them are useful

37. KEEP CALM
AND
START MIND MAPPING 

38. Useful links for further reading
• Heuristic Testing Strategy Model by James Bach
http://www.satisfice.com/tools/htsm.pdf
• Using Mind Maps to Document Exploratory Testing by Samuli Lahnamäki
https://www.stickyminds.com/presentation/using-mind-maps-document-exploratory-testing
• Explore It!: reduce risk and increase confidence with Exploratory Testing by Elisabeth Hendrickson
https://www.amazon.com/Explore-Increase-Confidence-Exploratory-Testing/dp/1937785025/
• Essential mind mapping: Rapid test design by Darren McMillan
http://www.bettertesting.co.uk/content/?p=1438
• Part 1: using mind-mapping software as a visual test management tool by Aaron Hodder
http://assurity.co.nz/community/big-thoughts/part-1-aaron-hodder-on-using-mind-mapping-software-as-a-visual-
test-management-tool/
• Part 2: using mind-mapping software as a visual test management tool by Aaron Hodder
http://assurity.co.nz/community/big-thoughts/part-2-aaron-hodder-on-using-mind-mapping-software-as-a-
visual-test-management-tool/
• When the whole team owns testing: Building testing skills by Lisa Crispin
http://lisacrispin.com/whole-team-owns-testing-building-testing-skills/
• Resources on Exploratory Testing, Metrics, and Other Stuff by Michael Bolton
http://www.developsense.com/resources.html

39. THANKS
Questions?
CONTACT:
Claudia Badell
cbadell@infragistics.com
@claubs_uy