Guide to Exploratory Testing in Agile Software Development

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Often, testers are unable to derive much value from conventional testing methods. Their rigid approach lowers the efficacy of the checks carried out on a software or app. Exploratory testing in agile software development seeks to overcome this limitation with its flexible and adaptive testing mechanism.

This amazing approach breaks free from the traditional testing methods. It empowers your team to uncover those sneaky and scenario-specific issues. In my opinion, it fuses creativity with technical expertise. Exploratory testing in agile software development offers a fresh perspective on quality assurance. It aligns perfectly with the adaptive nature of Agile methodologies.

Do you wish to learn more on what is exploratory testing in Agile? In this post I will be taking you through the history and uses of this radical testing process. I will also be listing out why you should use it and the advantages it offers. We will be talking about what is exploratory testing in Agile.

What is Exploratory Testing in Agile?

In exploratory testing in agile software development, the tester is free to pick any software methodology to test the software. This is an unscripted approach to software testing. Developers use their knowledge and abilities to test the product themselves.

Exploratory Testing is unique. It blends the tester experience with structured investigation. It is often used for black box testing. This method of assessment lets testers approach the software as an end user would. With this tactic, they discover and uncover issues that rigid testing might miss.

This flexible method is especially valuable in agile environments. They require rapid iteration and adaptability. Testers can adjust their strategies on the fly. This allows Exploratory Testing to keep pace with evolving needs and quickly changing code. It ensures comprehensive quality assurance throughout development.

Now that you know what is exploratory testing in Agile, let us go back a few years and see how it originated in the software testing phase.

History of Exploratory Testing

The concept of exploratory testing in agile software development has an intriguing history. It originated as ‘ad-hoc testing’ before Cem Kaner renamed it precisely. This pivotal rebranding was in Kaner’s book ‘Testing Computer Software.’ The book has since become a cornerstone text in the domain.

Exploratory Testing acknowledges a key truth in software quality assurance. Even the best test plans have limits. When formal test cases are exhausted, testing need not cease. Instead, this approach encourages testers to go beyond predetermined scenarios. They should craft new test cases on the fly.

The beauty of exploratory testing in agile software development lies in its efficiency and intuitive nature. It reduces the time spent on detailed test prep and documentation. This allows testers to use their instincts and expertise. This approach taps into the tester’s knowledge and experience. It often finds issues that more structured methods might miss.

Exploratory Testing empowers QA specialists to think creatively. They can adapt quickly and dig deeply into the software’s vulnerabilities and strengths.

You now know more on what is exploratory testing and how it came into being. Let’s move ahead and see how it differs from test cases.

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How is Exploratory Testing Different from Test Cases?

Test cases and exploratory testing in agile software development are opposite approaches. Here, I will tell you about their distinctions-

Test cases are detailed instructions that are pre-written. They specify expected actions, inputs and the expected outputs of those tests. Test cases instruct testers to follow specific steps and report bugs. In contrast, exploratory testing asks testers questions that are not scripted.

As a result, exploratory testing and test cases are complementary testing strategies. Test cases cover core user flows. They also sweep the whole app. Exploratory tests detect bugs. The bugs live in common problems. They account for different types of users. We recommend both.

Why Use Exploratory Testing

Here, I am listing down all the reasons you should opt for exploratory testing in agile software development-

Testers can play around with user experience

During exploratory testing, testers can interact with user stories. They do this by annotating defects, adding assertions, and making voice memos. This effectively turns user stories into test cases.

Unstructured and random testing

Exploratory testing is unstructured. Hence, testers use it for effectively finding bugs which might have otherwise been hidden in a structured testing.

Speeds up documentation

Exploratory testing speeds up documentation. Testers benefit from an instant feedback loop to act upon.

Reinforce the traditional testing process

Testers can use tools for automated test case documentation. They can convert exploratory testing into test scripts.

Export documentation to test cases

It can be incorporated with tools like Jira. Then, users can export testing notes directly to test cases.

Helps agile workflow

Using exploratory testing testers can formalize findings and document them automatically. With visual feedback, everyone can join in. It helps the team to quickly adapt to changes and supports an agile workflow.

When to Use Exploratory Testing?

You may already know what is exploratory testing in Agile. Let us now discover a few reasons when people should use exploratory testing in agile software development-

Quick Familiarization with the Application

Exploratory testing is ideal for new testers. It is relevant for those who need to quickly understand the application and provide rapid feedback.

User Perspective Review

Testers can use it for reviewing products from a user’s perspective.

Early Iteration Needs

Exploratory testing is beneficial when early iterations are required. Testers can get going with it when there is no time to structure detailed test cases.

Testing Critical Applications

It ensures that edge cases are not missed. This prevents critical quality failures.

Supporting Unit Tests

Testers can strengthen unit tests and can document various test cases with this type of an evaluation. It allows extensive testing in later sprints.

Also Read: Tester vs Developer

When to Avoid Exploratory Testing?

Organizations need to find the right balance between exploratory testing and scripted testing. Relying solely on exploratory testing in the early stages will not provide the detailed outcomes the team needs.

In regulated environments, compliance-based scripted testing is essential. Compliance testing involves adhering to specific checklists and legal requirements. Scripted testing is better here. It ensures that testing meets legal and regulatory standards.

Also Read: Cross Platform Testing

Types of Exploratory Testing

There are many types of exploratory testing in agile software development. Here, I am listing a few of them-

Free style

In the freestyle approach, testing teams examine the application in an ad-hoc manner. There are no specific rules or a focus on maximum coverage. This approach is used in the following scenarios-

When testers need to familiarize themselves with the application.
To review and verify the work of other test engineers.
To quickly conduct smoke tests.

Scenario-based

Here, the testers may take the help of various scenarios and use them to check the app or a module. It can be end-to-end or test scenarios. This is to guide the testing process. These scenarios can either be provided by the user or created by the test team.

Strategy based

Strategy-based testing uses various techniques. These include:

decision-table testing
cause-effect graphing
boundary value analysis
equivalence partitioning, and
error guessing.

An experienced tester conducts this type of testing. They have extensive knowledge of the application. You will gain more knowledge on these types when you go for the Certified Scrum Master Certification training.

Collaborative exploratory testing

During exploratory testing, multiple testers collaborate. They share their observations and insights. This teamwork enhances the diversity of views. It makes finding more types of flaws more likely.

Timed-boxed exploratory testing

Exploratory testing is time-bound. Testers aim to find as many significant flaws as possible within the given time.

Charter-based exploratory testing

The charter is a written document. The tester may use it to know the goals and scope of the scrutiny. It guides testers in their work. It may specify features to test. It may list scenarios to consider or objectives to achieve.

Read More: Stress testing in software testing

Process of Exploratory Testing

Here are the four steps involved in the exploratory testing in agile software development-

Learn

In this first phase, the tester finds faults or issues in the software. They observe and find the types of problems affecting the software. They do this by using their knowledge, skills, and experience. This phase also allows the tester to gain new insights and learn.

Test case creation

The tester finds a fault in the software. They understand the problem. Then, they make test cases to fix the defects and test the software. These test cases are designed to reflect end users’ issues.

Test case execution

Once test cases are developed based on end-user problems, the tester executes them. Execution is a key part of testing. It involves computational and operational tasks done by the software to get the desired results.

Analysis

After executing the test cases, the results are analyzed. This is to determine whether the software is functioning correctly. If defects are identified, they are addressed. Then, the testing process is repeated. This cyclical process continues to ensure thorough software testing and quality assurance.

Benefits of Agile Exploratory Testing

Here, I am going to list down all the advantages of exploratory testing in agile software development-

Enhances Productivity

Exploratory testing uses testers’ knowledge and experience. They use these to creatively explore the software. This leads to making new test cases and improving quality.

Generates Innovative Ideas

This checking process encourages creativity and intuition. It fosters the development of new ideas and approaches during testing.

Requires Minimal Groundwork

Testers use exploration as an unscripted testing technique. It demands little to no preparation. This makes it flexible and adaptable.

Uncovers Serious Defects

Testing teams can quickly find critical issues with this evaluation strategy. They might be missed by other methods due to their investigative approach.

Reveals Hidden Bugs

Exploratory testing helps to discover defects that are often overlooked in more structured test cases.

Disadvantages of Exploratory Testing

I feel that exploratory testing in agile software development also comes with a few drawbacks as listed below-

Inability to Review Tests in Advance

Exploratory testing is ad-hoc. Once the tests are run, the tester is unable to review or re-evaluate them.

Reliance on Tester’s Knowledge

I have seen in many projects that this tactic is heavily dependent on the tester’s domain knowledge and skills. This dependence limits the effectiveness of testing based on the tester’s own expertise.

Difficulty Tracking Test Progress

If you ask me, I think that this checking approach is unstructured. This makes it hard to track the tests done and the testing progress.

Challenges in Repeating Test Methodology

Exploratory testing tends to be random and ad-hoc. This makes it hard to repeat the same test method. So, it may not be ideal for long-term or iterative testing.

Conclusion

In my opinion there are so many advantages of exploratory testing in agile software development. This method lets testers quickly evaluate the software. They can find potential problems. It is especially useful early in a project or with changing requirements. A software product should include exploratory testing in the testing lifecycle. It is more robust and reliable. If you want to learn more, then go for Certified Scrum Master Certification.

FAQ's

1. Who can conduct exploratory testing?

This type of scrutiny does not need a script. Hence, anyone involved in a project can do it. Other than testers, even developers and designers can participate in this type of check to know the app’s health.

2. What is required for exploratory testing?

I feel that this approach is a manual checking technique. It needs a proficient tester to find errors fast. The method cannot be fully automated since it places a strong emphasis on intuition and creativity.

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