Grand Testing Master Theory Mind Mapping Workshop Graham Thomas Independent Software Testing Consultant Stockholm 3 rd December 2007

Abstract This 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 2

Agenda  Introduction10 mins  Brainstorming10 mins  Break-out 130 mins Energiser  Break-out mins  Learning Points- 5 mins  Conclusion- 5 mins 3

Chess Grand Master Cluster Theory Less Experienced Smaller memory clusters Don’t give whole picture Grand Master Overlapping memory clusters Give whole board 4

Build up Testing Clusters S OFTWARE T ESTING Subject 5

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) 6

Three Good Things A 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. 7

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 8

An introduction to Mind Mapping  Mind Mapping o The Mind Map Book: Radiant Thinking - Major Evolution in Human Thought – Tony Buzan o ISBN

An example Mind Map Based on Tony Buzan’s technique 10

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 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 11

Rules of the Day P This is a workshop so: o There are no bad ideas o Be creative o Take risks o No criticism allowed  If there is something that we don’t know how to deal with we will put it in the car park 12

Break-Out 1 Mind 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 activities o Draw links where necessary  Part ii o Group feedback o Build common Mind Map 13

Energiser 14

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 15

Break-Out 2 Mind Mapping 3 Good Things  Part i o Work through your original Mind Maps o 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 ii o Group Feedback o Build common 3 Good Things Mind Map 16

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? 17

Research Managing Knowledge at UTHSCSA: A Shared Vision for the Future Knowledge Typology Map - unreferenced 18

Summary  I hope that you can see the same possibilities that I can for the Grand Testing Master Theory,  You have helped to o Develop Software Testing Cluster Mind Maps o Identify Industry Best Practice with 3 Good Things examples o 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 , or visit my website for a link to the MindMaps 19

Contact Details Graham Thomas Independent Software Testing Consultant  