This presentation is a set of tools that has helped me during my personal journey as a tester. These tools have help me grow in my reasoning about the challenges I’m faced with on my daily task. My way of reasoning evolved into a set of tools that I refer to as ”My Mindset Toolkit”. Hopefully they can be helpful for some of us.

1. Presenting:
Vivien Ibironke Ibiyemi
@ European Testing Conference,
February 9-10, 2017, Finland
Twitter: @vivienibiyemi, Linkedin: Vivien Ibironke Ibiyemi, Facebook: Ronke Ibiyemi
Email: ronkeibiyemi@gmail.com, vivien.ibiyemi@houseoftest.se

2. A way of reasoning that determines behaviour, outlook and
mental attitude of a tester, programmer or project manager
towards testing of PUT(Program/Device Under Test).
@vivienibiyemi

3. The reasoning that is needed in questioning & investigating
the PUT.
@vivienibiyemi

4. TO TOTO

5. Everyone working with the PUT needs a level of test mindset
for us to deliver a quality software!
Tester
Programmer
Project manager
Other team
members
Estimate of Test/Tester's mindset needed for different Roles
@vivienibiyemi

7. Delivery of a quality software starts with each role recognizing
the importance of contributing their quota to testing.

8. The question I ask myself from time to time is how can I keep
growing my test mindset and reasoning?
@vivienibiyemi

9. If your only tool is a hammer then every problem will look
like a nail.
@vivienibiyemi

10. Hence the need to tweak my
mindset for different test task.
• Different Task,
• Require Different Lenses,
• Viewed at Different Angles,
• With Different Mindsets.
@vivienibiyemi

11. Mindset tweaking: adapting mind signals or reasoning to the
appropriate frequency.

12. • Bug Reporting Mindset Tool
Interactive Mindset Toolset
• Communicator Mindset Tool
• Trust Mindset Tool
• Business Mindset Tool
•Team leading Mindset Tool
Motivational Mindset Toolset
• Criticism and Accusation
Handling Mindset Tool.
• Embarassment Handling
Mindset Tool.
Bug Hunting Mindset Tool
Set
• User Mindset Tool
•‘‘Already tested’’ Mindset
Tool
•“Lazy Tester” Mindset Tool
• Analytical Mindset Tool
• Critical Thinking Mindset
Tool
• Curiosity Mindset Tool
• Project Phase Mindset Tool
@vivienibiyemi

13. The fallacy of ”No user will use the product this way”
@vivienibiyemi

14. Program
Under Test
Sight Taste/speech
HearSmell
Touch
@vivienibiyemi

15. SmellFunctions
Program
Under Test
@vivienibiyemi

16. • Users will experience the product using their 5
senses.
• Human beings are exploratory in nature.
• To help your reasoning about the PUT, gather
information on how the users could use the PUT
@vivienibiyemi

17. Tested!
@vivienibiyemi

18. • Consider Quality of the testing that was previously
done.
• Consider ”pressured tester possibility”.
• We see differently, reason differently and have varying
expertise.
• Consider so called ”insignificant changes”
@vivienibiyemi

19. But I need to test it.
Ok…
I sent you a link to a build in,
can you just review in git and
merge to master branch.
Oh my God this tester
wouldn’t believe me
anymore.
There is no need to
test, I only made an
insignificant change.
Programmer Tester

20. @vivienibiyemi

21. • There seem to be some value in laziness hence the
name ”Lazy Tester’s” mindset tool.
• There are bugs we might never find except we test
like the Lazy tester!
• I don’t have to be lazy but switching to this
mindset will get things done!
• Explore what the lazy tester does. They explore the
software in ways that hard working testers don’t!
• Explore talents in your team. Don’t write off ”lazy
testers” – Test lead Tweak
@vivienibiyemi

22. @vivienibiyemi

23. Often times this is what it looks like …!
No, I tested it in unit test and it
works …I think it’s a problem with
your environment… oh I see, that’s
not a bug, it’s a feature.
I found a bug in your SW,
it’s very severe bug…
Tester
Programmer
The feature does
not work…
Oh, that feature, … it’s
not implemented yet…
@vivienibiyemi

24. Often times this is what it looks like…!
@vivienibiyemi

25. Software
ProgrammersTesters
Often times this is what it looks like…!
@vivienibiyemi

26. • It’s my responsibility to
make sure my role is
understood .
• I’m here to help, I’m here
to make you shine: Show
it! Make it obvious!
• I’m here to make the
developer’s day!
• It’s my responsibility to
ensure an atmosphere of
common goal.
• My goal is to provide
stakeholders with valuable
information hence…
• I do everything morally
right to build a good
relationship with
developers.
• Be a friend but don’t
compromise your integrity.
@vivienibiyemi

27. I found a bug, in the same code that
you said you tested and I shouldn’t
bother testing.
Oh no, but I tested
it in unit test… 
Oh my God this tester
wouldn’t believe me
anymore.
Programmer Tester
@vivienibiyemi

28. • A sceptical approach to testing can significantly improve
the quality of your work.
• ”It’s a minor change, it won’t break anything” is a bait for
the integrity of your work, don’t fall for it: tester,developer.
• People often say don’t trust a developer but I will say trust
a developer but don’t trust the developed code.
@vivienibiyemi

29. • Never merge a code based on ’’it was just a
small change, it will not break anything.”
• Never merge a code based on how good the
developer is. No such thing as perfect
programmer in the world of software
development.
• I let the developer know I trust that they will do
a good job and I’m here to uphold that trust.
• Though we are tight on time, I appeal ’’please
can you give me more time…?”
@vivienibiyemi

30. • Have the willingness to go the extra mile
• Become valuable, nobody jokes with the words of a
valuable tester.
• You can’t afford to test for fun. Let every PUT that
passes through your hand get an opportunity to
receive input for improving quality.
@vivienibiyemi

31. @vivienibiyemi

32. @vivienibiyemi

33. @vivienibiyemi

34. @vivienibiyemi

35. • 7W+1h: dare to ask why, where, what, what if, which,
who, how, as you test in order to learn, explore or
investigate the software.
• Have an open mind. Do not take things for granted.
• Question why certain things are the way they are
when they seem awkward.
• Be a good listener, quietness often helps, think before
acting or asking.
• Pay attention to the “little bit off”. They might be your
gold mines.
• Be willing to get out of your comfort zone.
@vivienibiyemi

36. • Those little promptings might actually be important.
Do not ignore especially if it’s an area of risk.
• Don’t get your brain locked up to automated test and
written test cases!They have limitations.
• Shut off the negative ”ifs” learn from the past and
move on.
• Think like the user.
@vivienibiyemi

38. MindsetTweaking!
@vivienibiyemi

39. @vivienibiyemi

40. @vivienibiyemi

41. @vivienibiyemi

43. Tester: I found a major
failure in your code, will
write an error report!
Programmer: hmmm.. , I
will handle it in a fix that i’m
currently working on. No
need for a bug report.
Oh my God, I must
silence this tester, PM
must not know about
this bug…
Tester:


45. ”Sometimes life hits you in the
head with a brick but don’t loose
faith” - Steve Jobs
”Your most unhappy
customers are your greatest
source of learning” – Bill Gates

46. • There could be something valuable in that unhappy
face of the developer, project manager etc
• Accepting criticism is a path to Mastery,
• Be sure, be alert, record and document things.
• Be willing to accept no for an answer,
• You can be wrong.
• Don’t be loose on your communication. An email
could safe your face!
• Find important issues on time.
• Be transparent, be honest, be cautious. Dare to
report issues found close to release. Dare to find
many issues.

48. • You have a composition of varying skills and
expertise. We see differently and we reason
differently.
• Identify individuals talents and strength and
harness that in allocating them.
• Never use the same yardstick to measure
competence and value.
• Beware of motivation killers:
• Gain knowledge, target getting best tools on
time. Better tools, better testing, better
quality.

49. • Don’t be a PM pleaser. Tell them the truth.
• Have a buffer. Give feedback and show
appreciation. Let your testers own or be
recognized for their contribution.
• Don’t add up resource at the tail end of the
project. If you need to, you must include the
learning curve of the new members in your
calculation of how long it will take to be done.
• Be hands-on. Take interest in learning the
product and technical things.

51. Testers and programmers need some level of business
reasoning!

52. Tester: Bug, bug,
bug...I found a bug!
Project Manager:
Come on Tester, today
is release day!
Oh no, this tester
lacks a business brain.
The only thing he
knows is bugs!
Understanding the psycology of each role and what’s most
important in time is needed.

53. Tester: Bug, bug,
bug...I found a bug!
Programmer: Ok, do
you have logs
Oh my God this tester
is so annoying and
wasting my time!

54. • Test with an understanding of the goal of each role
on the project.
• Test with an understanding of the cost implication of
slipped deadlines.
• Communicate with clarity of impact on
stakeholder’s business: describing issues from a user
perspective is useful a lot of times.
• Advocate for bug conviction.
• Observe valuable evidences to prove the bug guilty
and expose the severity of the crime.
• Find important bugs on time.

55. ”Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out
your own inner voice. And most important, have the
courage to follow your heart and intuition. They
somehow already know what you truly want to
become. Everything else is secondary.”

57. • Do not easily give up on bugs
that you know can significantly
affect quality even when it's
thrown at your face.
• Fight the fight, ensure that you
were heard and understood.
• Don't forget to put some kind
of documentation in place.
• Keep moving, don’t give up!
• It’s Ok to be wrong but focus on
becoming valuable.

58. Who gets the blame most of the time? It’s mostly
the tester!

60. A bug report that is missing the head, legs, and everything that could make the
reader understand that what is being described is a bug is like throwing away most
valuable treasure.
This act reduces the worth of a tester and robs the stakeholders of valuable information -
Vivien Ibironke Ibiyemi

62. Tester: Bug, bug,
bug...I found a bug!
Programmer: Ok, do
you have logs
Oh my God this tester
is so annoying and
wasting my time!

63. • Never start the DUT without turning on the
logging even if you are ”joke testing ”.
• Clear, informative, not unnecessarily worded but
convincing bug report (Bug Advocacy).
• Think like the person who will read and act on the
report (include the head, legs, and eyes of the
bug.)
• Imagine how the users will use the feature and
craft the bug report in the same manner
A bug report that cannot be understood is a dent on
the efficacy of a tester’s job!

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