When to Perform Exploratory Testing In Agile

Exploratory testing is a key component of the Agile software development lifecycle process and is essential for delivering high-quality products. It is an Agile methodology that helps teams uncover hidden issues, improve workflows, and enhance the overall user experience.

What is Exploratory Testing?

Exploratory testing is an informal, yet structured approach to testing software applications. It’s a hands-on, dynamic technique that involves exploring the application and uncovering defects, while also gathering information to guide further testing. The goal of exploratory testing is to find critical bugs and to identify areas that need improvement.

Why is Exploratory Testing Important in Agile?

Exploratory testing is an important part of the Scrum process because it allows teams to uncover unseen problems early on in the development cycle. This means teams can save time and money in the long run with exploratory testing.

When to Perform Exploratory Testing in Agile?

The Scrum Guide does not specify a set time for exploratory testing. However, it does state that user stories must fulfill their agreed definition of done before they can be labeled as “done.” This means that the only requirement you have is to run exploratory testing before you can say the user story is “done.”

In general, it’s best practice to implement exploratory testing at all stages of the development process. This way you can catch bugs early-on, which drastically reduces the chance that bugs become large problems later in the development process and slow the team down. 

The Benefits of Performing Exploratory Testing Early in the Development Cycle

Performing exploratory testing early in the development cycle can bring a number of benefits, including:

• Early identification of critical bugs and defects
• Improved workflows and processes
• Enhanced user experience
• Increased team collaboration and communication

The Benefits of Performing Exploratory Testing Late in the Development Cycle

Performing exploratory testing late in the development cycle can bring a number of benefits, including:

• Improved product quality
• Enhanced user experience
• Increased customer satisfaction
• Reduced risk of product failures

Conclusion

In conclusion, exploratory testing is a crucial part of the Agile process and should be performed at all stages of the development cycle. Whether performed early or late in the cycle, exploratory testing brings a number of benefits, including improved product quality, enhanced user experience, and increased customer satisfaction. By incorporating exploratory testing into the definition of done, teams can ensure that the product meets the required quality standards and that the user story is truly complete.