Free Search Testing: Failing a plan does not mean abandoning a goal

In the articles of James Bach one can come across several different definitions of what such testing is by the method of free search (exploratory testing), and one of them is: “testing without pre-prepared scripts that are executed exactly as planned” (Exploratory tests, unlike scripted tests , according to plan).

For this testing by the method of free search is often criticized - how can you abandon plans, but what about handling, control and accounting? And in general, if there are no plans, then everyone will do who is in that much, something will be tested several times, something will not be tested at all, people will not know what to do.
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But in reality, advocates of testing by the free search method do not at all call for anarchy. On the contrary, a great number of articles by James Bach are devoted to planning.

The apparent contradiction is resolved very simply. - supporters of this approach to testing suggest abandoning tactical planning, from excessively detailed plans to the level of individual tests. And replace the tactical plan with a goal setting, leaving the tester free to choose how to achieve this goal.

A tester, having a clear goal in front of him, can of course outline a plan for himself that should lead him to this goal. But if some obstacles meet on his way, or he notices that the chosen plan leads away, or if he follows this plan, he will not reach the goal by the deadline - this is a reason to change the plan, and not try to “correct the goal” .

Testing with the free search method declares the primacy of the goal over the plan, as well as the primacy of the person over the scenarios. This is his humanistic, universal role that we tried to portray on this comic poster (a poster for printing in .pdf format ).

Do not lose sight of your goals!