Good understanding of what is expected is key to effective testing. To accomplish this, it is imperative that we commence from understanding who the various types of end users, their requirements and subsequently the expectations that they have from these. Having a deep domain knowledge helps immensely. But what if this is a domain that I am not very conversant with? Is there a scientific way to understand?
Understanding is a non-linear activity; it is about identifying the various elements and establishing connections between these. In the process of connecting the dots, missing information is identified, leading to intelligent questions. Seeking answers to these questions aids in deepening the understanding.
These are some of the elements that need to be understood. Some of the information elements are “external to the system” i.e. marketplace, customer types, end users, business requirements while some are “internal to the system” i.e. features, architecture, technology etc.
