I am getting tired of fellow software testers telling, stating, writing that exploratory testers do not like structured testing, or that exploratory testing is the opposite of structured testing, or that exploratory testing can only be done based on experience or domain knowledge, and on and on….

Exploratory testing is, like ‘traditional testing’, not also based on risk analysis, requirements, quality attributes and test design techniques. It does not ignore or oppose these approaches. Exploratory testing just also reaches beyond that and is also based on modeling, using oracles, using heuristics, time management, providing stakeholder relevant information, and much more.

Exploratory testing doesn’t spent unnecessary time on writing specific stepwise test cases in advance. It rather works with test ideas which it critically investigates while keeping an open mind on what is observed during execution. Exploratory testing then uses the information to create new and additional test ideas, change direction or raise bugs. But it always aims to use the results to provide relevant information to stakeholders that enables them to take decisions or meet their targets. And that can be a verbal account or a brief note but is more likely to be stakeholder specific test execution accounts, showing test results related to achieving the stakeholders acceptance criteria, (business) goals and mission It accounts how much is done, could not be done and how much still should/needs to be done both in terms of progress and coverage.

Exploratory testing is no free pass to click around in the software. Exploratory testing is both highly structured and flexible and it is flexible enough to change along the way so it can provide the most value information possible to the stakeholders.

So…

Exploratory Testing is not the antithesis of structured testing

To do exploratory testing well you have to work structured, disciplined and flexible at the same time. That’s what makes exploratory testing hard to do but lots of fun at the same time.

You don’t just have to take my word for it. Many have written about it before, see some examples below, but the best way to get convinced is to learn and experience it. So I challenge you to go out and do it seriously and with engagement. If you don’t know how many colleagues or myself are more than happy to show you.

Further reading

http://www.satisfice.com/articles/what_is_et.shtml
http://www.kaner.com/pdfs/QAIExploring.pdf
http://university.utest.com/exploratory-testing-the-basics/
http://www.developsense.com/blog/category/exploratory-testing/?submit=Search
http://www.slideshare.net/codecentric/exploratory-testing-inagileoverviewmeettheexpertselisabethhendrickson
http://lets-test.com/?p=2335

Best book:
https://pragprog.com/book/ehxta/explore-it

And just to prevent wrong ideas.
Test ideas can, depending on context, be more or less detailed and almost look like scripts even while their execution is not.
Also testers that prefer exploratory testing can use checklists or scripts if that better serves the need for information for the stakeholders. Although I think information transfer is better served by putting relevant detail in the reports and not in the test cases.