What are three key questions to uncover risks in this project?

Hi everyone! :wave:

Asking questions is one of the most effective ways to uncover risks and assumptions in a project. By focusing on the right questions, you can find gaps, clarify vague areas, and uncover details that might otherwise go unnoticed. Let’s practise these skills as a community and see what we find!

In this activity, you’ll take on the role of a tester joining the Bling-R-Us e-commerce project. You’re tasked with reviewing the project background provided and the Bling-R-Us website to uncover risks by focusing on the most critical questions to ask.

Task steps:

1. Review the project background
Read the provided background details about the Bling-R-Us project to understand the goals and context. Take note of anything that stands out as unclear or risky.

2. Explore the Bling-R-Us website
Navigate the site and observe:

  • Features: What’s available, such as the shopping cart, payment options, or product information.
  • Behaviour: How the site works, including navigation, responsiveness, or error handling.
  • Gaps or assumptions: Is anything missing, vague, or unexpected?
    Keep track of anything that seems worth questioning or investigating further.

3. Develop three key questions
Based on your observations, come up with three questions you would ask that would help you gather useful information quickly. Focus on areas like:

  • Assumptions in the requirements or setup that might not be accurate.
  • Gaps that could cause risks or confusion later on.
  • Key areas like user experience, security, or legal compliance (e.g., GDPR).
  • Consider using a “What would happen if…?” format to help uncover risks.

4. Document your questions and reasoning
For each question, explain:

  • Why you’re asking it: What potential risk or gap are you trying to uncover?
  • How it could help the team: How does this question guide the team or improve testing?

5. Share your work to help others
Reply to this post with your three questions and reasoning. Why not include any insights or surprising risks you uncovered during your analysis?

Why take part?

By sharing your questions, you’re helping others see how thoughtful questioning can uncover risks and assumptions in a project. Your examples might spark new ideas or help someone else tackle similar challenges. It’s also a great way to practise asking meaningful questions and grow your confidence.

5 Likes

Have so many questions! But the three main ones were:

If the end goal is for user to place an order with ease - was UX design/accessibility considered?
Example the Add Message field - there was no character limit, even though the description next to the product says “generally 30-35 characters” or “No more than 20 characters per row”

  • Risk that customer puts in more characters than the ring can have engraved, and increased chance of customer complaints

If data handling and GDPR are a priority as per the A/C -this not mentioned on the FAQs or About Us section, e.g. Your rights as a an individual. Usually Privacy policy would be included. Would also be looking to add in Terms and Conditions at the checkout also.

What security is enabled around payments? There is a third party software payment gateway advertised on the site, but not entirely clear if there’s encryption, other security measures esp credit card security.

4 Likes