# \#mot-stec **URL:** https://club.ministryoftesting.com/tag/mot-stec/371.md [Latest](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/tags.md) --- ## [What’s your current definition of software testing?](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/what-s-your-current-definition-of-software-testing/76329)
**Author:** [@rosie](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/u/rosie)\ **Replies:** 70\ **Last updated:** [21 July 2026 08:53 UTC](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/what-s-your-current-definition-of-software-testing/76329 "2026-07-21T08:53:12Z")
You’re talking to a stranger and they ask you what you do. You tell them that you do software testing. They ask, “What is software testing?” How do you reply to that question? \[FYI: We’re using this to help us create… --- ## [What key skills regularly help you tackle testing tasks?](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/what-key-skills-regularly-help-you-tackle-testing-tasks/80298)
**Author:** [@sarahdeery](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/u/sarahdeery)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [24 June 2026 16:16 UTC](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/what-key-skills-regularly-help-you-tackle-testing-tasks/80298 "2026-06-24T16:16:06Z")
When you’re faced with different testing challenges, which skills do you rely on most? Here are some scenarios to explore: which skills do you think are essential? Investigating a bug report: A customer reports a bug w… --- ## [What are the risks of trusting your tools too much?](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/what-are-the-risks-of-trusting-your-tools-too-much/85930)
**Author:** [@w4dd325](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/u/w4dd325)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [16 January 2026 17:12 UTC](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/what-are-the-risks-of-trusting-your-tools-too-much/85930 "2026-01-16T17:12:18Z")
Have you ever had a test tool tell you everything’s fine, only to find out later that something important was missed? I have. A performance test once gave me perfect-looking results. Green ticks, fast response times, ev… --- ## [How would you prioritise fixing debt?](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/how-would-you-prioritise-fixing-debt/85383)
**Author:** [@AdyStokes](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/u/AdyStokes)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [13 January 2026 11:45 UTC](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/how-would-you-prioritise-fixing-debt/85383 "2026-01-13T11:45:43Z")
Testing and technical debt sneak into teams for all sorts of reasons, such as tight deadlines, inherited systems, and forgotten test automation that no one wants to touch. But while the causes vary, the impact is often t… --- ## [How would you prioritise this bug?](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/how-would-you-prioritise-this-bug/84721)
**Author:** [@maddykilmurray](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/u/maddykilmurray)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [6 January 2026 12:57 UTC](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/how-would-you-prioritise-this-bug/84721 "2026-01-06T12:57:49Z")
In testing, deciding which bug to tackle first can sometimes feel overwhelming, especially when time is limited and the team is juggling multiple priorities. This activity helps you think through the factors influencing … --- ## [STEC Activity 3.5 pdf bug](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/stec-activity-3-5-pdf-bug/86991)
**Author:** [@karentestsstuff](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/u/karentestsstuff)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [5 January 2026 09:47 UTC](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/stec-activity-3-5-pdf-bug/86991 "2026-01-05T09:47:28Z")
In the activity for Module 3.5, “Your tester skills plan” in Section 2: Identify opportunities and threats, there is a bug in the PDF worksheet form. After entering the text in the fillable form fields for my strengths … --- ## [How would you improve these test cases using heuristics?](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/how-would-you-improve-these-test-cases-using-heuristics/83585)
**Author:** [@marie.drake](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/u/marie.drake)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [22 December 2025 16:09 UTC](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/how-would-you-improve-these-test-cases-using-heuristics/83585 "2025-12-22T16:09:30Z")
Not all test cases are created equal. Some are too vague, others too specific, and some miss key details. Heuristics can help testers evaluate and refine test cases, making them more useful and effective. I’ve been desi… --- ## [What questions do you ask to uncover hidden requirements?](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/what-questions-do-you-ask-to-uncover-hidden-requirements/83056)
**Author:** [@parwalrahul](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/u/parwalrahul)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [4 December 2025 12:46 UTC](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/what-questions-do-you-ask-to-uncover-hidden-requirements/83056 "2025-12-04T12:46:28Z")
In many software projects, some requirements are clearly documented (explicit), others are implied by user expectations (implicit), or exist only in the team’s shared knowledge and experience (tacit). As testers, underst… --- ## [How do you map a system?](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/how-do-you-map-a-system/82718)
**Author:** [@parwalrahul](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/u/parwalrahul)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [25 November 2025 14:33 UTC](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/how-do-you-map-a-system/82718 "2025-11-25T14:33:12Z")
System analysis is an essential skill for software testers. It helps us identify how different parts of a system connect and where potential risks or opportunities for testing might lie. While system mapping may seem da… --- ## [What are three key questions to uncover risks in this project?](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/what-are-three-key-questions-to-uncover-risks-in-this-project/82248)
**Author:** [@pejgan](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/u/pejgan)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [18 November 2025 08:31 UTC](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/what-are-three-key-questions-to-uncover-risks-in-this-project/82248 "2025-11-18T08:31:30Z")
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 … --- ## [How do you apply the "One, Zero, Many" heuristic?](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/how-do-you-apply-the-one-zero-many-heuristic/80832)
**Author:** [@AdyStokes](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/u/AdyStokes)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [17 November 2025 21:16 UTC](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/how-do-you-apply-the-one-zero-many-heuristic/80832 "2025-11-17T21:16:21Z")
The One, Zero, Many heuristic is a simple tool for testing how software handles different quantities of data. This approach helps us think about system behaviour with no entries, a single entry, and multiple entries. It … --- ## [Thoughts on the 5 W's and H: Could another question be added to the thought technique](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/thoughts-on-the-5-ws-and-h-could-another-question-be-added-to-the-thought-technique/86833)
**Author:** [@jmosley5](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/u/jmosley5)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [27 October 2025 14:47 UTC](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/thoughts-on-the-5-ws-and-h-could-another-question-be-added-to-the-thought-technique/86833 "2025-10-27T14:47:29Z")
What are you working on? I’m currently taking the STEC certification course and working through the 5 W’s and H task. What are you sharing or asking? While working through the thought experiment, I feel like it’s not a… --- ## [STEC Portfolio: Brag Portfolio](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/stec-portfolio-brag-portfolio/86588)
**Author:** [@jmosley5](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/u/jmosley5)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [29 August 2025 16:07 UTC](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/stec-portfolio-brag-portfolio/86588 "2025-08-29T16:07:17Z")
Being a part of This Week in Testing: STEC Edition, the subject of portfolios came up. I’m curious. As you are working through STEC, what are you using for your portfolio? Would you be willing to share it here so others … --- ## [What questions would you ask to uncover the risks?](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/what-questions-would-you-ask-to-uncover-the-risks/86433)
**Author:** [@aj\_wilson](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/u/aj_wilson)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [28 August 2025 04:24 UTC](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/what-questions-would-you-ask-to-uncover-the-risks/86433 "2025-08-28T04:24:35Z")
Sometimes a new feature idea lands on your desk and you think, “Looks harmless enough, but what if it isn’t?” That’s where testers shine. We’re the ones poking at the edges, asking the “what if” and “who’s thought about”… --- ## [What everyday specialist techniques help you find hidden bugs?](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/what-everyday-specialist-techniques-help-you-find-hidden-bugs/86301)
**Author:** [@marie.drake](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/u/marie.drake)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [11 August 2025 08:58 UTC](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/what-everyday-specialist-techniques-help-you-find-hidden-bugs/86301 "2025-08-11T08:58:55Z")
In my testing, I’ve found that applying simple specialist techniques can uncover critical risks that might otherwise slip through. You don’t need to be an expert to make a difference; simple checks in areas like accessib… --- ## [How have your test plan formats changed? And, what are the pros and cons of more traditional vs more modern formats?](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/how-have-your-test-plan-formats-changed-and-what-are-the-pros-and-cons-of-more-traditional-vs-more-modern-formats/85165)
**Author:** [@mirza](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/u/mirza)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [9 June 2025 08:19 UTC](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/how-have-your-test-plan-formats-changed-and-what-are-the-pros-and-cons-of-more-traditional-vs-more-modern-formats/85165 "2025-06-09T08:19:53Z")
As testing approaches evolve, and as testers gain experience, the approach to test planning changes, too. Test plans have come a long way. At one end, you’ll find the traditional, many-section document brimming with ob… --- ## [Have you ever found something surprising while testing and didn’t know how to bring it up?](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/have-you-ever-found-something-surprising-while-testing-and-didn-t-know-how-to-bring-it-up/84625)
**Author:** [@scottkenyon](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/u/scottkenyon)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [30 May 2025 12:34 UTC](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/have-you-ever-found-something-surprising-while-testing-and-didn-t-know-how-to-bring-it-up/84625 "2025-05-30T12:34:55Z")
Sometimes in testing, you spot something that’s not exactly a bug, but it doesn’t sit right either. It makes you pause and think “What’s going on here?” These moments are worth sharing, but how you share them can make al… --- ## [How do you decide what testing evidence to collect?](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/how-do-you-decide-what-testing-evidence-to-collect/84623)
**Author:** [@parwalrahul](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/u/parwalrahul)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [30 May 2025 11:09 UTC](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/how-do-you-decide-what-testing-evidence-to-collect/84623 "2025-05-30T11:09:20Z")
As testers, we wear many hats, such as investigator, explorer, and documenter. Something that links all these together is evidence. Collecting the right kind of testing evidence in the right context helps support our fin… --- ## [Do you remember a time when you prevented an issue? - STEC 1.2.0](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/do-you-remember-a-time-when-you-prevented-an-issue-stec-1-2-0/84751)
**Author:** [@amandefasano](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/u/amandefasano)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [21 May 2025 17:37 UTC](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/do-you-remember-a-time-when-you-prevented-an-issue-stec-1-2-0/84751 "2025-05-21T17:37:16Z")
I remember a time when I didn’t prevent one. And as Ady Stokes said in the second lesson of STEC’s first module: “This is not just about stories of failure—we should seek stories of success too.” When it comes to explai… --- ## [Which collaboration and communication techniques work best for you?](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/which-collaboration-and-communication-techniques-work-best-for-you/84287)
**Author:** [@cassandrahl](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/u/cassandrahl)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [18 April 2025 02:40 UTC](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/which-collaboration-and-communication-techniques-work-best-for-you/84287 "2025-04-18T02:40:45Z")
Some of the most valuable testing work happens when we collaborate and communicate with others. No matter if you’re shaping stories, testing together, or sharing findings clearly, the techniques listed below can help you… --- ## [When did your journey in software testing begin? - STEC 1.1.0](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/when-did-your-journey-in-software-testing-begin-stec-1-1-0/84166)
**Author:** [@amandefasano](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/u/amandefasano)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [15 April 2025 10:54 UTC](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/when-did-your-journey-in-software-testing-begin-stec-1-1-0/84166 "2025-04-15T10:54:24Z")
I began the MoT Software Testing Essentials Certification last week, and I’m quite excited about it! The first lesson was on the history of software testing, and even though it was a “very brief” one, it was already qui… --- ## [Poor preparation in software testing can lead to](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/poor-preparation-in-software-testing-can-lead-to/83671)
**Author:** [@rosie](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/u/rosie)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [1 April 2025 05:27 UTC](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/poor-preparation-in-software-testing-can-lead-to/83671 "2025-04-01T05:27:02Z")
I’m currently reviewing a module in STEC (Software Testing Essentials Certificate) where one section says: Poor preparation in software testing can lead to: Missing bugs due to testing the wrong version Wasted time d… --- ## [Have you tried using mission-based charters?](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/have-you-tried-using-mission-based-charters/83761)
**Author:** [@fullsnacktester](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/u/fullsnacktester)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [25 March 2025 13:53 UTC](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/have-you-tried-using-mission-based-charters/83761 "2025-03-25T13:53:51Z")
Exploratory testing is all about discovering useful information, and one way to guide that discovery is by using a mission-based charter. They help you anchor your session, give you a focus, and make it easier to reflect… --- ## [Which of these risk analysis techniques would you use to uncover risks?](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/which-of-these-risk-analysis-techniques-would-you-use-to-uncover-risks/82213)
**Author:** [@manishsaini74](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/u/manishsaini74)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [25 January 2025 01:47 UTC](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/which-of-these-risk-analysis-techniques-would-you-use-to-uncover-risks/82213 "2025-01-25T01:47:10Z")
Risk analysis techniques are powerful tools for identifying and mitigating risks, but how well do they perform in practice? This activity challenges you to apply different techniques to a real-world product and discover … --- ## [How can practicing testing fundamentals shape your approach?](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/how-can-practicing-testing-fundamentals-shape-your-approach/81214)
**Author:** [@AdyStokes](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/u/AdyStokes)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [3 January 2025 04:18 UTC](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/how-can-practicing-testing-fundamentals-shape-your-approach/81214 "2025-01-03T04:18:09Z")
Testing fundamentals like boundary value analysis, equivalence partitioning, decision tables, state transition testing, personas, traceability, and exploratory techniques are the building blocks of effective software tes… --- ## [What challenges do different testing levels address?](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/what-challenges-do-different-testing-levels-address/81213)
**Author:** [@cassandrahl](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/u/cassandrahl)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [30 December 2024 22:43 UTC](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/what-challenges-do-different-testing-levels-address/81213 "2024-12-30T22:43:22Z")
Software testing involves various levels—Unit, Integration, System, and Acceptance—each serving a specific purpose in enabling quality. These levels are not just theoretical concepts; they help shape meaningful conversat… --- ## [What risk analysis techniques do you use?](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/what-risk-analysis-techniques-do-you-use/80409)
**Author:** [@simon\_tomes](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/u/simon_tomes)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [31 October 2024 16:53 UTC](https://club.ministryoftesting.com/t/what-risk-analysis-techniques-do-you-use/80409 "2024-10-31T16:53:22Z")
Risks drive test ideas and influence our approach to testing. There are many risk analysis tools and techniques out there. For example: RiskStorming Nightmare Headlines Game SWOT Analysis Ishikawa Diagram Risks & Ques…