UX Lessons Learned From My Real-Life Experiences Part – 2

The key differentiator that distinguishes good software from outstanding software is the user experience. Software testers should go beyond just checking the functionality of the product. Software Testing is one of those fields where the more you know the better it is. Testers need to be generalists to be effective at work, someone with broad knowledge across many topics and expertise in a few.&nbsp;



<p id="h-user-experience-is-not-the-only-responsibility-of-the-ux-team-as-a-tester-you-use-the-software-more-frequently-than-anyone-else-on-the-team-you-can-add-significant-value-by-identifying-features-that-compromise-the-user-experience-ux-as-a-tester-quality-engineer-you-are-in-a-great-position-to-evaluate-the-ux-of-the-software-right-from-the-earliest-stages-of-software-development">User experience is not the only responsibility of the UX team. As a tester, you use the software more frequently than anyone else on the team. You can add significant value by identifying features that compromise the User Experience (UX). For instance, if you notice that users struggle to <a href="https://picsart.com/ai-image-extender/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">expand images</a> for better visibility or to access key details, you should flag this as a potential UX issue.



I discuss some fascinating real-world examples of poor UX and how they affected me in this two-part article. These examples will teach you a few UX principles that you can apply in your everyday testing. So let&#8217;s get started.



<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets">Table Of Contents<ul class="toc_list"><li><a href="#WHAT_DID_A_TEA_CUP_TEACH_ME_ABOUT_USER_EXPERIENCE">1 WHAT DID A TEA CUP TEACH ME ABOUT USER EXPERIENCE?</a></li><li><a href="#LESSON_1_8211_DO_NOT_COMPROMISE_ON_FUNCTIONALITY_FOR_AESTHETICSnbsp">2 LESSON 1 &#8211; DO NOT COMPROMISE ON FUNCTIONALITY FOR AESTHETICS.&nbsp;</a></li><li><a href="#HOW_POOR_DESIGN_RUINED_MY_MOVIE_EXPERIENCE">3 HOW POOR DESIGN RUINED MY MOVIE EXPERIENCE</a></li><li><a href="#LESSON_2_8211_SIZE_MATTERS_IN_THE_VISUAL_HIERARCHYnbsp">4 LESSON 2 &#8211; SIZE MATTERS IN THE VISUAL HIERARCHY&nbsp;</a></li><li><a href="#LESSON_3_8211_MATCH_BETWEEN_THE_SYSTEM_AND_THE_REAL_WORLDnbsp">5 LESSON 3 &#8211; MATCH BETWEEN THE SYSTEM AND THE REAL WORLD&nbsp;</a></li><li><a href="#CONCLUSION">6 CONCLUSION</a></li></ul></div>
<h2 id="what-did-a-tea-cup-teach-me-about-user-experience">WHAT DID A TEA CUP TEACH ME ABOUT USER EXPERIENCE?</h2>



There&#8217;s nothing like a hot cup of tea to lift your spirits and warm your heart when you&#8217;re having a rough day. In my hometown, I visited a popular cafe known for its wide selection of teas. The cafe served tea in a cup that looked absolutely stunning and classy. However, I was unable to enjoy my tea as it was difficult to grip the handle of the cup due to its poor design. 



The handle had no slit to grab the mug to provide a secure grip. Because the cup was heavier than normal, it was even more inconvenient to hold it with hot tea. Because I was afraid of dropping the teacup, I had to remain cautious at all times. Furthermore, the cup&#8217;s design is not ideal for older people with hand tremors or individuals with reduced strength or flexibility in their hands.&nbsp;



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter is-resized"><img loading="lazy" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/kOeHXAcBhKFN8gf5wZpqI8mMssJgKeuTp37lQfsyz3QNVrsIKXEMbS0Y7m2qTAlnQVh8pROLIlxQm8YQVRtD8lL121fISspBVzQow7NjS01Q1br9KHaltr-IqFuNYaOroQv9VMc1sqPkFbuJZVPwlmc" alt="WHAT DID A TEA CUP TEACH ME ABOUT USER EXPERIENCE? 1" width="400" height="400"/></figure></div>



A good design should support the user&#8217;s in completing their primary goals. In this case, although the cup looks appealing, it is compromising usability and accessibility. This is a classic example of what can happen when you prioritize aesthetics over functionality and simplicity.



This cup reminded me of&nbsp; ‘Coffeepot for Masochists’. Don Norman&#8217;s incredible book &#8220;The Design of Everyday Things&#8221; mentions it and uses it as the book&#8217;s cover image. ‘Coffeepot for Masochists’ is the most famous item in Jacques Carelman’s &#8216;Catalogue of unfindable things’, which contains delightful examples of everyday things that are deliberately unworkable.



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter is-resized"><img loading="lazy" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/zpNsnKHVmEg4sJj1s2DBBs5CsSS3ulfx3f1L3w8y4-ZTtfvJCFjp89lKAOKwSCVLZr3dYOz8cutFKBR7UMWlPsVdLbXptRMU9_gM1JbDsoWs4aswo8_adTqHt6hb_OB39aYB0o3gtCPLuDSqEeIeajQ" alt="WHAT DID A TEA CUP TEACH ME ABOUT USER EXPERIENCE? 2" width="300" height="400"/></figure></div>



<h2 id="h-lesson-1-do-not-compromise-on-functionality-for-aesthetics">LESSON 1 &#8211; DO NOT COMPROMISE ON FUNCTIONALITY FOR AESTHETICS.&nbsp;</h2>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter is-resized"><img loading="lazy" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/Lz-3AUiPkruE-jrg6j7i6XZy_ENMXq3Lf4s4Z-rotxpD_kYEUi7IQ5J9AS8OVATwJJKts_o5VJ1YnegJnLEzvaPCCZqPz_MeNwPNgneaMDYQEFk9ti6I2CoA7iy9ntFPYMZ6Hlrg08x5mwx5jCcsDvE" alt=" DO NOT COMPROMISE ON FUNCTIONALITY FOR AESTHETICS." width="400" height="400"/><figcaption>Graphic by Regex SEO</figcaption></figure></div>



Many people believe that design makes software look visually pleasing. The visual appeal of your application can help you stand out from the rest of your competition. But you may be making the same mistake that the cup designer made. We all adore eye-catching interactive websites. However, the most important aspect of a usable design is Functionality. Always put the user at the center of everything that you do.



Think,



Is your product choosing Visuals Over Functionality?&nbsp;



Is focusing on flashy interfaces over interactions?&nbsp;



As a tester, ensure that the products you work on consider usability and accessibility in the design to provide the best user experiences. I don&#8217;t mean to imply that aesthetics are not important. Users expect both beauty and function from your application. Help your team to strike the right balance between aesthetics and functionality.&nbsp;



<h2 id="how-poor-design-ruined-my-movie-experience">HOW POOR DESIGN RUINED MY MOVIE EXPERIENCE</h2>



One of the best ways to spend quality time with your family is to watch a good movie while enjoying a large bowl of popcorn. ​ On a Saturday, I decided to take my wife to the movies. Unfortunately, we were late that day and had to rush into the theatre to make it on time. I had booked the tickets via a popular online platform. 



I pulled out my phone and found the m-ticket(digital ticket) in the bookings section of the mobile app. We rushed to our screen and found our seats. We watched the movie for around 15 minutes. We couldn&#8217;t figure out anything that was going on in the movie. 



I realized something was wrong. I soon figured out that I had entered the wrong room/screen, and unfortunately, the same movie was playing in the second half, following the intermission.&nbsp;



We had entered Screen 2 instead of Screen 4. We then had to rush back to screen 4. I not only missed the first crucial 30 minutes of the movie, but I also had to deal with an angry wife.



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter is-resized"><img loading="lazy" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/xASGeddjZjShuxyTyE-ikzNe3WbnRmyioHrbaFHcFdIN6ga-QVQfdLxZOlz6yi4aKm9DSptCyyiXW9mN6tPWgz6RTMd1CDsLAemkNYzGTgAgd44-QMTszCOeqXrOrjQb8G0wFpcoxSJpUAy6KIYKAnM" alt="HOW POOR DESIGN RUINED MY MOVIE EXPERIENCE" width="400" height="400"/></figure></div>



In the rush and excitement of making it on time, I misunderstood the number 2 on the ticket for the screen number, which in fact, was the number of tickets purchased. I know I made a mistake. Everyone makes mistakes under pressure or excitement or when you rush.



<h2 id="lesson-2-size-matters-in-the-visual-hierarchy">LESSON 2 &#8211; SIZE MATTERS IN THE VISUAL HIERARCHY&nbsp;</h2>



The biggest text in the m-ticket is the number ‘2’, which is the number of tickets. I know I bought two tickets, and that is not a piece of helpful information for me. Unless the designers didn&#8217;t design this for the person who checks tickets at the entrance.



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter is-resized"><img loading="lazy" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/dPARTdNmDsj9pAwgZNsBeYOgC2fLbFIX0xMeLpx5eni8xdECInfUuVdwbesA4-jwY0Xx4BGdmKkn6UYWwbEiiev191qlM-8ewaDT3_JmOXRv8l2Cz1WL1OGVSjbIdqWKC-rx9OAxXhY7phizqlzQYVI" alt="SIZE MATTERS IN THE VISUAL HIERARCHY" width="400" height="400"/></figure></div>



The positioning of elements according to their significance is known as the visual hierarchy in the design. Without a visual hierarchy, users can be overwhelmed and therefore fail to grasp anything.



Larger elements on the screen will always catch the eye of a viewer. So the most important piece of information should take precedence in the visual hierarchy. When it comes to movie tickets, the most crucial information is the date, time, screen, and seat number. So these details should be bigger and the first thing you should notice.&nbsp;



When your design has a poor visual hierarchy, users are confused, uncertain about where to look, or even misguided.&nbsp;



While testing your software, ask yourself these questions:



<ul class="list_style_disc"><li>What is the first thing you see on your application? Where does the eye naturally go?</li><li>What actions do we want our users to take? Are we able to draw their attention to that place?</li><li>Is the visual hierarchy guiding them through a journey we want them to?</li></ul>



As a tester, always keep the audience&#8217;s needs in mind and help create designs that will have the desired impact.



Poor design can have serious consequences. Remember how Steve Harvey announced the wrong Miss Universe on stage?&nbsp; It is the design of the announcement card that IS to blame. Modern-day users often suffer from information overload.&nbsp; A thoughtful design should prevent users from making mistakes.



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter is-resized"><img loading="lazy" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/cwqnLVmLlIizriOfvDPtKuMAS0g5s0rcxzK1Dni0K5iD-5HjV9USI78LLcRTGmcnzRnZYdlq-NHmfwJk_Xx9UM84ceAzxZWVCdnHcgLtBI7aZ4mYjeJQowQBbbbRdnNMpw83fb_M3FmfEKJkJJEjt58" alt="poor design" width="400" height="400"/><figcaption>Learn more about <a href="https://medium.com/@Ktomasso/how-bad-design-ruined-miss-universe-afd9a3d40993" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">how a bad design ruined Miss Universe</a>.</figcaption></figure></div>



<h2 id="lesson-3-match-between-the-system-and-the-real-world">LESSON 3 &#8211; MATCH BETWEEN THE SYSTEM AND THE REAL WORLD&nbsp;</h2>



<a href="https://www.nngroup.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jakob Nielsen&#8217;s</a> second Usability heuristics discusses the “Match between system and real-world.” The heuristic states, &#8220;The design should speak the users&#8217; language. Use words, phrases, and concepts familiar to the user”. 



The designs should follow real-world conventions, making information appear in a more natural and logical order. It is in our nature to seek familiarity. We create mental models of systems work based on past experiences with real-world objects. As a result, we also bring those interpretations into the digital world.&nbsp;



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter is-resized"><img loading="lazy" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/20hrbZQQTRSteW3Umqd71nHDcwicBxaeT-RtSEYCjiE2YizZkeC_n58fb9sUrMRST6LrYlmnPdZBLrmctgP-ybnrEdrj7KdUbIjm_g8DShEUdOL0yShPYm4idp78zOms8ptHT1Wtrv1JhyXZV8cetj4" alt=" MATCH BETWEEN THE SYSTEM AND THE REAL WORLD 1" width="400" height="400"/></figure></div>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter is-resized"><img loading="lazy" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/FJjTxYHG4LM7MEv35FeWzBLHh-hOHPmmHWmMxRthWrCFx80f6wrUqDERdwCq1mp_kZ0jOoKCxLkkecuAI3z-O_6NkMk_juyg4guhSkD-nm-BgbYBjlX4S9GlWkFIVFd6D6-mVWmKfxn0KkqTbFQaKrw" alt=" MATCH BETWEEN THE SYSTEM AND THE REAL WORLD 2" width="400" height="400"/></figure></div>



Almost every software you use today uses this principle. For example, we&#8217;re all familiar with the trash can, so when we see a similar trash bin icon in the user interface, we know we can drag a file to delete. Compass, Calendars, Calculators, clocks, Notes, and Book Readers are some other applications that look like objects in their physical world.



Before we conclude, here are a few amusing examples of poor design.



<img style="width: 300px" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/wNejDfCSfWc5z2HdOcbYAMzVKf4X5pE9jtSLcF3syxoxtbgjl1pvuWADoTKah2RBNLBbjtbmHRHc10vW_VREXpjqXvD6LsCjr8SqUrT15ezT5-2M4cJf_liZBjIbc9zn_yM-mYZGU3-Q_kStgfuL8Dk" alt="Testsigma - HOW POOR DESIGN RUINED MY MOVIE EXPERIENCE">



<img style="width: 300px" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/6y9HQJNkDv5Wqm0YrtYA4A6lAsYVTRzTnH5ITSOr5cPR0l9I5v_7NOPYPFzwK3McLPaQybFK3qa3JtAUq-EZK7Y2aZe3x5C2ghInP-w1NJTURq05tjRWwf12eCKSIyr9UE_6SnbT-VxaZ-e3meikLNY" alt="Testsigma - HOW POOR DESIGN RUINED MY MOVIE EXPERIENCE">



I believe I need not explain why I poured curd into my tea.



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter is-resized"><img loading="lazy" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/fMavBSIPlUz5HyvM_6szZwlqoDgzE9QmLj1c8C6KpEDCuCMQbLhNx4Ieg5OMFqaVOqSQH_EdUjJCWPSRKIbVSIdkNd-9QcF8EXwU_OkyMuj90T15ZQgmZZMvp0AFPjw7Sb6R-USquRI-cpUHQ3-_PF4" alt="amusing examples of poor design 3" width="300" height="300"/></figure></div>



It&#8217;s no surprise that the lights come on while someone is at the sink.



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter is-resized"><img loading="lazy" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/hHrxjNQnwqjCyHaOOLUxupz91zFL2yX1N_DEweyaQR4fpQkIOOWauCv-yTNI-RgmYqrlmnMum7LQEKn9-Otqfj-rPDog1deG6ZBJvXeMR5m0M9VOMhzaEWJmbgaZA8Mv_HHWEwh_5QIAudj7IZOMjqo" alt="amusing examples of poor design 4" width="400" height="400"/><figcaption>A secret door to escape from the sink?</figcaption></figure></div>



<h2 id="conclusion">CONCLUSION</h2>



As testers, you can make a big difference in terms of user experience(UX) by including usability testing as part of your QA. Implementing this will make you and your team champions of a user-centric culture in your organization. Start small and take little steps that will lead you to success. Begin by reading about the fundamentals of UX, meet with your UX team and collaborate with them. 



Participate in the design phase and try to contribute as much as possible. Think like a user and help your users achieve their goals when interacting with your product. A good UX gives your users a compelling reason to use your product.&nbsp; There is no better way than to learn from your real-life experiences. Learn from the design mistakes of others and ensure that your product avoids them.



I hope you enjoyed this article. Lot more coming in part 2; stay tuned! Share your personal experiences with poor design in the comments section below.



<button class="btn bg-primary cta-btn" style="margin: auto"><a href="https://github.com/testsigmahq/testsigma" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color:#fff">Try the most intuitive open-source low code test automation tool</a></button>



<a href="https://testsigma.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Testsigma</a> offers the finest in its class user experience, that will enable you to step up the pace of your test automation.



Read more about Mobile usability testing here: <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/mobile-usability-testing-what-is-it-and-how-is-it-done/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://testsigma.com/blog/mobile-usability-testing-what-is-it-and-how-is-it-done/</a>



PC: <a href="https://www.freepik.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">freepik</a>

UX & Testing: UX Lessons Learned From My Real-Life Experiences - Part 1

UX & Testing: 3 Real-Life UX Lessons -Part 1

Building positive working relationships with team members is critical for testers&#8217; success. There is, however, a catch. Testing requires scepticism, questioning, and critique.&nbsp;Because of the nature of the role, some people may even perceive testing as a destructive activity. 



Testers have to disagree, debate, and sometimes even fight with their teammates to roll out a high-quality product. For the most part, a tester&#8217;s job is to find faults in others&#8217; work. Despite their best efforts to be diplomatic and tactful, testers may find themselves in a conflict. As a result, testers may have strained relationships with their teammates.&nbsp;



This article will discuss a helpful reasoning tool called Hanlon&#8217;s razor from the perspective of a tester. You will learn how to apply it in your day-to-day life to navigate through stressful situations and improve your workplace relationship.



<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets">Table Of Contents<ul class="toc_list"><li><a href="#WHAT_IS_HANLONS_RAZOR">1 WHAT IS HANLON’S RAZOR?</a></li><li><a href="#PUTTING_HANLONS_RAZOR_TO_ACTION">2 PUTTING HANLON’S RAZOR TO ACTION</a></li><li><a href="#HANLONS_RAZOR_ENHANCES_TRUST_AND_IMPROVES_WORKING_RELATIONSHIP">3 HANLON’S RAZOR ENHANCES TRUST AND IMPROVES WORKING RELATIONSHIP</a></li><li><a href="#LIMITATIONS_OF_HANLON8217S_RAZOR">4 LIMITATIONS OF HANLON&#8217;S RAZOR</a></li><li><a href="#CONCLUSIONnbsp">5 CONCLUSION&nbsp;</a></li></ul></div>
<h2 id="what-is-hanlon-s-razor">WHAT IS HANLON’S RAZOR?</h2>



<figure><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/61vyv0NzvvnXMiDEBOun3L-l01a-TEvKQzCkqfMU8fUcC4VL-KNVnNwDp5Fe4Y2c0zvZcVjPlfG7I7CxiualyWBtJf2m821nrhJin9OPSUZtAN96kJjH8sFV_IEyLJIRf3XxNhTfA9WjjkJlqw" style="width: 600px;" alt="Testsigma"></figure>



A philosophy razor is a heuristic or a rule of thumb that allows you to eliminate or shave off unlikely explanations for a problem. Hanlon’s razor says, “Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity.”&nbsp;&nbsp;



Don’t assume the person responsible is malicious if something wrong happens because they might just be stupid! Different people have stated this principle throughout history in various forms. However, Hanlon&#8217;s razor is attributed to&nbsp; Robert J. Hanlon, who shared it in a book containing a compilation of jokes in 1980.



In a broader sense, Hanlon&#8217;s razor says that you should not assume that people acted out of a desire to cause harm if there is a reasonable alternative explanation. The alternative experience can be Stupidity, Ignorance, Carelessness, Incompetence, Lack of Information, etc.



<h2 id="putting-hanlon-s-razor-to-action">PUTTING HANLON’S RAZOR TO ACTION</h2>



Many relationships deteriorate as a result of wrong assumptions. When things do not turn out the way we want, we tend to assume the worst. In our heads, we make up stories that reflect our beliefs. Our natural tendency is to assume that others are ill-intentioned. Hanlon&#8217;s razor is a powerful mental model that can be applied to any situation where our first instinct is a negative assumption. Consider the following scenario.



<ul class="list_style_disc"><li>Situation:&nbsp; Assume that you join a new organization as a Test lead. You discover that the team produces poor bug reports, their test cases are poorly designed, there is no automation in place, and their <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/the-different-software-testing-types-explained/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">testing techniques</a> are ineffective.&nbsp;</li></ul>



Flawed thinking: The team is unskilled and produces only mediocre work. Did I make a mistake by joining this team/organization? Was I tricked into joining a terrible team?



Hanlon&#8217;s razor:&nbsp;&nbsp;



<ul class="list_style_disc"><li>The team may not have the necessary guidance as they did not have a leader to coach them</li><li>They might have cut corners to fulfill the demands and needs of the business. Let me have one-on-ones with my new teammates to learn more about them.&nbsp;</li><li>The team may not be getting enough time to automate tests, however, I can accelerate the <a href="https://testsigma.com/automated-testing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Test Automation</a> with powerful low code tools like <a href="https://testsigma.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Testsigma</a>.&nbsp;</li></ul> 



<button class="btn bg-primary cta-btn" style="display: block;
 margin: auto;"><a href="https://github.com/testsigmahq/testsigma" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color:#fff">Get started with free, open-source, low code test automation tool Testsigma</a></button>



You can employ Hanlon&#8217;s razor in various situations where you suspect bad intentions by a person towards you. Here are five hypothetical situations where you, as a tester, might fall victim to your bias and how Hanlon’s Razor can help you reason better.



<figure><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/ez5Z7-mNQdWfizJ0IjJ0iK6xLZs-0YbzJNE7q62W12RaYpvEIZ-cnUD5K9Ccnp4CHO5eLWgUSF5kDbq_Vrcj-gvBhMNdA45jLlpF-nCz_x28jtMFWDwiHpXZD14Jr5VatkbQ9wgknsf5srbVwA" style="width: 600px;" alt="Testsigma" /></figure>



 <ul class="list_style_disc"><li>Situation 1: “Mark(my manager) has not invited me to the sprint planning meeting.”</li></ul>



<ol><li>Flawed thinking: “Mark does not like me. Mark feels that I am incompetent and I cannot contribute to sprint planning”.</li><li>Hanlon’s Razor: “I have no specific reason to think Mark is unhappy with my work. He may have forgotten to add me&#8230;let me talk to him”.&nbsp;</li></ol>



 <ul><li>Situation 2: “Peter(the product manager) did not consider my idea/suggestion for the new feature.”</li></ul>



<ol><li>Flawed thinking: “Peter is trying to get back at me because I contradicted his idea last time.”</li><li>Hanlon’s Razor: “He may have a better idea or genuinely believed that my idea won&#8217;t work.”&nbsp;</li></ol>



 <ul><li>Situation 3: “ Dave(the developer) has rejected most of my bugs.”</li></ul>



<ol><li>Flawed thinking: “He is seeking revenge because of what I said in the last meeting. He wants to damage my credibility.”&nbsp;</li><li>Hanlon’s Razor: “There could be several reasons for rejecting the bugs. For instance, the requirements may have changed lately without my notice. Let me look at the comments to find out more”. <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/how-to-write-a-good-bug-report-some-tips/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Also, here is a useful article that has some tips for writing good bug reports.</a></li></ol>



 <ul><li>Situation 4: “ It has been two days since Dave has not replied to my message.”</li></ul>



<ol><li>Flawed thinking: “Dave is being rude and disrespectful; he is trying to insult me.”</li><li>Hanlon’s Razor: “Dave may be busy with the <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/how-to-reduce-the-risk-of-missing-bugs-before-deploying-on-production/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">production issue</a> detected yesterday and forgot to reply. ”</li></ol>



 <ul><li>Situation 5: “ Tyler(the tester from another team) refused to assist me on a task.</li></ul>



<ol><li>Flawed thinking: “Tyler is selfish; he only cares about his tasks.”</li><li>Hanlon’s Razor: “Tyler already has a lot on his plate to help me out. He is currently working on an important project”.</li></ol>



Remembering Hanlon&#8217;s Razor helps keep certain emotions like anger and stress in check when someone does something that annoys you.&nbsp;



<h2 id="hanlon-s-razor-enhances-trust-and-improves-working-relationship">HANLON’S RAZOR ENHANCES TRUST AND IMPROVES WORKING RELATIONSHIP</h2>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter is-resized"><img loading="lazy" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/dnDz6Pn7rk7-NU5NhZQcu3T5ltgIRvkVB4osvs685lJApE5dwcVJqW3gyuUjLEUAMqtDEB3vhsQ9wjtFYtkp4NvhP8whhOGrVB9o_vaO1HD1JmMJmphqchu_vlyQNNwR6cTMahRbdtIe1_w5gg" alt="Testsigma" width="400" height="400"/></figure></div>



Trust is the foundation of every successful team. Lack of trust directly impacts the productivity of the team.&nbsp; Incorrect assumptions about others and their intentions will only make others lose trust in you. Assuming ill intentions can keep us from forming stronger bonds. 



Trust is the notion that others do not intend to harm you. Hanlon’s Razor helps foster trust by keeping your biases at bay that may damage a tester&#8217;s relationships with their teammates. Furthermore, it saves you from unnecessary mental distress. When you fail to apply Hanlon&#8217;s razor, you may waste your time and energy by focusing on the wrong things.&nbsp;



Testers often work in high-pressure situations like late-night releases, fire-fighting in case of production issues, tight schedules, unclear and changing requirements, etc. Overthinking can develop as a result of stress and anxiety. 



Overthinking harms relationships and spreads a negative vibe in the <a href="https://www.pandadoc.com/features/collaborate/workspaces/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">workspace</a>.&nbsp; Hanlon&#8217;s razor enables a tester to prevent overthinking. Assuming the best intentions in others can help you cultivate a great attitude and strengthen workplace relationships. Additionally, it ensures that you run into lesser confusion and conflicts.



<h2 id="limitations-of-hanlon-s-razor">LIMITATIONS OF HANLON&#8217;S RAZOR</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/PdAaN1yL4fw7tRCGIYqca30E8GpmTHsgRMvbhC-Zs6Ax_sDful7F5IoC1cVe-sx6hFH2i-D5mU0-2esNsMzKNOHXLvU-PkjFmf5NY2rpXftjKMUG8MMGl97wYbJOBC75DpYAO9TiEEJzRNBMyg" alt="LIMITATIONS OF HANLON'S RAZOR"/></figure>



Hanlon’s razor is a valuable reasoning tool for testers to improve their work relationships. It’s not a universal rule. Just like any other heuristic, Hanlon’s razor is fallible. Hanlon&#8217;s razor is a guiding principle for quick decision-making, but it may not always guarantee the correct conclusion.



<ul><li>Be aware of genuine hatefulness. Hanlon&#8217;s razor does not imply that actions are never motivated by wrong intentions. Some people are malicious, and their actions are meant to harm others.</li></ul>



<ul><li>Use your common sense to identify if someone is plotting against you.&nbsp; If it&#8217;s evident that someone is trying to harm you on purpose, take steps to safeguard yourself.</li></ul>



<ul><li>Use Hanlon’s razor with caution. When applying Hanlon&#8217;s Razor, do not ignore evidence, facts, and data.&nbsp; Ask yourself &#8211;&nbsp;</li></ul>



<ul><li>Does this person have a track record of being evil to you or anyone else?</li><li>Does this person have a solid reason to dislike you?&nbsp;</li><li>Does the person realize how inconsiderate their actions are?</li><li>Can this person’s behaviour be explained by incompetence, ignorance, forgetfulness, or another reason?&nbsp;</li></ul>



Despite the limitations, Hanlon&#8217;s Razor can be a useful starting point in most situations, for a tester, as it eases cognitive overload. Because not assuming the worst helps you to think clearly and rationally.



<h2 id="conclusion">CONCLUSION&nbsp;</h2>



The people and process decide whether a project succeeds or fails. &nbsp;As Gerald Weinberg rightly said, &#8220;Whatever the problem is, it&#8217;s always a people problem.”&nbsp;&nbsp;



Testers and developers can work more productively if they don&#8217;t assume the worst about each other &#8211; Hanlon&#8217;s Razor guides our everyday actions by avoiding unreasonable assumptions and looking at things more positively. 



As a result, it helps us build more robust and better relationships at work by being less judgemental.&nbsp; Developing an environment of trust makes everything work seamlessly. Hanlon&#8217;s Razor is a handy mental model that encourages you to look at negative experiences positively.&nbsp;



Add Hanlon&#8217;s razor as a part of your thinking toolkit and use it to navigate stressful situations. Apply Hanlon&#8217;s razor the next time you suspect someone has bad intentions. Empathize with your colleagues and give them the benefit of the doubt.



Also, Read this Interesting Article about Testers &#8211; <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/a-testers-gambit/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Testers Gambit</a>

Prashant Hegde