What Are Models?
-
Unlocked
Mark Winteringham
Tester, Toolsmith, Author and Instructor
Dan Ashby
Director of Quality Services
Talk Description
What are models?
A model is an abstract representation of a thing. So that could be a process or architectural design or or thinking or a structure, and models can be used to help people to understand concepts or complexity of that thing.
And they can be created in many different formats too. So whiteboard drawings, logical flow diagrams, maps, like main maps or even written text or even verbally described.Â
Do you have any examples?
Yep. So There are some common process models that you may be familiar with, like an agile sprint cycle or the agile testing quadrants, for example, or the many different automation triangles. There's some other business specific models that people might be familiar with, which are business process diagrams or risk maps.
What's the value of a model?
So models can help provide information.
They can help understand a problem space. They can also trigger test ideas and models stem more creative thinking as well.
What are the pitfalls?
Where all models are flawed. A map of the UK, showing roads, is gonna be different to showing weather. For example, so a specific model won't have a specific purpose, but it can be used for many different purposes. And models are based upon perspective as well, meaning that assumptions are made that baked into the models. Awesome. Now I know about models.
Learn More with Ministry of Testing
- Discover the Power of Models - Ministry of Testing Collection
- Ministry of Testing Model Search ResultsÂ
00:00:02,400: A model is an abstract representation of a thing.
00:00:06,000: So that could be a process or architectural design or
00:00:10,875: or thinking or a structure,
00:00:13,835: and models can be used to help people to understand concepts
00:00:17,195: or complexity of that thing.
00:00:19,810: And they can be created in many different formats too.
00:00:22,290: So whiteboard drawings, logical flow diagrams,
00:00:26,050: maps, like main maps or even written text or even verbally described.
00:00:31,125: So do you have any examples? Yep.
00:00:33,205: So There are some common process models that you may be
00:00:36,380: familiar with, like an agile sprint cycle or the agile
00:00:40,675: testing quadrants, for example,
00:00:42,355: or the many different automation triangles.
00:00:44,595: There's some other business specific models that people
00:00:47,075: might be familiar with,
00:00:48,035: which are business process diagrams or risk maps.
00:00:52,210: What's the value of a model?
00:00:54,530: So models can help provide information.
00:00:57,315: They can help understand a problem space.
00:00:59,715: They can also trigger test ideas and models stem more
00:01:03,715: creative thinking as well.
00:01:05,235: And what are the pitfalls?
00:01:07,140: Where all models are flawed.
00:01:09,140: A map of the UK, showing roads,
00:01:12,580: is gonna be different to showing weather.
00:01:15,035: For example, so a specific model won't have a specific
00:01:19,355: purpose, but it can be used for many different purposes.
00:01:22,940: And models are based upon perspective as well,
00:01:25,740: meaning that assumptions are made that baked into the models.
00:01:29,454: Awesome. Now I know about models.
Suggested Content
