January 14, 2018

How Would You Test A Chair? A Warm Up Question To Give Candidate Software Testers

I've been on many a job interview as a software tester these past twenty years.

On a job interview, to see how well candidates think on their feet, and how dig they deep in their testing, the interviewer can talk about an ordinary item to the candidates that is unrelated to software testing, and ask the candidate how to test it.

The item could be a phone. A calculator. A pen. Or even a chair.


Interview Question: How Would You Test A Chair?
https://youtu.be/EjOf5ZaCj4E



Exploratory Testing!


Usability testing: You might have pictured yourself attempting to sit in a chair, then get up from the chair, performing what we might term usability testing.

Functionality testing: If the office chair has lumbar support built in, or can raise and lower the seat and the headrest.

Load Testing: Imagining the normal usage of said chair, having people with smaller or larger bodies than yours attempting to use the chair.

Stress Testing: Having a friend of yours sit on your lap, someone else sitting on their lap, and keep on adding another person and another person until the chair broke.

Performance testing: Have a machine emulate getting up and sittign down, then measuring how the force of a body sittign in a chair and standign up affects the joints of the chair.

Security testing: How easy is it to steal the chair?

... But this line of exploratory testing can only get you so far.

Come Up With A List of Requirements! 

Without a list of business requirements, you don't know what features the chair should have.


  • If the office chair is black or brown, and the chair is actually supposed to be Day Glow pink, that is a bug.  
  • Should the headrest, the back rest, the seat be cushioned or should it be upholstered in leather for a fancy senior manager? 
  • If the requirements call for the seat, the back of the chair, and the headrest to be all one piece, and instead, you have an adjustable headrest, and two metal poles connecting it to the seat, that is a bug. 
  • What is the size and makeup of the back of the chair, the height and width of the back and seat of the chair? 
  • Should the chair have arms or not? How widely spaced should they be?
  • How high and wide should the seat be?
  • Does the chair have four legs? Or is it one pole leading to five separate feet, all with metal casters that allows the chair to move?

Are There Outside Quality Bodies You Could Bring Into The Conversation?


If one of the requirements are that the chair should be ergonomic, have you accurately scoped out what ergonomics mean? Have you checked out the United States Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration or "OSHA" about what they mean by "ergonomics"?

Don't Forget To Test The Requirements!



If the chair does roll, is one the requirements for some type of brake to stop the chair from rolling?
If it is not in the requirements, should it be in the requirements?

And those are all the things you need to think about when you test a chair.

... If you have any creative and inventive ways of testing an office chair write them in the Comments section below.

The most creative answers I will place in an upcoming blog post in tjmaher.com.

Make sure to subscribe to the Adventures in Automation YouTube channel!



Happy Testing!

-T.J. Maher
Twitter | LinkedIn | GitHub

// Sr. QA Engineer, Software Engineer in Test, Software Tester since 1996.
// Contributing Writer for TechBeacon.
// "Looking to move away from manual QA? Follow Adventures in Automation on Facebook!"

214 comments:

«Oldest   ‹Older   201 – 214 of 214
Noor Alsaif Tourism said...

Thanks for breaking this down so clearly.

Techners said...

I appreciate the detail you’ve put into this post.

Rent a car with driver said...

Love the way you explained this concept.

babadelas said...

"Thank you for this informative article! The content is clear and engaging, offering practical advice that's easy to follow. I appreciate the effort put into making complex ideas accessible. Looking forward to more posts like this!"

TopLane Chauffeur said...

TopLane Chauffeur offers a luxurious travel experience tailored for both business and leisure. Our services ensure seamless, sophisticated journeys that reflect the elegance and high standards of our brand.

Sunview Seating Solution said...

I agree with the points made in this post! Finding the right chair is crucial for productivity. There are several Office Chair Manufacturers in Delhi that I’ve researched, and it’s impressive how many offer customizable options. I hope more Office Chair Manufacturers in Delhi focus on comfort and design like the ones mentioned here!

Golden Vape said...


Comment:

Testing a chair effectively involves evaluating its comfort, durability, and design—similar to how one would assess a product like the Elux Cyberover 6K Disposable Vape. Just as you’d sit in a chair to gauge its support and stability, trying out the Elux Cyberover involves checking its ease of use, flavor delivery, and overall vaping experience. Both require careful attention to detail to ensure they meet expectations. Whether you’re picking out a chair or choosing a vape, comfort and quality should always be top priorities!

Houston Detailing said...

Fuel detailing offers premier car detailing and Car Wash services with meticulous attention to detail.
Specializing in Auto Detailing, we use cutting-edge techniques to rejuvenate your vehicle.
With high-quality materials, we ensure lasting protection and shine.

archiethomasar said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
archiethomasar said...

A provocative examination of testing methodology, "How Would You Test Chair Warm-Up" on tjmaher.com provides insightful information about the complexities of quality assurance. The essay highlights the value of painstaking attention to detail in software testing by encouraging readers to think of innovative and comprehensive ways to test an apparently straightforward activity. Virginia sex crime attorney. The author helps testers develop their critical thinking and problem-solving abilities by using interesting hypotheticals and scenarios. For software testers looking to improve their testing techniques and increase their comprehension of testing principles, this article is a great resource. Take part in the conversation and use this insightful article to improve your testing procedures!

Miageorge said...

The blog post "How Would You Test Chair Warm-Up?" offers an interesting perspective on testing processes related to chair performance. It delves into practical methods and innovative approaches for evaluating how chairs warm up or adapt to different environments. The post is informative for designers and manufacturers looking for new testing techniques. I appreciate the way it encourages creative thinking in the design process, ensuring comfort and usability. For further insights and in-depth analysis, the original post provides valuable details.
Traffic Lawyer Petersburg VA

Sumaya said...

nice

vikash kumar said...

We offer best smtp. buy powermta smtp server

safewalkindore said...

Very nice and informative article posted.

«Oldest ‹Older   201 – 214 of 214   Newer› Newest»