Comments on: This heuristic is backwards

By: Anne-Marie

Anne-Marie — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 16:28:35 +0000

Hi Pradeep, some good questions there! I will try and answer them:

“do you run out of time to read the first few chapters?”
I often did run out of time and didn’t read the first few chapters. However, I counted on other reviewers to use the more ‘traditional’ techniques to cover those pages.

“How often do you use Forward reading heuristic?”
I use both techniques to keep me engaged whilst reviewing a document. It helps me keep my mind alert.

“Have you ever repented for doing the backward heuristic?”
Hmm, I don’t recall a specific time. That doesn’t mean there wasn’t one!

“Describe your first experience of using backward heuristic and what value it fetched you and in what context.”
I remember I was reviewing a Test Specification document which contained hundreds of test scripts. I suppose the value it fetched in general terms was that it provided me with an approach that I still use today. In terms of exact value to the project, its too far back to recall.

By: Pradeep Soundararajan

Pradeep Soundararajan — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 01:17:57 +0000

What is special about your approach is – you seem to bring in a unique value that compliment what others bring in.

However, do you run out of time to read the first few chapters?

How often do you use Forward reading heuristic?

Have you ever repented for doing the backward heuristic?

Describe your first experience of using backward heuristic and what value it fetched you and in what context.

By: James Bach

James Bach — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 09:18:21 +0000

Great idea. The Backwards approach is an example of something I call a defocusing heuristic. This one helps keep a group of reviewers from over-focusing on the front of document, providing better coverage.