As testers, we are used to being curious, asking questions, learning about products, and always keeping quality in mind. For years, we've relied on exploratory testing – an approach where knowledge, experience, and structured exploration go hand in hand. But what if this activity is more than just testing? During my studies in innovation management, I gained a completely new perspective: at its core, exploratory testing is applied innovation management!

In this talk, I will introduce the fundamental concepts and goals of innovation management and show how testing and our daily work connect closely to this domain. Participants will gain a fresh perspective on exploratory testing and learn how well-known techniques like heuristics and tours can not only help us improve software quality, but also drive innovation and enable better, well-founded decisions around ideas and innovation processes.