UX design in agile: a DSDM case study

XP2014 - Rome
Laura Plonka, Helen Sharp, Peggy Gregory, Katie Taylor
The Agile Research Network
www.agileresearchnetwork.org
The Research Approach
Our First Study
• Addressing user perspective is critical for
software system success
• How to do it is less well understood
• Our research question:
– What challenges are faced by a company trying to
integrate UX design and DSDM agile development?
• We (ARN) use an iterative research approach to
work closely with an organisation
LShift
• A hi-tech software development company that
works across a broad range of industries,
languages and platforms
• Best know for creating RabbitMQ
• Employees co-located but regularly work
externally
• UX designers work for UX design agency
• Use DSDM as their development approach
The DSDM Framework
Integrating Agile & UX Design
• Existing research broadly covers two areas:
– Bringing people together (Ferreira et al 2011 &
2012)
– Aligning developer and UX designer work
practices (Haikara 2007, Broschinsky & Baker
2008, Kane 2003, Cho 2009, Lollmann et al 2009,
Sy 2007 & 2008, Patton 2013)
Findings
• Integrating UX design in Feasibility &
Foundations
– Working practices
– Challenges
• Technical feasibility issues when design-led
• Agile prioritisation
– Mitigations
• Developer seconded to UX team
Findings
• Integrating UX design during Engineering
– Working practices
– Challenges
• Communication between developers and UX designers
• Level of details in upfront design
– Mitigation
• Introduction of new roles
• Involving developers in design & designers in development
• From design-led to development-led
Conclusions
• Integrating UX design with Agile development is a
challenge
• DSDM Feasibility & Foundation phases help
mitigate communication challenges
• Extended DSDM roles help address issues
• Reasons for production of ‘pixel-perfect’ design
explored
• New focus from design-led to development-led
Help us with the next project!
• What do you think are the challenges to Agile
at the current time?
– Put your suggestions on a card then onto the
challenge wall outside
– Or
– Put your suggestions on the electronic challenge
wall
– www.agileresearchnetwork.org

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