With the introduction and popularization of Agile methods of software development, existing relationships and working agreements between user experience groups and developers are being disrupted. Agile methods introduce new concepts: the Product Owner, the Customer (but not the user), short iterations, User Stories. Where do UX professionals fit in this new world? Agile methods also bring a new mindset -- no big design, no specifications, minimal planning -- which conflict with the needs of UX design. This lecture discusses the key elements of Agile for the UX community and describes strategies UX people can use to contribute effectively in an Agile team, overcome key weaknesses in Agile methods as typically implemented, and produce a more robust process and more successful designs. We present a process combining the best practices of Contextual Design, a leading approach to user-centered design, with those of Agile development. Table of Contents: Introduction / Common Agile Methods / Agile Culture / Best Practices for Integrating UX with Agile / Structure of a User-Centered Agile Process / Structuring Projects / Conclusion Cover Copyright Page Title Page Dedication Contents 1 Introduction 2 Common Agile Methods 2.1 Scrum 2.2 XP 3 Agile Culture 3.1 There is Only One Team 3.2 The User Is on the Team 3.3 Plans and Architectural Work are a Waste of Time 3.4 Face-to-Face Communication is Better Than Documentation 3.5 Short Sprints are Good. Shorter Sprints are Better 3.6 Continual Feedback Guides the Project 3.7 How These Values Go Wrong in Practice 4 Best Practices for Integrating UX with Agile 4.1 Get User Feedback from Real Users in Context 4.2 A Phase 0 to Define System Scope and Structure 4.3 UI Design Done One Iteration Ahead 4.4 Validation Done One Iteration Behind 4.5 Parallel UX Stream 4.6 Programmer/Designer Holiday 4.7 Architectural Spikes for Difficult Issues 4.8 UX as a Full Team Member 5 Structure of a User-Centered Agile Process 5.1 Phase 0: Project Definition 5.1.1 Contextual Inquiry and Affinity Diagrams 5.1.2 The Affinity Diagram 5.1.3 Work Modeling 5.1.4 Personas 5.1.5 Visioning 5.1.6 Storyboards 5.1.7 User Environment Design 5.1.8 Paper Prototyping 5.2 The Release Planning Session 5.2.1 Writing User Stories 5.2.2 Estimating Cost 5.2.3 Planning the Release 5.3 Running Sprints 5.3.1 Sprint Planning 5.3.2 Working with Development 5.3.3 Sprint Interview Preparation 5.3.4 The Sprint Interview 5.3.5 The Interpretation Session 6 Structuring Projects 6.1 Jumping on a Moving Train 6.2 System Extension 6.3 Major New Release 7 Conclusion Bibliography Author’s Biography Discusses the key elements of Agile for the UX community and describes strategies UX people can use to contribute effectively in an Agile team, overcome key weaknesses in Agile methods as typically implemented, and produce a more robust process and more successful designs. This text presents a process combining the best practices of Contextual Design with Agile development.
