Discount Usability Testing for Agile Teams

Discount Usability Testing for agile teams

Ben Carey By day exp er im e nts @bencarey

A Story

The simplest thing that could possibly work.

“ There is a big difference between the expertise required to be a designer & that required to be a user. In their work, designers often become experts with the device they are designing. Users are often experts at the task they are trying to perform on the device. - Don Norman, DOET

BENEFIT

Our Users

1. Why?

1.1 It Helps

Having usable software is kinda like having edible food.

Welcome to basecamp.

EFFORT EFFECT

1.2 Find Empathy

EMPATHY

FTM RTFM

I Them Him self stereotypes real people

what is a browser?

1.3 Stop Guessing

Seek real feedback and high- bandwidth information through observation.

2 Anatomy

2.1 Instruction

A few tasks A few users A few observers A few beers

A Story Card A Story Card A Story Card A Story Card A Story Card A Story Card A Story Card A Story Card A Story Card A Story Card A Story Card A Story Card A Story Card

Cadence Facilitating Testing Observing

You’re not limited to just testing the software.

2.2 A Demo

2.3 Exercise

Finding what you should test. 5 - 10 things

Discount Testing Exercise

Group Debrief

3 Where Next?

3.1 Iterating

WTF? (happened to iteration)

“ ... even though a piece of duct tape covering a hole in your pants migh not be pretty, it’s still better than a hole. - Steve Krug, Rocket Surgery Made Easy

Do the minimum that you can to ﬁx the problems.

Tweaks cost less. Tweaks require less work. Tweaks don’t ruin lives or break up families. Small changes can be made sooner. Small changes are more likely to actually happen. Tweaks are less likely to break a bunch of stuff. Most people don’t like change, redesigns annoy them. Tweaks aren’t as risky. Tweaks don’t require a lot of meetings. from Rocket Surgery Made Easy

3.1 Buy-In

You don’t need buy-in.

#1 Frame it as an experiment

#2 Minimal cost

#3 Disproportional returns 100% 75% 50% 25% 0% 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

Stop building stuff that sucks.

A few people to test A few people to observe Debrief observations

Beneﬁt

Our Users

Thank You! Ben Carey thesherpaproject.com @bencarey

team room: lachlanhardy (flickr) corbin sign: jstephenconn (flickr) discount testing: jenniferconley (iliveindallas.com) empathy: b0xman (flickr) big mac: pixelden (flickr) basecamp: ilker (flickr) tied up finger: mkmabus (flickr) lots of paperwork: unk’s dump truck (flickr) peek: mkambus (flickr) paper prototype: cesarastudillo (flickr) Attribution iTunes cards: yum9me (flickr) pizza & beer: add1sun (flickr) duct tape: andrwj (flickr) spare change: essgee (flickr) beakers: femgeek (flickr) trust me: mkambus (flickr)

Discount Usability Testing for Agile Teams

by Ben Carey on Jun 15, 2010

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Discount Usability Testing for Agile Teams — Presentation Transcript