Definition of long projects and tips to survive the multiple years.

1. 5/8/16
@orangelemons52
♯IAS16
@orangelemons52
♯IAS16
Mission Impossible:
Thriving & Succeeding in
Long-term, Multi-year
Projects
Coco Chalfant

2. @orangelemons52
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Afternoon’s Mission
• Definition
• My mission impossible
• Design process
• My 7 tips

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DEFINITION

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Long-term Multi-year Project
Implementation of a single creative vision
which has many small feature groups
working simultaneously on many different
projects creating a unified client experience.

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MY MISSION

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My Mission Impossible
Photo by Mark Sebastian
Columbus Day October 10, 2011

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@orangelemons52
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Mission Challenges
• Whole platform migration
• Many interdependencies
• Backend system updates needed
• Multiple feature groups working
simultaneously
• Release management
• No structured QA process
• New Agile working process

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Feature Groups
Home
page
Trade
Dock
CMS
Deposit &
Transfers
Balance &
Positions
Navigation
Page
Migration
Secure site redesign

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Feature Group Team
Home
page
UX Lead
Business
Analyst
Project
Manager
Product
Owner
Client
Developer
Visual
Designer
QA
Specialist
Server
Developer
Copy
Writer

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DESIGN PROCESS

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Design Process
Ideation
Initial
Research
Design
Iterations
User
testing
Design
Updates
& Hand
off

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After the “Wall”
Launch
product
Design
hand off
Build
Design
QA
QA
testing

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@orangelemons52
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Phase 1: Mission Launched
• Launched October 2013
• Graded A by e-Monitor
September 2015
• Best for Novices 2016
Barrons
• Best in Usability 2016
Barrons
Photo by NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

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Product Development Process
Create
Develop
Maintain

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Phase 2: Mission Ongoing
Trade
Deposit &
Transfers
CMS
Navigation
Backlog

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@orangelemons52
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Photo by centrikid.com
• Project manager
• QA specialist
• Assistant copy writer
• Intern developer
• Visual design consultant
• Team cheerleader

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7 TIPS FOR SURVIVAL

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BE WATER
Survival Tip 1

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Be Water
• Be flexible
• Go with the flow
• Be relaxed
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia commons (author: katorisi)

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Be Water
• Force of nature
• Strong
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia commons (author: Chris Light)

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BREW COFFEE
Survival Tip 2

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Brew Coffee
• Lead by serving
• Celebrate
successes
• Show up on
deployment night
Photo courtesy of publicdomainpictures.net

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Brew Coffee
• Create a positive
work environment
• Assume positive
intent
Photo courtesy of Coco Chalfant

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BE A DANCER
Survival Tip 3

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Be a Dancer
• Lead QA
• Teach the steps
• Perform with QA
Photo courtesy of Wikipedia(photographer: Alan Fischer)

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DON’T EXPECT
EVEREST
Survival Tip 4

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Don’t Expect Everest
• Set realistic
goals
• Understand
challenges
• Ask questions
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia commons (author: Rdevany)

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KEEP TRACK
Survival Tip 5

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Keep Track
• Saves mental
fatigue
• Organized
documentation
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia commons (author: Marta Pucciarelli)

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CONJURE
CREATIVITY
Survival Tip 6

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Conjure Creativity
• Do something you
love
• Get outside of the
mission
Photo courtesy of Coco Chalfant

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Conjure Creativity
• Stepping back
• Traveling
• Attend
conferences
Photo courtesy of Coco Chalfant

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BE A CHAMELEON
Survival Tip 7

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Be a Chameleon
• Listen
• Adapt to situation
• Welcome change
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia commons(author: M.arunprasad)

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Survival Tips Review
• Be water
• Brew coffee
• Be a dancer
• Don’t expect Everest
• Keep track
• Conjure creativity
• Be a chameleon

38. 38
@orangelemons52
♯IAS16
Please UX yourself first, then you can UX for others.
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia commons (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Matthew Bruch)

39. 5/8/16
@orangelemons52
♯IAS16
@orangelemons52
♯IAS16
Mission Accomplished
Thank you
@orangelemons52
cocochalfant@gmail.com