Session notes for "The User Feedback Two-Step: Managing UX participation in Agile projects" presented at the Agile 2010 conference. I've posted just the slides of general interest, not the ones specific to the agile game.

1. The User Feedback Two-Step Managing UX participation in Agile projects Hugh Beyerbeyer@incontextdesign.com

2. Core Principles of Agile Fast iterations So continuous integration So Test-Driven Design Etc. Reliable feedback So all the techniques from 20 years of HCI Work with real users Contextual Inquiry—their workplace, not yours Experience, not demos Interpretation, not wish lists

3. Initiating an Agile Project User stories are not the beginning User stories reflect a pre-existing design “Sprint 0” clarifies that design The design addresses a pre-defined need User work practice drives the project “Envisioning” / “strategy” / “roadmap” This work has always preceded development (Agile or not) UX has a role user research analysis high-level design iteration

4. The Big Picture

5. Structure of a large Agile project Sprint Sprint Sprint Release planning Strategic design: Initial user research, ideation, concept testing Phase 0 for component Scope development effort; plan parallel streams; define roadmap Sprint Sprint Sprint Release planning Phase 0 for component Ongoing UX stream for cross-system coherence Interaction Architecture planning

6. The life of a feature UX squad defines feature as part of “Sprint 0” planning Feature gets written into a story card UX squad does final UI and low-level behavior design in sprint N-1 SW squad develops feature, consulting with UX squad on details in Sprint N Feature is built into the sprint N’s deliverable UX squad tests the working feature with users in sprint N+1 Changes indicated by testing are written into a new story card New story is prioritized into sprint N+1 SW squad implements changes per story card, consulting with UX squad And so on…

7. Interleaving UX and Code Development The UX team has 3 jobs: Do user test of stories implemented in Iteration N-1 Consult with the SW Squad on stories being implemented in Iteration N Do detailed design and user iterations of stories for Iteration N+1 2 2 2 4 4 4 6 6 8 1 1 1 3 3 3 5 5 7 Sprint 1 Sprint 2 Sprint 3 Sprint 4 * * * Implement: Implement: Set up and research Implement: SW Squad Bug Fix: 1 Design: Design: Design: Design: UX Squad User Test: User Test:

8. Resources InContext Web Site www.incontextdesign.com Agile User-Centered Design publication http://www.morganclaypool.com/doi/pdfplus/10.2200/S00286ED1V01Y201002HCI010 Original 2004 paper on user-entered Agile http://www.incontextdesign.com/resources/AgileCD.pdf

10. Participate as your time allows