Assumption mapping and managing uncertainty NUXUK

1. Assumption Mapping &
Managing Uncertainty
@NUX Liverpool
@Kev_C_Murray
@SGSmallman

2. Purpose of this talk
Introduce assumption mapping
1. A technique for Agile thinking
2. Something you can do tomorrow

3. What is agile thinking?
1. Accept there are important things we don’t know yet
2. Respond to new information when it arrives
3. Focus on delivering an outcome
4. Work as a team

4. Digital projects are complex
1. Domain
2. Methodologies
3. Technology
4. People

5. Assumption mapping
Introduced by Jeff Gothelf as first step in the Lean UX
process
5

6. High Risk
Low Risk
Known Unknown

7. Uncertain
Certain
UrgentNot Urgent

8. Defer evaluation of non-urgent assumptions
uncertainty
urgency
Reduceuncertaintythroughanalysisoruserengagement
Requires further
validation
This is important,
we have evidence,
we’re ready to
invest in building
the feature
We have the
evidence, but we
don’t need to build
just yet
Uncertain, but we
don’t need to
validate just yet

9. 9

10. 10

11. 11

13. The Challenge

14. The landlord of the Netherton
Arms in Bootle wants you to
build a new feature for their
existing website, which will
allow customers to reserve a
table online.
What are your assumptions?

15. The landlord of the Netherton
Arms in Bootle wants you to
build a new feature for their
existing website, which will
allow customers to reserve a
table online.
What are your assumptions?
• No such thing as a wrong
assumption
• Each assumption must begin
“we assume that……….”
• One assumption per post-it
• Work together and respect
each other
• Have fun

17. Task board

18. Inclusive Task Board

19. Inclusive Task Board

20. Epics /
Assumptions
Hypotheses Produce
test
User
research
Create
User
Story
High Def
design
In
Dev
Ready
for QA
In
QA
Ready for
Show
case
Done
Done
Backlog
Inclusive Task Board

21. Epics /
Assumptions

22. Assumptions

23. Hypotheses •We believe people want to see multi-
modal departures for each stop
•We believe that people want to see the
time of the next service and where it
departs from
•We believe that people want to see first
and last services and frequency
•We believe people want to see times
and calling points for a service

24. Design Studio

25. Design Studio

26. Wireframes

27. Prototype

28. G.O.O.B

29. Lab Testing

30. Insights?

31. Sense Making

32. Affinity Sorting

33. Team Playback

34. Showcase

35. Assumptions Hypotheses Design Test Create Test Insight
User Needs
Business Goals
Hunches
Assumption
- Mapping
Research
Qual / Quant
Personas
Questions
Sketches
Interaction
- Flow
Prototype
Wireframes
Affinity
Sorting
Playback
Lean UX process
Research
Real Users

36. Testing our hypotheses
1. A technique for Agile thinking?
2. Something you can do tomorrow?

37. Thank you