Dr. Eva-Maria Schön presented on building a framework for modeling agile requirements engineering. Organizations can benefit by increasing external understanding and improving internal processes. She discussed key challenges like continuously refining requirements with users, involving stakeholders iteratively, and understanding agile values. Short agile iterations make traditional user research methods difficult, but adapting techniques to sprints can enable faster feedback. Applying lean user research helps teams continuously learn about users and product context.

1. Dr. Eva-Maria Schön
Senior Consultant | CGI
UX Camp HH | 11.08.2018

2. Building a framework for modeling agile RE.
Organizations benefit from implementing this framework by
increasing their (organization external)
and improving the (organization internal).
My Profile: Google Scholar and ResearchGate Eva Schön | UX Camp HH 2018 | 2

3. Reference: Schön, E.-M., Winter, D., Escalona, M.J., Thomaschewski, J., (2017): Key Challenges in Agile Requirements Engineering,
in: Baumeister, H., Lichter, H., Riebisch, M. (Eds.), XP 2017, LNBIP 283, pp. 37–51.
Refine requirements in
collaboration with users
Involve stakeholder
iteratively
Understanding of
agile values of the
stakeholders
Continuous
requirements
management
Technical or
functional dependencies
to other teams
Staying focused on
the big picture
3Eva Schön | UX Camp HH 2018 |

4. Reference: Alexander, C., Ishikawa, S., Silverstein, M., Jacobson, M., Fiksdahl-King, I., Angel, S., (1977):
A Pattern Language: Towns, Buildings, Construction (Center for Environmental Structure). Oxford University Press.
“Each pattern describes a which occurs over and
over again in our environment, and then describes the
core of the to that problem, in such a way that
you can use this solution a million times over, without
ever doing it the same way twice.”
4

5. 5Eva Schön | UX Camp HH 2018 |

6. Context in which the pattern can be applied
Summarizes the problem and explains forces,
which make the problem difficult to solve
Explanation of the usage of the pattern
on a meta level
Describe what will happen if solution is applied
6Eva Schön | UX Camp HH 2018 |

7. • Using agile process models has an effect on the duration
of feedback cycles
• Feedback is gathered in iterations that often take only 2-4 weeks
• UX design and classic user research methods are difficult to apply
in these short iterations.
7Eva Schön | UX Camp HH 2018 |

8. 8Eva Schön | UX Camp HH 2018 |
Refine requirements in
collaboration with users
• Preparing comprehensive reports slows
down the exchange of information.
• Involving participants for tests regularly is
problematic, as the availability of people is
limited

9. 9Eva Schön | UX Camp HH 2018 |
• Adapt user research to agile timing (e.g. sprints, iterations)
in order to enable shorter cycle times
• Ensure the availability of participants for tests to enable
frequent feedback cycles
• Enable the self-organization of agile teams when
conducting user research
• Create transparency regarding user research when
several agile teams work in parallel
• Integrate user research methods into the agile development process so
that teams can identify early on whether they deliver value for users

10. 10Eva Schön | UX Camp HH 2018 |
• Applying Lean User Research helps the agile team to
continuously increasing its own knowledge about
users and the context of use of the product
• Short feedback cycles enable a quick reaction to
changing requirements, which are recognized at a late
stage using classical methods.

11. Dr. Eva-Maria Schön
UX Camp HH | 11.08.2018
Contact me if you like to share your experience or in case
you have any question or feedback.
eva.schoen@iwt2.org