This document summarizes an appreciative inquiry into a highly successful agile project. The project was deemed highly successful as the agents using the new system had been using it for years and enjoyed it more than the older application. No defects were reported in the first two days after release. Key lessons included getting feedback from end users, building the thinnest end-to-end slice first and then expanding it, generalizing only when having good specialists, testing every aspect of the system independently, and holding regular story kickoff sessions and retrospectives. A logical architecture with layers and variety of tests were also emphasized.

1. Apprecia(ve Inquiry
Into a Highly Successful Agile Project

2. About Us
Chirag
Blog: blog.doshi.info
shi
Twitter: @chiragsdo
mail: chirag@though
tworks.com
Dhava
l
E
Blog: b
log.dosh
Twitter i.info
: @dha
Email: valdos
dhava hi
l@thou
ghtwor
ks .com

3. About the Project

4. Highly Successful ?
“
When I stand observing
they have been using it fo
All of the agents using it
the agents using the new
r years.
system, it looks like
”
have told me they enjoy u
and prefer it to the older sing this system
applica>on
Opera&ons Manager on
Day 2 of the release
“
ee n reported but
”
d me NO ! ) defects b
o (yes you hear
Not only have n as been fantas>
c
rs h
the p raise by the use
r
P roject Manage

5. Apprecia(ve Inquiry
Discover
Appreciate
the best of
what is
Dream
Experiment,
Envision
modify,
what might
Do empower,
be
improvise
Co‐construct
what should
be
Design

6. Top Lessons

7. Get Feedback
from End Users

8. Touchpoints A day at the
Mumbai Call
Centre
Usability test Visit to the
prior to first Edinburgh
release Call Centre
Usability test
Usability Test
with working
with Lo‐Fi
skeletal
prototypes
system
Usability
tests with
HTML
prototypes

9. Thinnest
Build the
End to End Slice First

10. Login

11. Search Customer

12. Journey Plan

13. Ticket Choices

14. Sea(ng preferences

15. Selected Journey

16. Seat Plan

17. Delivery Op(ons

18. Shopping Basket

19. Payment

20. Booking History

21. Booking Flow
Select a Plan a Ticket
Agent Login
Customer journey Choices
Shopping Delivery Selected Sea(ng
Basket Op(ons journey Preferences
Booking
Payment
History
Month 7

22. Thinnest Slice of Booking Flow
Select a Plan a Ticket
Agent Login
Customer journey Choices
Shopping Delivery Selected Sea(ng
Basket Op(ons journey Preferences
Booking
Payment
History
Month 2
Month 7

23. Generaliza&on is Good !

24. Playing
Mul(ple Roles

25. Generaliza&on is Good,
when you Have Good Specialists

26. Specialists
Inner peace like in
great User Experience
I have conquered
Java Script !
I eat HTML,
CSS for
breakfast !

27. Test Every Aspect of the System,
Independently

28. Variety of Tests
Performance
tests
Automated
Func(onal Tests
Integra(on Contract tests
Service tests View Tests
Unit tests Java Script Unit Tests

29. Logical Architecture

30. Layers

36. Story Kickoff Sessions

37. Story Kickoff Mee(ng

38. Con&nuous Retrospec&ves

39. Con(nuous Retrospec(ve Wall

40. plays together,
A team that
stays together

43. Team Ou(ngs

44. Ques(ons ? Comments ?
Chirag
Blog: blog.doshi.info
shi
Twitter: @chiragsdo
mail: chirag@though
tworks.com
Dhava
l
E
Blog: b
log.dosh
Twitter i.info
: @dha
Email: valdos
dhava hi
l@thou
ghtwor
ks .com