Agile software development practices continue to dominate organizations and user experience research and strategy are more necessary than ever, but incorporating research doesn’t always jive with the established practices of Agile. Many of us are still at a loss for making research happen in Agile settings. This session will cover recommendations for setting up the logistics to best facilitate research and specific tips to plan, run, and analyze research effectively within an Agile environment.

1. Hello
All Things Open!
Advanced Aerial Photography

2. Adjusting
UX
Research
for an
Agile
World
@MandaLaceyS | #AllThingsOpen

3. AGILE
@MandaLaceyS | #AllThingsOpen

4. Pivoting is magical.
@MandaLaceyS | #AllThingsOpen

5. Collaboration is king.
@MandaLaceyS | #AllThingsOpen
W

6. @MandaLaceyS | #AllThingsOpen
BUT

7. You can’t measure
learning in lines of
code.
@MandaLaceyS | #AllThingsOpen

8. No dedicated time
often means no time at
all.
@MandaLaceyS | #AllThingsOpen

9. Let me tell
you a
secret.
@MandaLaceyS | #AllThingsOpen

10. There’s no such
thing as the
“right way”
to do research
in Agile.
@MandaLaceyS | #AllThingsOpen

11. THREEFIVETWO/@MANDALACEYS
11
We’re all
special
snowflakes.
Yep.
@MandaLaceyS | #AllThingsOpen

12. Team Makeup
@MandaLaceyS | #AllThingsOpen

13. Cross-functional for
all.
Back end dev Front end dev UX designer QA testerBack end devUX researcher
@MandaLaceyS | #AllThingsOpen

14. Back end dev Front end dev UX designer QA testerBack end devUX researcher
@MandaLaceyS | #AllThingsOpen
Cross-functional for
all.

15. Front end dev UX designer QA testerBack end devUX researcher Back end dev
@MandaLaceyS | #AllThingsOpen
Cross-functional for
all.

16. Second best.
Research
Team
Back end dev Front end dev UX designer QA testerBack end dev
Back end dev Front end dev UX designer QA testerBack end dev
Back end dev Front end dev UX designer QA testerBack end dev
@MandaLaceyS | #AllThingsOpen

17. UXICORN
Back end dev Front end dev
QA tester
Back end dev
Back end dev Front end dev
QA tester
Back end dev UXICORN
It’ll do. But…
@MandaLaceyS | #AllThingsOpen

18. How much do you love this thing I made?
@MandaLaceyS | #AllThingsOpen

19. Please no.
UXICORN
Back end dev Front end dev UX designer QA testerBack end dev
Back end dev Front end dev UX designer QA testerBack end dev
Back end dev Front end dev UX designer QA testerBack end dev
@MandaLaceyS | #AllThingsOpen

20. Setup and logistics
@MandaLaceyS | #AllThingsOpen

21. Make research a part of the schedule.
@MandaLaceyS | #AllThingsOpen

22. And hold it sacred.
@MandaLaceyS | #AllThingsOpen

23. But. Don’t lose sight of the big picture.
@MandaLaceyS | #AllThingsOpen

24. Allow self-scheduling.
@MandaLaceyS | #AllThingsOpen

25. Make your own panel.
@MandaLaceyS | #AllThingsOpen

26. Research Planning
@MandaLaceyS | #AllThingsOpen

27. Write
specific
hypotheses
to narrow
scope.
@MandaLaceyS | #AllThingsOpen

28. If we [do, build, provide x thing],
then [these people]
will [some desirable outcome].
We’ll know when [actionable metrics].
@MandaLaceyS | #AllThingsOpen

29. PROTIP
The more specific your
hypothesis, the easier it will be to
plan research
AND come to conclusions.
@MandaLaceyS | #AllThingsOpen

30. Use
Franken-
methods.
@MandaLaceyS | #AllThingsOpen

31. Balance
flexibility
and
rigor.
@MandaLaceyS | #AllThingsOpen

32. When in
doubt,
recycle.
@MandaLaceyS | #AllThingsOpen

33. Share the load.
@MandaLaceyS | #AllThingsOpen

34. Pro tip:
Bribery is
OK
@MandaLaceyS | #AllThingsOpen

35. Data Analysis and
Integration
@MandaLaceyS | #AllThingsOpen

36. Include
everyone
in
sessions
and
analysis.
@MandaLaceyS | #AllThingsOpen

37. Reminder
If you set a specific, targeted
hypothesis, analyzation is easier.
@MandaLaceyS | #AllThingsOpen

38. 1) Stay the
course.
@MandaLaceyS | #AllThingsOpen

39. 2) PIVOT!
PIVOT!
PIVOT!
@MandaLaceyS | #AllThingsOpen

40. Sometimes the
next path is
really clear.
@MandaLaceyS | #AllThingsOpen

41. 41
Sometimes…not.
@MandaLaceyS | #AllThingsOpen

42. Find
solutions
together.
Awesome image from WOCinTech Chat @MandaLaceyS | #AllThingsOpen

43. Find
simple
ways to
keep
everyone
in the
loop.
@MandaLaceyS | #AllThingsOpen

44. Remember
to add
takeaways
to the
backlog.
@MandaLaceyS | #AllThingsOpen

45. @MandaLaceyS | #AllThingsOpen

46. Thank you!
@MandaLaceyS
stockwellstrategy.com

47. G’night!