Human-Centered Agile: A Unified Approach for Better Outcomes

This book provides a guide on how to apply Human-Centered Design (HCD) practices to an Agile product development model, which is widely used in industry and government. HCD prioritizes understanding the problems to be solved, while Agile prioritizes a fast hypothesize-and-deliver model. Organizations that attempt an Agile transformation often abandon it due to difficulty or lack of results. However, efforts to improve the design and experience of products using HCD can fall short due to difficulty in seeing the ROI of design efforts. This book identifies solutions for integrating HCD practices by phase into an ongoing agile delivery model, including key success factors, critical points of delivery, and strategies for integrating HCD into teams based on their design maturity.

Format: Hardback
Length: 246 pages
Publication date: 23 August 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This comprehensive guide provides valuable insights and practical strategies for integrating Human-Centered Design (HCD) principles into an Agile product development model, which is widely adopted across industries and government sectors for software and technology development initiatives. Despite its widespread application, the integration of HCD into Agile has posed significant challenges due to the contrasting priorities of HCD, which emphasizes the time spent understanding the problems to be solved (time spent in the problem space), and Agile, which prioritizes a fast hypothesize-and-deliver model (time spent in the solution space).

Organizations embarking on Agile transformations often face difficulties or fail to achieve the desired outcomes. At the same time, efforts to enhance product design and user experience through Human-Centered Design often fall short due to challenges in demonstrating the Return on Investment (ROI) of design efforts, even in cases where renowned consulting firms like McKinsey document successful design-driven outcomes. Furthermore, companies that successfully adopt Agile often struggle to implement HCD effectively, creating a disappointing paradox since Agile and HCD are mutually supportive principles.

In practice, Agile teams frequently prioritize achieving their goals over incorporating HCD efforts, believing they are doing well, only to discover that their work products fail to meet the actual needs of end users. Initially, the team may become defensive, attributing their sub-optimal delivery to following the guidance of their Product Owner, the "Voice of the Customer." However, this response fails to acknowledge the underlying process that leads to predictable outcomes.

The consistent and predictable responses from teams, indicating their frustration and disappointment, highlight a systematic issue within Agile. This failure to deliver optimal solutions points to a need for a deeper understanding and integration of HCD principles within the Agile framework. By embracing HCD, organizations can create products that are more user-friendly, effective, and aligned with the needs and desires of their target audience.

To overcome these challenges, this guide offers valuable insights and practical strategies for integrating HCD into Agile product development. It emphasizes the importance of understanding the user's perspective, conducting user research, and incorporating user feedback throughout the development process. It also highlights the significance of collaboration and cross-functional teams in ensuring that HCD principles are effectively integrated into all stages of the product development lifecycle.

Furthermore, the guide provides examples and case studies of successful integrations of HCD into Agile, showcasing how organizations have achieved innovative solutions and improved user experiences. It also offers practical tips and techniques for overcoming common obstacles and challenges that may arise during the integration process.

By embracing HCD and integrating it into Agile, organizations can create products that not only meet the needs of their users but also drive business success. This comprehensive guide provides the necessary tools and knowledge to facilitate this transformation and help organizations achieve their goals through the power of human-centered design.

Weight: 660g
Dimension: 254 x 178 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032036908