@markbrani

Mark Branigan

● User Researcher with GDS since April 2014

● Security Architect with DWP

● Digital Specialist with DWP for Leeds & West Yorkshire JCP

● Various digital services and sales roles in the Private Finance sector

@markbrani

@markbrani

Agile vs Waterfall

● Loads of background in Waterfall-style delivery

● What is Agile anyway?

● I love Agile, but….

@markbrani

When do you start solving problems?

● You probably know more than me….

● I’m after your suggestions….

● What’s the problem you’re trying to solve?

@markbrani

Problem 1 - Objective

● Error 404

● Speling mistaks

● Where the Hell am I?

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Problem 2 - Subjective

● I really don’t like the layout

● I don’t know what this means

● I can’t find the help information

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The Holy Grail

● Everybody can use this!

● It all makes perfect sense!

● I’ve never seen this sort of thing before, but I totally get it!

@markbrani

What does your restaurant sell?

Meat

Salad

Trifle

Wine

Fixing it “On the Fly”

@markbrani

What does your restaurant sell?

Meat

Salad

Trifle

Wine

Two minutes later...

@markbrani

Hang on a tick...

● The fourth wall….

● What I think vs. what you want to hear

● Inverse Genie principle○ “My wish is your command”

● What would the other users have thought?

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I asked our designer:

Ask a question

Try a solution

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Effort vs Value

Effort Value

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So when do you change things?

● To be “evidence”, it needs to be Repeatable

● No two users are ever the same...

● So how do you repeat when the control keeps changing?

@markbrani

Can you help me?

● Where’s the balance between deep, qualitative research and evidence-based findings?

● How do you balance “Agile” iterations with a meaningful, evidence-based business case for changing something?