A key role of the modern CTO and CIO is ensuring that every software development project is led by proper UX insight. Research is key to keeping everything on track – this involves interviews, observations, internal stakeholder and user surveys, audits and existing internal or third-party research.
To optimise the process, every point in the cycle should refer back to, and empathise with, the end-user. The key is to continuously reiterate, test and improve before the product is released. This offers the best chance of success once it goes live.
Once launched, an ongoing UX and UI process based on user and market feedback is critical to extend the product’s viable shelf-life, ensuring it remains relevant to users’ changing needs.
Key stages in a UX-driven Software Development Life Cycle
How to establish the health of your current processes
What if you already have a development project in the pipeline? Or you’ve been appointed to lead a software development team on a new project and aren’t familiar with their approach to UX?
Asking basic questions around your existing processes will help to build a snapshot of UX and UI maturity…
- What UX activities are currently adopted by the team?
- How is software delivery broken up, at what stage are iterations tested and what implications does this have on timeframes?
- Is the voice of the customer reflected in UI reviews, design and iteration of functions?
- Who is leading or championing the UX effort?
- What plans are in place to sustain it?
- Is the focus currently on meaningful work? And what process improvements must be considered?
- Are UX findings shared? With who and at what stage? And does this result in a change?
- Is there a separate UX resource? Do they have access to the tools/time/investment and authority they need to be effective?
Forming a UX maturity map and migration strategy
Once these questions are answered, it’s possible to map your progress against a maturity map to determine where you are and what you have to do to elevate your software development process with targeted, effective UX and UI adoption.
If you would like to speak to someone to find out more about how to integrate UX and UI driven design into your project, please get in touch. Call +44(0)117 935 3444 or contact us using the form below.