Maturity Models in the Context of Integrating Agile Development Processes and User Centred Design

Integrating Agile development processes and User Centred Design (UCD) gained increased interest arguably due to three reasons: first, the reported advantages of UCD in enabling developers to understand the users needs, and how the software can support their goals. Second, the deficiency of Agile methods in: providing guidance for developing usable software; and discussing usability, user requirements elicitation and usability evaluation methods. Third, differences between Agile methods and UCD that can make their integration challenging. Agile and User Centred Design Integration (AUCDI) research did not exploit Usability Maturity Models (UMMs) potential. Organizations aspiring to achieve AUCDI can utilize UMMs in assessing its UCD capability, identifying organization's UCD weaknesses and strengths, and planning for improvement. This thesis aims to investigate the suitability of utilizing UMMs in the context of Agile processes. In order to achieve this aim, this thesis conducted: first, a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) that identified and classified AUCDI challenges and explored the proposed practices to deal with them. Second, an interview study of industrial AUCDI attempts that identified the AUCDI difficulties and integration methods. Third, an interview study that evaluated the suitability of two UMMs; Nielsen model and Usability Maturity Model-Human Centrdness Scale (UMM-HCS) for utilization in assessing usability maturity levels in the context of Agile projects. The results of these studies revealed that both models are deficient in their theoretical maturation foundations and scoring scheme and in addressing the activities and challenges associated with AUCDI. As a result of these deficiencies we utilized the results of the SLR and the empirical studies in developing a set of dimensions that represent fundamental elements that affect the AUCDI process. These dimensions were utilized in the development of a descriptive AUCDI Maturity Model that addresses the activities, success factors, and challenges identified within the AUCDI domain.