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User-centred design for large software projects

A few days back, I posted a question to the AIfIA mailing list about User-centred design for large software projects, as follows:

They [software development firm] are still using the "waterfall method" of software development (requirements, design, develop, test, deploy), and I suggested that this wasn't likely to deliver a product that would be valuable for the end users (although it might be delivered on-time and on-budget, if lucky).

Can anyone point me towards some articles and/or books that would present a user-centred view, specifically for these technology-obsessed folks?

I had a flood of great responses, which I'm going to try and summarise in this post. (See the end of the post for the list of those who so generously responded.)

User-centred design resources for large software projects:

• Rational Requirements and analysis literature
• Microsoft: User-Centered Design Principles
• IBM: What is User-Centered Design?
• User Engineering section of IBM's Ease of Use site.
• Making a Business Case for User-Centered Design, JoAnn T. Hackos, Center for information Development, 2001
• MIL-STD-498 (US Department of Defence evolutionary development principles)
• Alistair Cockburn's pages on the Crystal Methodology
• Larry Constantine's work (speaks to tech folks, especially if they are rational rose or O-O types)
• Collection of Constantine & Lockwood's articles
• Agile Alliance
• DSDM ("DSDM uses an iterative process based on prototyping and involves the users throughout the project life cycle.")
• Jesse James Garrett's Elements of User Experience ("We have a modified *spiral model* that includes users, but we also have an *Elements of User Experience Model* that directly reflects JJG's work)

Thanks to: Thomas Vander Wal, Meg Houston Maker, Charles Dowdell, Peter H. Jones, Christina Wodtke, John O'Donovan

Posted by jamesr on May 25, 2004 10:41 AM
Categories: Information architecture, Usability & user-centered design, Web development

Comments

Sorry my comments from AIFIA were left out of your list. In short, MIL-STD-498 was replaced by IEEE/EIA 12207 in the United States' Department of Defense. Here's info from Crosstalk that's more recent:

IEEE/EIA 12207 Standard for
Software Life Cycle Processing

Notice of
Cancellation MIL-STD-498
Notice 1
May 27, 1998

MIL-STD-498, dated 5 December 1994 has been cancelled as of May 27, 1998. Information regarding software development and documentation is now contained in IEEE/EIA 12207, "Information Technology-Software Life Cycle Processes." The most reliable sources for IEEE/EIA 12207 are:

IEEE OPERATIONS CENTER
445 HOES LANE
PO BOX 1331
PISCATAWAY NJ 08855-1331
1-800-678-4333
http://www.ieee.org or
http://standards.ieee.org/catalog/contents.html
customer.service@ieee.org
OR

GLOBAL ENGINEERING
15 INVERNESS WAY EAST
ENGLEWOOD CO 80112
Tel: 800-854-7179
Fax: 303-397-2740
http://global.ihs.com

Ask for:

IEEE/EIA 12207 Standard Series for Software Life Cycle Processes Package

IEEE/EIA 12207.0, "Standard for Information Technology- Software Life Cycle Processes."
IEEE/EIA 12207.1, "Guide for ISO/IEC 12207, "Standard for Information Technology-Software Life Cycle Processes-Life Cycle Data."
IEEE/EIA 12207.2, "Guide for ISO/IEC 12207, "Standard for Information Technology-Software Life Cycle Processes-Implementation Considerations."
Product No. SH94603 (at the IEEE/EIA Piscataway NJ Office)
Non-member cost: $153.00 plus $8.00 Handling
Free UPS ground shipping within the US

Posted by: joe on May 26, 2004 05:13 AM