Based on a previous question I asked, and also just reading a few articles lamenting the way Agile software development should be killed off and the teaching and learning of UX design appears to be 'broken', I think it is important to get back to the true problem that the philosophy/approach originally intended to be achieve by the Agile Manifesto and understand how it might also apply to address some of the 'excesses' introduced by the whole UX field:
We are uncovering better ways of developing software by doing it and helping others do it. Through this work we have come to value:
- Individuals and interactions over processes and tools
- Working software over comprehensive documentation
- Customer collaboration over contract negotiation
- Responding to change over following a plan
That is, while there is value in the items on the right, we value the items on the left more.
So in the same way, is it not possible to also adapt this to UX design to say something like:
We are uncovering better ways of designing products/services by being more empathetic and helping others do it. Through this work we have come to value:
- Users needs and wants over business processes and UX tools
- Solving real problems over comprehensive assets and deliverable
- Stakeholder collaboration over requirements negotiation
- Understanding the intangible over refining the measurable
That is, while there is value in the items on the right, we value the items on the left more.
Does it not also capture the essence of Agile and Lean methodologies as well? Did we miss out on having that moment of clarity that the people who conceived the Agile philosophy had?
