Re: A failure to communicate...

I think the thread of this post is bang on. I've found that often, the time spent on devising a convincing (or just clear) way of communicating a process and it's deliverables can make the difference between people buying into UCD or trying to sabotage it.

< We've so far had good success in getting management interested in the same old UCD methods (with a few of our own tweaks) by packaging them in language promising to make the projects run more smoothly by increasing team communications. >

This is the key really. Ultimately it's management who will see through new or changed work methods and it's imperative that they're enthusiastic about a process before you embark on it. Material relating to Return On Investment from using UCD is also great for convincing those that pay the bills. Ulitmately management will want to feel that this is a better investment monetarily than 'the old way'. It all has to make Dollars and Sense... (sorry, V. bad joke)

The difficulties I've experienced is in convincing hardcore tech folk, who often become frustrated with the time it takes before they can get their hands dirty. We're currently trying to work out better ways of dovetailing the tech development into a design phase. I would love to hear from people who've had success in enthusing a tech team about UCD and have hints on how to keep them engaged and contributing all the way through a process rather than just during build.

Anthony Colfelt
  Designer | BBCi Development Services
    2nd Floor | Bush House | Strand | London WC2B 4PH
      PH: 0207 557 3471 | FAX: 0207 557 3825 | MOB: 0779 617 4878 
        [email protected]




BBCi at http://www.bbc.co.uk/

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