Managing usability evaluation practices in agile development environments

Usability evaluation is a core usability activity that minimizes risks and improves product quality. The returns from usability evaluation are undeniable. Neglecting such evaluation at the development stage negatively affects software usability. In this paper, the authors develop a software management tool used to incorporate usability evaluation activities into the agile environment. Using this tool, agile development teams can manage a continuous evaluation process, tightly coupled with the development process, allowing them to develop high quality software products with adequate level of usability. The tool was evaluated through verification, followed by the validation on satisfaction. The evaluation results show that the tool increased software development practitioner satisfaction and is practical for supporting usability work in software projects.

How design for Wellbeing can affect the Vasomotor symptoms of Menopausal Women through the use of Biofeedback Technology

Research addressing therapeutic interventions for menopausal vasomotor symptoms has received comparatively less attention than other medical domains, resulting in limited successful outcomes and potential side effects. This study explored the impact of well-being-oriented design, employing biofeedback technology on menopausal vasomotor symptoms. Menopause constitutes a critical phase in a woman's life, often accompanied by vasomotor symptoms that adversely affect well-being. This investigation aimed to assess the viability of utilising biofeedback technology to modulate body temperature, employing a novel framework, thereby enhancing well-being among menopausal women. Through co-creation workshops, an alternative design approach was developed and subsequently tested to ascertain its potential for improving well-being in menopausal women. The outcomes of these tests were comprehensively evaluated to discern the implications and significance of the results. This research culminated in an examination of whether biofeedback technology could effectively mitigate vasomotor symptoms and consequently enhance the well-being of menopausal women. Key investigations revolved around refining the utilisation and triggers of biofeedback to alleviate vasomotor symptoms. A connection was established between increased heart rate and impending hot flushes. A novel wearable design, located on the dorsal side of the wrist, was developed to monitor heart rate and initiate cooling, thereby reducing both heart rate and body temperature. Furthermore, the adaptability of this design for nocturnal symptom alleviation was explored, revealing its efficacy in mitigating vasomotor symptoms during both day and night through localised cooling. This study's contribution to knowledge encompasses the development of a novel methodology that integrates Software Development and Information Design processes to 3 devise an innovative wearable product. The ID-Agile method, born from a rigorous 4-stage design and evaluation process, yielded a refined conceptual framework that demonstrated the feasibility of localised cooling pre-emptively minimising vasomotor symptoms. The outcome manifested as reductions in both perceived and actual body temperatures, supported by empirical evidence in both physiological and cognitive data. Ultimately, this research underscores the pivotal role of biofeedback in diminishing vasomotor symptoms and fostering enhanced well-being during the menopausal transition. The implications of this study extend towards ameliorating the quality of life for women throughout the menopausal and post-menopausal phases. The design approach outlined herein holds the potential to redefine wearable technology development and significantly impact women's health during this crucial life stage

Revealing the Vicious Circle of Disengaged User Acceptance: A SaaS Provider's Perspective

User acceptance tests (UAT) are an integral part of many different software engineering methodologies. In this paper, we examine the influence of UATs on the relationship between users and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) applications, which are continuously delivered rather than rolled out during a one-off signoff process. Based on an exploratory qualitative field study at a multinational SaaS provider in Denmark, we show that UATs often address the wrong problem in that positive user acceptance may actually indicate a negative user experience. Hence, SaaS providers should be careful not to rest on what we term disengaged user acceptance. Instead, we outline an approach that purposefully queries users for ambivalent emotions that evoke constructive criticism, in order to facilitate a discourse that favors the continuous innovation of a SaaS system. We discuss theoretical and practical implications of our approach for the study of user engagement in testing SaaS applications

Exploring Virtual Reality as an Integrated Development Environment for Cyber-Physical Systems

Peer reviewe

Unlocking the digital organization : a view of the digital transformation capabilities

Digital transformation is a complex process enabled by the application of digital technologies that fundamentally change the business model of organizations, altering their ways of capturing and generating value, their organizational processes, routines, sources of revenue, and resources. It is such a pressing phenomenon in the current context (accentuated by the COVID-19 pandemic) that all organizations will be impacted and will have to deal with it sooner or later. Thus, to understand the mechanisms that assist organizations in creating strategic conditions for successful transformations, this thesis focuses on the phenomenon and seeks a deep understanding of the elements that compose it. Through a comprehensive and robust work that mixes qualitative methods (such as systematic review and multiple case studies) with quantitative methods (such as EFA and PLS), the thesis presents significant and impactful results. Among them are (i) the proposition of a Digital Transformation Dynamic Capability framework and (ii) a subsequent capability-based maturity model, and (iii) the proposition of a model (statistically tested in SMEs) about the framework's antecedent factors. A distinct point of this theoretical proposition is the use of dynamic capabilities lens for the framework organization - allowing the understanding of the phenomenon as a process to be continuously pursued. Thus, the main contributions lie in a comprehensive and original approach that can guide organizations to articulate and develop the conditions to unlock the capability to digitally transform their business model - which can lead to a capacity for continuous change in the digital context. Furthermore, it offers robust and timely research whose models condense a knowledge corpus from which future research can benefit

DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION PROGRAMS - CONTROL IN THE CONTEXT OF AGILE AND TRADITIONAL APPROACHES: A MULTIPLE-CASE STUDY

Over the last years, digital transformation in organizations has been accompanied by a rise of agile principles and methodologies. Despite some few exceptions, the majority of organizations need to combine or manage the coexistence of agile and traditional management approaches to explore new digital technologies, exploit their benefits, and innovate business successfully. Up to the present, it is not well understood how organizations deal with both approaches within digital transformation programs. Drawing on control theory and the concept of ambidexterity, the purpose of this multiple-case study is to explore how traditional and agile components are managed within large digital transformation programs, what formal modes and styles of control are conducted, and which tensions in control arise. Besides identifying authoritative and enabling control modes, as well as for instance tensions concerning transparency and cadence of outcome delivery, the important dual and “translating” role of the program manager regarding control is emphasized through this study

A Phenomenological Examination of Virtual Game Developers\u27 Experiences Using Jacob\u27s Ladder Pre-Production Design Tactic

Edutainment refers to curriculum and instruction designed with a clear educational purpose, including multi-faceted virtual learning game design. Tools such as the Jacob\u27s Ladder pre-production design tactic have been developed to ensure that voices of both engineers and educators are heard. However, it is unclear how development team members experience and perceive their collaborative work while designing a virtual game using such tactics. This phenomenological study examined the experiences of agile software team members using Jacob\u27s Ladder pre-production design as an interdisciplinary collaboration tool while designing a virtual learning game. Seven design team members (3 educators and 4 engineers) participated in semi-structured interviews and transcripts were analyzed via an inductive coding process that led to the development of key themes. Findings indicated that using Jacob\u27s Ladder design tactic influenced the experience of the team by keeping the team focused on common goals and learner needs, organizing the team work, supporting interdisciplinary collaboration, and promoting shared understandings of the software platform limitations. Individuals played various roles, appreciated diverse views, recognized prior experience and idea sharing, and felt the design tactic supported flexibility for interdisciplinary collaboration. By linking integration strategies to interdisciplinary collaboration, findings from this study may be used by organizational leaders to consider best practices in team building for virtual learning game design, which will further support the development of effective games and growth of the edutainment industry