PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT IN A SMALL IT FIRM: AN INTERACTION DESIGN PERSPECTIVE
Gloria Gómez, Rodney Tamblyn · University of Southern Denmark Research Portal (University of Southern Denmark) · 2012
This experience report describes how an interaction design (ID) perspective has led research in product development of a web application for online study called OB3 in a small information technology (IT) firm. From day one, the development team has implemented what the ID research outcomes specify would work. Before implementation commenced, the company’s CEO (second author) told the designer (first author): We can develop anything; a list of 25 features from image annotation, authoring and searching comes to mind. But, we have little time to spare, few human and financial resources. We cannot afford to develop the application more than once, or to do it wrong. We need to identify what will work before any programming is undertaken. ID has been useful for identifying innovative and suitable feature requirements to shape our product. Its flexible user-centred methods enable the application of a diverse instrument set for organising user participation and gathering data throughout the iterative design process, to understand issues around studying online, and in