Examining the Foundations of Agile Usability with eXtreme Scenario-Based Design

The increasing use of agile methods to develop UI-intensive systems has led to a need to find ways of integrating usability into agile teams—reconciling the convergence and divergent points between the two areas. Agile usability researchers at Virginia Tech have partnered with Meridium, Inc. to develop and implement an integrated approach known as eXtreme Scenario-based Design (XSBD). Based on an analysis of core values and principles of both areas, and work from other agile usability researchers we identified four requirements that need to be met for an integrated approach to work effectively. We report on the results of using XSBD to develop a product at Meridium, summarizing how it addresses those requirements and draw conclusions about the effectiveness of the approach—making connections back to core principles of agile usability.