Tutorial 21

Diversity & Depth in Participatory Design: Working in the Software Development Lifecycle

Michael J. Muller, U S WEST Advanced Technologies

Monday, May 8

Objective

Participants will learn (1) several participatory practices that can be used at various points in the software development process, (2) to use the techniques to solve problems in areas of analysis, design, and assessment, (3) process issues in participatory activities, including models of democratic processes for small groups, heuristics for working with heterogeneous stakeholders across power differences, and techniques for integrating diverse views, and (4) to integrate participatory activities into a software development lifecycle mode.

Content

This tutorial explores advanced topics in participatory design. The following topics are addressed: the diversity of partici- patory methods; the cultural situatedness of participatory practices; and issues in small group participatory processes, including democratic processes for working with diverse stakeholders. Hands-on, small-group exercises explore diverse applications, parameters, and constraints. The tutorial extends two activities, CARD and PICTIVE, from the domain of participatory design to broader use within the lifecycle, including participatory analysis and assessment. Participants' work will be summarized in a discussion on adapting and integrating participatory methods into software development lifecycles.

Audience

This advanced-level tutorial is intended for people familiar with participatory design or the software development process. Ideally, participants have experience with either at least one participatory practice or at least one model of the software development lifecycle.

Presentation

Lecture, exercises

Instructor

Michael J. Muller is a member of technical staff at U S WEST Advanced Technologies. He has developed several methods for participatory design and has applied participatory and other usability methods in the analysis, design, and assessment of a variety of telecommunications products, services, and research projects at U S WEST.

Keith Instone / instone@acm.org / 95-01-05