How can you use Agile prototyping to test stakeholders' ideas?

How can we move forward from legacy systems into the cloud? We used Agile Prototyping methodology to see if our customers would find delight in an embedded cloud view living inside their daily workflow rather than forcing them to use a browser. Feedback resulted in iterative improvements, each time asking the customers if we were building value into their workflow, while gradually modernizing their experience and the technology to get there. We found champions who advocated for us, and helped bring the prototype to market.

Imagine Agile prototyping as being similar to a chef refining a new recipe. The chef, like a project manager, starts with a basic concept of a dish (the prototype). They then prepare a small version of it, seeking immediate feedback from a select group of tasters (stakeholders). Based on their reactions, the chef tweaks the recipe, adjusting ingredients and cooking methods in rapid, iterative cycles. This process continues until the dish perfectly matches the tasters' preferences, ensuring that the final menu item is both delicious and well-received. Similarly, in Agile prototyping, the project manager iteratively refines the product, ensuring it meets the users' needs and preferences efficiently and effectively.

Agile prototyping stands on very simple idea - you don't know everything upfront, you need to navigate uncertainty. So from that standpoint every endeavour that takes a part of your scope, product, mission to test with end user is priceless. Not sure even why we need to proof point this ??

Is there any other way to identify what is worth building than formulating and validating hypotheses? It is so easy to fall in love with your solution when you should be in love with your customers’ problems inste

Agile prototyping enables validated learning - building quickly to test assumptions. By creating a basic prototype in hours or days, you can gain real user feedback on designs, features, and functionality early. This input then informs how you shape the product going forward. Through rapid iteration, prototypes gradually evolve into a refined solution users love. With each cycle, you expand capabilities and refine the experience based on feedback. In essence, agile prototyping brings the core value of agility - responding to change - into your product development practice. Focus on building just enough to elicit feedback, then react to create the right product.

In my perspective, we use Agile Prototyping to have: -Iterative Refinement -Reduced Development Risks -Enhanced Stakeholder Collaboration -User-Centric Focus -Quick Validation of Ideas -Early Issue Identification -Adaptability to Change -Accelerated Time-to-Market -Cost-Efficient Development -Continuous Improvement

Agile Prototyping is a Multifaceted Approach for Enhanced Stakeholder Engagement, Reduced Risks, and Faster Value Delivery also there are few more key advantages of Agile prototyping: a) Enhanced Stakeholder Engagement and Satisfaction b) Reduced Risk of Misinterpreting Stakeholder Requirements c) Testing and Learning from Assumptions d) Faster Delivery of Value e) Creativity and Innovation

Utilize Agile prototyping by prioritizing features in collaborative planning sessions, rapidly developing and refining prototypes based on iterative stakeholder feedback. Conduct regular review meetings and user testing, embracing flexibility to adapt the prototype as ideas evolve. Document changes to ensure alignment with project goals and user needs, fostering a dynamic and collaborative environment for a user-friendly end product.

- Early Stakeholder Involvement, Engages stakeholders for early feedback. - Risk Reduction, Identifies and addresses issues early, reducing development risks. - Flexibility and Adaptability, Allows quick adjustments to changing requirements. - Continuous Improvement, Iterative approach fosters ongoing refinement. - Faster Time to Market, Rapid cycles and early feedback shorten development time. - Clear Communication, Tangible prototypes enhance understanding and communication.

I use agile prototyping to reality-test a customer's needs. Providing something that tangibly accomplishes some percentage of the task can help minimize wasted effort from an "ideal" product. Think of all those times a client has included calendar and email integration features in their initial request! While prototypes may have some amount of friction built in due to their occasional "quick and dirty" approach, they provide important scaffolding for real business processes, and can help identify friction in those processes as early as possible.

According to my experience, Agile Prototyping is a Flexible Approach for Tailored Testing and Feedback and is a versatile methodology that can be adapted to suit the specific context, scope, and goals of each project. The process typically involves several key steps: 1) Problem Definition and Opportunity Identification 2) Stakeholder Identification and Role Definition 3) Prototype Type and Fidelity Selection 4) Prototype Development

It's not a rigid, one-size-fits-all formula but a fluid and adaptive approach that begins by immersing in the essence of the problem or opportunity at hand. Here, stakeholders are not passive observers but active collaborators, seamlessly integrated into the iterative cycle.

It does not need to be expensive, the only requirement is that it allows you to test an hypothesis. I had an stakeholder to bring an idea for changing the layout of a shipping label in a way that it would save money. But changing was expensive (development wise) so we built a prototype on Excel and shipped some by hand for a week. It was true, we actually saved money, so with that we were able to justify the development of the new layout.

In my perspective, this is how it can be used: (but it's not a T-shirt size) -Define Clear Objectives -Identify Key Stakeholders -Select Appropriate Tools -Create Initial Prototypes -Solicit Stakeholder Feedback -Iterate Based on Feedback -Prioritize User-Centric Design -Maintain Open Communication -Document and Learn -Scale Gradually

When I look at a problem that needs Agile prototyping, my first thought is usually, "Can I get most of the way there with a solid understanding of the data model and a batteries-included framework?" Rails or Django are great for things like this. And if you're looking to connect two different APIs for instance, code generation tooling and readily available clients can save a world of time. I personally like to get an instance of the Django Admin into a customer's hands with all the key flows handled through simple forms and actions. If the business process looks good, we can then start talking about designing the real user experience.

To maximize the benefits of Agile prototyping, it's crucial to employ effective practices that foster stakeholder engagement, facilitate constructive feedback, and promote continuous learning. Here are some key best practices to consider: 1) Early and Frequent Stakeholder Involvement 2) Clear and Frequent Communication 3) Focus on the Core Problem or Opportunity 4) Embrace Feedback and Failure 5) Continuous Learning and Iteration

Best Practices can be defined as: -Cross-Functional Collaboration -Early and Continuous Stakeholder Involvement -Clearly Defined Objectives and Scope -Iterative and Incremental Approach -User-Centric Design Principles -Flexible Prototyping Tools -Rapid Prototyping Cycles -Transparent Communication Channels -Regular Retrospectives and Learning -And Adaptability to Change and Feedback

In my experience as a BA Salesforce, I work with the PO to organise a session with the stakeholder responsible for the functionality to get his/her feedback on the UX mock-up.

Some of the prototype examples can be: -Paper Prototypes -Clickable Wireframes -HTML Prototypes -Wizard of Oz Prototypes -Card Sorting -Storyboarding -Role Playing -Digital Mockups -Interactive Mockups -Functional Prototypes

I think it's important to consider Agile prototyping, it can effectively serve as a powerful tool for stakeholder engagement, feedback collection, and continuous product improvement, ultimately leading to the development of successful and user-centric solutions.

Rapid Prototype Development - Agile prototyping allows for quickly turning stakeholders' ideas into tangible prototypes. In my projects, this rapid development and iteration process has been crucial for validating ideas early, saving time and resources that might otherwise be spent on less viable concepts. Frequent Stakeholder Feedback - Agile emphasizes regular feedback loops. By presenting prototypes to stakeholders at various stages, I've been able to gather their insights and make iterative improvements, ensuring the final product closely aligns with their expectations and requirements. Flexibility and Adaptation - Agile prototyping is inherently flexible, allowing for swift adaptation to stakeholder inputs.

As my opinion, agile prototyping can be said as UIUX design process phase in project. When we are in product-led organization, our main focus to deliver the minimal viable product in timely manner. If our product is on in the market or its new product, we can initiate by doing prototyping (UX research and UI mockup design) to identify customers segmentation , user behavior and so on.