Do We Need an On-Site Customer? An Exploration of Customer Involvement

James Shore (Titanium I.T. LLC)

Tutorials · Customer

Monday, 14:00, 1 hour 30 minutes | Meeting Room 4

Do you need an on-site customer? What difference does it really make? As long your customers communicate their needs somehow, everything will be fine, right?

In this simulation, you'll explore what happens with different approaches to customer involvement. In the first part, you'll form small teams representing start-up companies striving to get a foothold in the market, then simulate creating a software product using a "traditional" approach to customer communication, such as written requirements.

In the second part, you'll simulates creating another software product, this time using an agile "on-site customer" approach. Afterwards, the participants compare the products, using objective guidelines, and discuss the differences.

How much of a difference does an on-site customer make? How hard should you push your customers to work on-site with your team? Come find out!

James Shore is an agile development coach and thought leader. A professional software developer since 1994, he has been leading teams in success and failure since 1999. In 2005, he was awarded with the Agile Alliance's Gordon Pask Award for Contributions to Agile Practice. His upcoming book, The Art of Agile Development (coauthored with Shane Warden), will be published by O'Reilly in August. Find more of his work on his website, jamesshore.com.