Concepts
One effective method of doing so is through the application of visual facilitation techniques, which will be covered in great depth today. This topic is particularly useful for those preparing for the Certified Scrum Professional for Developers (CSP-D) examination.
The value of visual facilitation comes from its ability to transform complex processes and systems into easily understandable visual representations. Visual facilitation is a powerful tool in the Agile development process. As a CSP-D, understanding and being able to execute at least one visual facilitation technique is an important aspect of passing the exam and will be a valuable part of your toolset as a working professional.
System modelling is arguably the best and most popular type of visual facilitation.
It can be divided into two categories, namely: Static (or structural) modelling and dynamic modelling.
Static (or Structural) Modelling
Static modelling techniques provide an architectural view of a system or product. They display the stable parts of the object being studied and do not reveal anything about the functionality or behaviour of the system. The two primary techniques in this category are;
- Class Diagram: This shows the system’s classes, their attributes, operations, and the relationships among the classes.
- Object Diagram: This reveals the interaction between objects at a particular point in time.
Dynamic Modelling
On the other hand, dynamic modelling techniques showcase how a system or product behaves or operates over time. They are key to providing a detailed visualization of a system or product’s behaviour. Dynamic modelling techniques include;
- Sequence Diagram: This illustrates how operations are carried out – it captures the behavior of a system in the form of a series of steps including the sender and the receiver.
- State Diagram: This depicts the various states that an object goes through in response to events during its life time.
To demonstrate the application, consider a hypothetical ride-hailing system. A sequence diagram (dynamic modelling) might illustrate the steps a user goes through from requesting a ride to reaching the destination. A class diagram (static modelling), on the other hand, might show the relationship between different elements of the system, such as rider, driver, and car.
Wrap-up
A skilled CSP-D must be adept at both creating and interpreting these models, not only to understand and explain the behavior and the interactivity of the system but also to communicate effectively with users, clients, and stakeholders.
Ultimately, the choice of visual facilitation techniques relies heavily on the context including the system/product in question, the audience, and the goal of the visual facilitation process. Irrespective of the choice, the primary goal remains the same – to provide a lucid understanding of the system or product behaviour to all stakeholders concerned, thus aiding effective decision-making and informed strategizing.
In sum, visual facilitation techniques are definitive means that can be used to model the behaviour of a system or product with users, clients, or stakeholders. Hence, it is highly advised for aspiring CSP-Ds to familiarize and get comfortable with these techniques to ensure they are well-equipped to handle real-world scenarios after the exam.
Answer the Questions in Comment Section
True or False: The User Interface (UI) mockup is a visual facilitation technique used to model the behaviour of a system or product.
1) True
2) False
Answer: True
Explanation: A UI mockup is an important ad hoc visual facilitation technique that facilitates understanding and collaboration between the development team and clients, users or stakeholders.
Multiple Select: Which are common visual facilitation techniques used to model behaviour of a system or product?
1) Storyboarding
2) Use case diagrams
3) UI mockups
4) Gantt chart
Answer: 1) Storyboarding, 2) Use case diagrams, 3) UI mockups
Explanation: These are common visual facilitation techniques used to showcase the behavior of a system or product with clients, users, or stakeholders in a comprehensive manner. Gantt chart, on the other hand, is more used for project management.
True or False: A physical prototype can be a form of visual facilitation technique in Agile software development methodology.
1) True
2) False
Answer: True
Explanation: Physical prototypes are a visual representation that models the behaviour of non-digital products or even components of larger systems which can be shared and discussed with users, clients or stakeholders.
True or False: Wireframes are not an effective visual facilitation technique.
1) True
2) False
Answer: False
Explanation: Wireframes are an essential visual facilitation technique as they allow for mapping out and modeling the behavior of a planned digital interface.
Multiple Select: What purpose does visual facilitation serve in software development?
1) Improves understanding
2) Increases productivity
3) Enhances communication
4) Reduces development time
Answer: 1) Improves understanding, 3) Enhances communication, 4) Reduces development time
Explanation: Use of visual facilitation techniques helps in comprehension of system requirements, clearer communication between stakeholders and saves development time by reducing confusion.
Single Select: What is one of the most common visual facilitation method in Agile Methodology?
1) Spreadsheets
2) UML Diagrams
3) Use case diagrams
4) User Journey Maps
Answer: 4) User Journey Maps
Explanation: User Journey Maps are a common and effective way to visually represent a user’s interactions with a system.
True or False: Visual facilitation techniques can only be used during initial stages of a project.
1) True
2) False
Answer: False
Explanation: These techniques can be applied during any stage of a project for improved comprehension and collaboration.
Single Select: Which is not a visual facilitation technique?
1) Brainstorming
2) Flowchart
3) UI mockups
4) Web Diagrams
Answer: 1) Brainstorming
Explanation: While brainstorming is a collaborative technique, it’s not a visual facilitation technique used to model behavior of a product or system.
True or False: Storyboarding is a visual facilitation technique originating from the film industry and adapted for software development.
1) True
2) False
Answer: True
Explanation: Storyboarding was originally used in filmmaking, it is now used as a powerful tool in software development to visually tell the story of a user’s interaction with a piece of software/system.
Single Select: High-fidelity prototypes are considered part of visual facilitation techniques.
1) True
2) False
Answer: 1) True
Explanation: High-fidelity prototypes are visual and interactive representations of the product, often closely resembling the final product, which can be used to facilitate understanding and gather feedback.
Great blog post! Applying visual facilitation techniques has really transformed our sprint reviews.
This is very insightful. We’ve been using story mapping to better understand our product backlog.
I appreciate the examples provided in the blog. Visualizing workflows has improved our team’s collaboration.
Thank you for sharing this!
A well-documented post. Using techniques like process flows has streamlined our development processes.
Visuals can be a bit subjective. What works well for one team might not for another.
Using Kanban boards has really helped our team stay on track with our tasks.
This content is very useful for CSP-D exam preparation. Thanks!