DEVELOPING
NOVEL
APPROACHES
TO
M
ULTI
-D
ISCIPLINARY
S
OFTWARE
D
EVELOPMENT
Technology Strategy Board competition for feasibility study funding
June 26th 2013
Tom Wellings
OVERVIEW
•
Objective is to develop novel approaches to early stages of the software developmentprocess. i.e. capturing user requirements and understanding user culture
•
Targeted at application within smaller projects•
Must be multi-disciplinary; i.e. software developers working cross-functionally with people with skills in understanding human behaviour. E.g. user researchers, sociologists, artists•
Up to £50k government funding available for business-led collaborative project in‘Multi-Disciplinary Software Development’
•
Example outputs: a report on what has been learnt and a R&D roadmap for thedevelopment of a methodology to apply when developing future products and services. N.b. output is not completed software.
BENEFITS TO PARTNERS
•
Development of innovative methods for understanding your users and translating into technical requirements•
Improved fit of software to clients’ requirements and expectations - better user experience•
Access to new skill sets and commercial experience from consortium members•
Additional visibility and marketing possibilities through TSB publicity•
Business cash flowWE ARE LOOKING FOR:
•
A main partner company that develops software and wants to innovate the way they define and communicate user requirements within projects.•
Prospective partners should>
Have a project(s) in mind starting approximately autumn 2013>
Be willing to engage their potential end-users early in the project process>
Be willing to commit some resources in return for the funding (amount to beSUGGESTED PARTNERS AND PROJECT
STRUCTURE
• Early-stage project to apply research within • Engagement with end users
Software development
company
• Pitch/application preparation • User research • Project managementEmotive Systems
• Storytelling/narrative development (suggestion)• Visual brainstorming and role playing
Artist (suggestion)
• Dissemination of learning events • Roll-out within collaborative working
environments
EXISTING PARTNER CAPABILITIES
Emotive System is an East Sussex consultancy specialising in user experience research and design.
• Extensive experience in designing user research studies and defining product requirements
• Have previously project managed successful Technology Strategy Board projects – including feasibility projects of this type
• Track record in internationally published articles and book chapters on user experience
Stuart Lambert has over 15 years experience delivering large scale, enterprise telephony
solutions, regularly taking the lead on the gathering, understanding and prioritising of end-user
requirements.
• Development and execution of rapid go-to-market strategies for a US-based contact centre application developer.
• Co-founder of Cohub, a coworking community and workspace providing an environment conducive to promotion of creative collaboration amongst members from various industries
www.emotivesystems.co.uk
APPENDIX
FURTHER
DETAIL
ON
FUNDING
COMPETITION
AND
CRITERIA
FOR
SUCCESSFUL
BIDS
WHO ARE THE TECHNOLOGY STRATEGY
BOARD?
•
TSB the are the UK’s innovation agency•
They accelerate economic growth by stimulating and supporting business-led innovation•
They bring together partners to maximise innovation investment and work on commongoals
•
They offer funding through competitions, to de-risk development of new products andservices
WHY
MULTI-DISCIPLINARY SOFTWARE
CREATION
FUNDING COMPETITION ?
•
Most software methodologies start with aim of understanding the user and the usercontext
•
Often this is done by people without the necessary background, skills or qualifications Specifications end up being vague, incomplete, or difficult to communicate•
Development takes longer and costs more than planned with inadequate results•
Thus there is a need for new methodologies and tools that are workable for short timescales and tight budgetsWHAT ARE TSB LOOKING FOR?
•
Novel approaches to critical parts of the software development process>
e.g. capturing user requirements, understanding user culture•
Pre-industrial R&D which could seed:>
Further development of effective business methodologies suitable for small projects and budgets>
Ways of engaging multiple disciplines in software designWHO TSB WOULD LIKE TO BE INVOLVED
•
Software developers working cross-functionally with people with skills related to understanding or explaining human behaviour>
e.g. anthropologists, literature and narrative specialists, sociologists, user researchers, psychologists, artists, performers...•
Developers could belong to…>
Software companies who want to do things differently>
Non-software companies who develop software in-houseWHAT IS A TSB FEASIBILITY STUDY?
•
Must be business-led and collaborative•
Max project costs = £66,666•
Up to 75% public funding of total project cost for SME business partners>
Eligible: Labour costs, overheads, materials , capital equipment usage, sub-contracts , travel & subsistencePROJECT EXAMPLE
•
Softco commissioned to build software for a client•
Softco would like to understand how it could work with a sociologist to better capture user requirements•
Softco and user researcher work together on the early stages of software design, aiming for greater user satisfaction and lower total development costs•
Project outcome: a report on what has been learnt and a R&D roadmap for thedevelopment of a repeatable methodology for incorporation into new Softco products and services
KEY
QUESTIONS
THAT
NEED
TO
BE
ADDRESSED
THE BUSINESS PROPOSITION
•
Q1 - What is the business opportunity that this project addresses?>
Have you identified a viable business opportunity?>
Is it clear you understand the dynamics of the market?•
Q2 - What is the size of the market opportunity that this project might open up?>
Has the “size of the market” been quantified and where possible, has evidence been given?THE BUSINESS PROPOSITION
•
Q3 - How will the results of the project be exploited and disseminated?>
Is it clear how your consortium plans to exploit the results?•
Q4 - What economic, social and environmental benefits are the project expected todeliver to those inside and outside of the consortium and over what timescale?
>
Is it clear how your consortium will benefit from the project?>
Have you quantified the value of the output and how it will be disseminated?>
Who else will benefit from the project and how?>
Will there be any social or environmental impacts? If these are negative how will they be mitigated?THE PROJECT DETAILS
•
Q5 - What technical approach will be adopted and how will the project be managed?>
Have you described the main technical objectives, methodology and the project plan?>
Have you explained how the project will result in substantial and lasting changes?•
Q6 - What is innovative about the project?>
Does the project present both commercial and scientific innovations?>
Have you provided evidence such as patent search of this innovation?THE PROJECT DETAILS
•
Q7 - What are the risks (technical, commercial and environmental) to project success?What is the project’s risk management strategy?
>
Have you identified the risks for your project; technical, commercial, managerial, environmental and others?>
Have you outlined how the risks will be managed and mitigated?•
Q8 - Does the consortium have the right skills and experience and access to facilities todeliver the intended benefits?
>
Why are you the consortia best placed to do this project?>
Have you adequately demonstrated your consortia’s proven track record?>
Have you successfully completed other innovative R&D projects?FUNDING AND ADDED VALUE
•
Q9 - What is the financial commitment required for the project?>
Do not simply write out the finance table!>
Have you explained the funding model & cost break down for the project?>
Is the budget realistic and appropriate? – underestimating cost is as bad asoverestimating costs
>
Have you explained and justified any significant costs e.g. subcontracting or travel?>
Have you articulated and quantified the amount of investment required to deliver theFUNDING AND ADDED VALUE
•
Q10 - How does the financial support from the Technology Strategy Board and its fundingpartners add value?
>
Will the TSB investment increase the amount of Research and Development undertaken in the UK?>
Have you explained and justified why you are not fully funding the project yourselves?>
Have you explained how the project would be undertaken differently with TSB investment?>
What are the implications of the TSB funding? What does it mean to the project, idea and exploitation?FURTHER INFORMATION
Technology Strategy Board competition overview
https://www.innovateuk.org/competition-display-page/- /asset_publisher/RqEt2AKmEBhi/content/developing-novel-approaches-to-multi-disciplinary-software-development#
Tom Wellings – Director Emotive Systems
