Abstract

In this age the modern consumer expects a software product to be profusely technically functional with an elegant and intuitive user interface. To accomplish this goal, it has become necessary for software development teams and user experience teams to collaborate on software projects. These two complementary teams often come from different backgrounds, with different technical knowledge, processes, management structures, and deadlines. As these teams continue to collaborate more and more the chance of encountering a conflict also increases. In this research we examine the conflict that can occur between software development and user experience teams and the possible effects on the product quality. This is done by surveying software developers and user experience designers from industry. We collected responses from volunteer participants using an online questionnaire. We examine factors that may make teams more prone to conflict as well as the effect conflict can have on a project. Based on our results we make some suggestions of practices that may lower the likelihood of conflict occurring, and ameliorate conflict that has already occurred.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

Computer software--Development; User interfaces (Computer systems); Cross-functional teams; Computer software developers--Attitudes

Publication Date

8-2019

Document Type

Thesis

Student Type

Graduate

Degree Name

Software Engineering (MS)

Department, Program, or Center

Software Engineering (GCCIS)

Advisor

J. Scott Hawker

Advisor/Committee Member

Stephanie Ludi

Campus

RIT – Main Campus

Plan Codes

SOFTENG-MS

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