Agile Methods for Web Development - Case Study Example

Agile methods for web development Findings from the interviews Interviews were conducted to gather the opinions and experiences of users of agile webdevelopment. The purpose was therefore to ascertain the potential, usefulness and advantages of agile methods for web development projects. This research could then help to better understand the current status of the usage project managers of successful and unsuccessful web projects and their intention for future usage. A total of thirteen interviews took place altogether, at five universities in Saudi Arabia involved in web development projects. The participation was anonymous. The questions used in the interviews were semi-structured. The first part of the interview consisting of six questions involved gathering some demographic data of the subjects. Some of this data is summarised in the table below. Personal names and the departments they work in are not included. This was followed by the further questions directly related to the purpose. Gender Age Home town University Interviewee 1 Male 39 Jeddah King Abdul Aziz University Interviewee 2 Male - Jeddah King Abdul Aziz University Interviewee 3 Interviewee 4 Findings from interviewee 1 The actual responses from the first interview are contained in Appendix B1. A summary follows. The department at King Abdul Aziz University began offering rich educational resources in multiple media for both real-time and asynchronous communication between instructors and learners nearly five years ago. Their distance education students receive the same, and their academic programmes are full of activities, animations and simulations. Student participation takes place through online discussions and group assignments and the material is available all the time from anywhere at their own convenience. The deanship is actively involved in research projects to ascertain student levels and satisfaction, and feedback ensures continuous improvement. Experiences are also shared with other institutions to develop collaboration and learn new things. The department’s objectives and goal is to “effectively contribute and support scientific development witnessed by the kingdom in general and King Abdulaziz University in particular”. Thirteen services are listed under the departmental contributions, which include (but are not limited to) the following: Provision of technical services Supervision of software programs and database Maintenance and monitoring of distance learning systems Updating software programs for raising the efficiency of educational processes The web applications in use by the department are an e-learning management electronic system (EMES), a virtual classroom system called CENTRA, the KAU electronic exam system and mobile learning. EMES is an integrated computer system for managing the educational process and facilitate interaction between students and faculty members. The CENTRA allows for instructors and students to participate in real time lessons and discussions with the aim to improve students’ learning experience. It is accessible via the Internet 24/7, and during the sessions, all tools are accessible at the discretion of the instructors such as questioning, drawing and participation. The KAU electronic exam is designed to provide an interactive experience for periodic tests and end of semester exams. The material is motivating and provides accurate data. It assesses achievement and provides reliable data. KAU also has plans to introduce mobile learning for mobile phones to enable to students to learn at their convenience. The method used for managing web projects is PMP. The website is updated whenever the need arises or new events occur and a link is available on the site to measure user satisfaction. The interviewee among a web development group used these methods. Its advantages are that everything is clear and there is a big documentation. As far as using agile methods is concerned, the interviewee had used it over a year ago but did not have much information about it and was not sure which kind of agile method was used. It was used for only one month however, because the department likes to change the method but without affecting its work. It was also found to be flexible and with less documentation than PMP. Although no software was used, a manual board was used for each project with many cards for each task and employee. Due to the lack of documentation, a loss of time was experienced causing a delay. The agile method thus made the department fail to achieve its objectives. Findings from interviewee 2 The actual responses from the second interview are contained in Appendix B2. A summary follows. The department was established in 1976. It is focused on improving the efficiency of the educational process through e-services and a delivery enhancement mechanism for supporting inter and intra departmental communication. There is a provision of technical consultancy, necessary tools for enabling all departments to take advantage of the existing network, automation of the internal administrative processes, and the development of a campus-wide LAN. There are also various deanship managements such as for administrative and technical affairs, and software, customer services, information security and quality management. The department’s aims are to improve the quality of electronic services in academic and administrative areas, and to coordinate with other departments in providing e-services for achieving and meeting its desired goals. It provides the latest software, services, consultancy and technical studies for all sectors, and is keen to develop a communication mechanism between them as well as technical support. This includes gate control, the university portal, and all sites and systems based on quality standards. The department provides all the electronic services through the site, which includes access to all the information needed by visitors and to facilitate interaction between users and site management applications. A team of supervisors also provides news on a daily basis. The management objectives also include training all sectors to use the portal, monitoring implementation of the global standards for all sites and systems emerging from the gate, its aesthetic design, and to provide a unified password entry-level system. The management functions include service site creation and creation of sites for faculty members. The interviewee is directly responsible for web development and service site creation for other deanship and doctor or teacher. At present, the PMP method is used for managing the projects. The website is updated as the need arises or when new events occur. A link is provided for measuring user satisfaction. However, there was no knowledge of who decided to adopt this method, its advantages and how to measure its effectiveness. Agile methods had not been used beforehand so no further comment could be made concerning agile methods. Appendix A: Interview questions Interview Questions This is a study of Introducing the Agile Method for Web Development in Saudi Arabia: An Applied Study on Saudi Universities, for the purpose of my PhD dissertation. The main purpose of this interview is to understand the current status of the usage project managers of successful and unsuccessful web projects, but also the intention for the future usage or Agile method in universities in Saudi Arabia.The interviews are anonymous and no identities will be revealed. The published results will only display collective responses and individual answers will not be made public. The completion of the interview should not take more than 30 minutes. Firstly: Demographic Questions A. Personal details: Options Name : Gender O Male O Female Age Home town University Department name B. Department Department background What are your departments objectives and goal? What are the services contributed by your department? What is your job title in the development team (IT team) and what are your responsibilities? Secondly: What are the web applications that are using in your department? What kind of methods in used for managing your web projects? How often do you change your website? Do you measure users satisfaction? Who decided to use these methods? What are advantages and disadvantages for this method? How do you measure its effectiveness ? Does using the current method achieve your departments objectives youve decided beforehand? Third: Have you used Agile method for web development? If yes when? if no go to fourth part How much do you know about the Agile? Which kind of Agile method did you use? Why did you decide to use Agile method? Is there any study plan when you decided to use Agile method? What kind of software did you use for Agile planning and Agile web development? For how long have you used Agile method? What was the effect(s) of using Agile method on the users? Were there any effects (positive-negative) on the time-quality –cost? Were there any risks on (users-jobs-learning)? Does using the Agile method achieve your departments objectives youve decided beforehand? Fourth: What was the previous method you had used before Agile? What are advantages and disadvantages for this method? Is there any comment that you would like to add? Thank you for your participation Appendix B1: Responses by the first interviewee Interview Questions This is a study of Introducing the Agile Method for Web Development in Saudi Arabia: An Applied Study on Saudi Universities, for the purpose of my PhD dissertation.The main purpose of this interview is to understand the current status of the usage project managers of successful and unsuccessful web projects, but also the intention for the future usage or Agile method in universities in Saudi Arabia.The interviews are anonymous and no identities will be revealed. The published results will only display collective responses and individual answers will not be made public. The completion of the interview should not take more than 30 minutes. Firstly: Demographic Questions A. Personal details: Options Name : Ayman Ali AbulElaa.                           Head Unit Gender O Male O Female Age 39 Home town Jeddah University King Abdul Aziz university Department name Deanship Distant learning- E-Learning Systems Unit B. Department Department background Deanship in Brief Almost five years ago, King Abdul Aziz University started offering rich educational resources in multiple media to support both real-time and asynchronous communication between instructors and learners as well as among different learners using learning management system and virtual class room. Our distance education students receive the same high quality level of education as King Abdulaziz University on campus students and they learn from the same world-class faculty. Our academic programs are filled with activities, animations, and simulations to ensure that our students get the most out of their experience. Our students participate actively in each course through a variety of means, including online discussions and group assignments and course materials are available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, from any location. This means that our students can learn where and when it works best for them. Though students must complete course requirements within an established time frame, the actual hours spent meeting those requirements are mostly at the convenience of each individual. Deanship of distance learning is actively involved in research projects to find out the level of students and instructors satisfaction with our technology applications, services and products. We continuously improve our system based on participants’ feedback and new active applications. We present our deanship in national and international educational exhibitions to share our experience with others to develop collaboration and learn about new things going on in this field. We present our research findings in national and international seminars to receive experts’ feedback about our teaching and learning process. What are your departments objectives and goal? The deanship aims to effectively contribute and support scientific development witnessed by the kingdom in general and king Abdulaziz university in particular What are the services contributed by your department? Managing distance learning system (CENTRA, EMES). Providing technical services that system users need. Achieving integrity and compatibility for distance learning systems. Giving necessary powers for dealing with distance learning systems. Supervising software programs and database. Providing technical support for learning systems. Improving and updating e-learning systems. Maintaining and monitoring distance learning systems. Loading developed courses on distance learning systems.  Updating software programs contributing to raise educational process efficiency. Providing solutions for online working out deanship actions. Improving follow up system for deanship . Supervising the online link of distance learning deanship as well as the other sectors of the university. What is your job title in the development team (IT team) and what are your responsibilities? I am a Head Unit in E-Learning Systems Unit Secondly: What are the web applications that are using in your department? The E-Learning Management Electronic System / EMES An integrated computer system manages the educational process sensing where this system aims to facilitate the process of interaction between student and faculty member. Since studies have shown that the best module for distance education is an example of the diverse methods and called Blended Solution. This module requires the provision of management systems of distance education provides interaction between student and faculty article.   The Virtual Class Room System CENTRA KAU Virtual Class Room CENTRA allows the Instructor and Students to participate in real time lessons and discussions. It is used to improve students’ learning experience and it is accessible via the Internet, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. During their online sessions the students and teachers can access all of the tools associated with the virtual class room, such as asking questions, drawing on the board, and participating in sessions. The instructor establishes which tools in the virtual class room students should access. KAU Electronic Exam KAU electronic exam is an interactive experience that is designed to hold the “periodic” tests and ‘end of the semester’ examinations electronically in order to save time and effort. Examination material is motivating and provides more accurate data for educators. it assesses students’ achievements electronically and provides more reliable data to both students and teachers. Mobile Learning Mobiles are already an essential part of students’ lives. Many students already have portable computers and devices such as an iPhone and iPod in hand and they are used to gathering information on the web, getting their email, watching lectures, getting directions, or getting in touch with their friends anytime and anywhere. We have plans to introduce Mobile learning so that our students can learn anytime and anywhere, too. Many studies have found that mobile learning works. Our courses will be adoptable to mobile phones and these courses will be delivered through our learning management system. What kind of methods in used for managing your web projects? PMP How often do you change your website? If we need update all our information or the new events Do you measure user’s satisfaction? Yes we have link in our website for that Who decided to use these methods? Me and our group of web development What are advantages and disadvantages for this method? 5 years we use PMP Every thing is clear Also clear were are the delay Do not have many disadvantages but we have a big documentation How do you measure its effectiveness ? usually , I can measure the effectiveness by my experience Does using the current method achieve your departments objectives youve decided beforehand? yes Third: Have you used Agile method for web development? If yes when? if no go to fourth part Before one year How much do you know about the Agile? I do not have more information about Agile Which kind of Agile method did you use? I do not know We did not have any information about Agile method Why did you decide to use Agile method? We like to change the method but do not effect the working of our department Also Agile more flexible and do not effect for the project Also the documentation is more less than PMP Is there any study plan when you decided to use Agile method? Actually no We only used Agile one month What kind of software did you use for Agile planning and Agile web development? Nothing, Only we have manual board that use for each project this board has many cards for each task. In fact, each employee has card to write his job For how long have you used Agile method? One month before one year What was the effect(s) of using Agile method on the users? Do not have one opinion for any project It is more fixable Were there any effects (positive-negative) on the time-quality –cost? Many negative effects like: Do not have document or report for any project Loss time Were there any risks on (users-jobs-learning)? Delay our work Does using the Agile method achieve your departments objectives youvedecided beforehand? no Fourth: What was the previous method you had used before Agile? PMP method What are advantages and disadvantages for this method? I talked before Is there any comment that you would like to add? No thanks Thank you for your participation Appendix B2: Responses by the second interviewee Interview Questions This is a study of Introducing the Agile Method for Web Development in Saudi Arabia: An Applied Study on Saudi Universities, for the purpose of my PhD dissertation.The main purpose of this interview is to understand the current status of the usage project managers of successful and unsuccessful web projects, but also the intention for the future usage or Agile method in universities in Saudi Arabia.The interviews are anonymous and no identities will be revealed. The published results will only display collective responses and individual answers will not be made public. The completion of the interview should not take more than 30 minutes. Firstly: Demographic Questions A. Personal details: Options Name : Mohammed Farog Abu-alsaud Gender O Male O Female Age Home town Jeddah University King Abdul Aziz university Department name Deanship of Information Technology- Applications gate of the university Management B. Department Department background The DIT was established in 1396 AH _1976 A.D . It has been participating on improving the efficiency of educational process through producing e-services and enhancing the delivery mechanism to support inter and intra departmental communication, by: 1. Providing technical consultancy and guidance . 2. Providing the necessary tools (HW\SW) to enable all departments to take advantages of existing network. 3. Automating the internal administrative processes. 4. Developing a Campus-wide Local Area Networks to link a variety of campus buildings. Deanship Managements Administrative Affairs Management Technical Affairs Management Systems Management Information & Statistic Management Applications gate of the university Management Software Management Customer Service Management Information Security & Quality Management Electronic Archiving Management Administrative Electronic Software Management What are your departments objectives and goal?   What are the services contributed by your department? Provide the latest software, services, consultancy and technical studies for the sectors of educational, cultural, research and administrative, as we are keen to develop a mechanism of communication between sectors of the university and its branches and to provide technical support to them. The Department of applications the university gate control and the development of the portal of the University of King Abdul Aziz and all the sites and systems of them according to standards of quality standard, as the team is seeking the Departments work to provide all the electronic services through the site, as well as access to all the information needed by the Visitor for the University Upon entering the site. And to give more interaction between users and site management applications, the gate of the university includes a team of supervisors to raise the news on a daily basis to become a tool of communication and interaction between the core members of the university community. Management objectives: • The development of the university gate and affiliates and regulations thereto. • Training of all sectors to use the portal and host their own official websites. • application of international standards in the locations of the universities at the gate of the university and the systems that emerge from them. • monitor the implementation of the Global Standards for the locations of the universities all of the sites and systems that emerge from the gate. • aesthetic design of the portal and all its affiliates. • establish systems that operate under the gate from where they conform to the standards of the web portal and associated regulations. • assess the sites of the relevant gate. • Work to unify the password entry-level systems, various university Management functions: Service site creation to the official bodies Universities of service to create a site for the faculty member What is your job title in the development team (IT team) and what are your responsibilities? Web development Service site creation Secondly: What are the web applications that are using in your department? Service site creation( for other deanship and doctor or teacher) What kind of methods in used for managing your web projects? PMP How often do you change your website? If we need update all our information or the new events Do you measure user’s satisfaction? Yes we have link in the our website for that Who decided to use these methods? I do not know What are advantages and disadvantages for this method? I do not have any information How do you measure its effectiveness? I do not know Does using the current method achieve your departments objectives youve decided beforehand? Third: Have you used Agile method for web development? If yes when? if no go to fourth part No How much do you know about the Agile? Which kind of Agile method did you use? Why did you decide to use Agile method? Is there any study plan when you decided to use Agile method? What kind of software did you use for Agile planning and Agile web development? For how long have you used Agile method? What was the effect(s) of using Agile method on the users? Were there any effects (positive-negative) on the time-quality –cost? Were there any risks on (users-jobs-learning)? Does using the Agile method achieve your departments objectives youve decided beforehand? Fourth: What was the previous method you had used before Agile? What are advantages and disadvantages for this method? Is there any comment that you would like to add? Thank you for your participation Read More