Final Agile installment

Leverage the full power of Agile and agile technology

Now, the feature differences we can see between the two examples are fairly significant even though functionality is equivalent. Investment is obviously required in order to address the legacy issues we may encounter with our existing pages – there are skills to learn and pages to rebuild but this investment can be repaid quickly.

Given the enhanced flexibility our rebuilt site affords us we can now embark on an Agile driven enhancement programme on our site. Fully adopting an Agile approach to site enhancements means the designers can sit with the marketing department and work through textual and structural changes, introduce new images, change colours and test these changes on a range of clients (browsers and devices) in real time. The real power of face to face communication during this phase has to be experienced but should be self evident.

Testing

Eventually Rudi has to commit to a change – or set of changes. Being able to offer a number of options to users via A/B split testing or multivariate testing is facilitated through the new site implementation techniques. As you can see from the examples we can adjust the position, shape and size of content areas easily and quickly. The content within a content area can change completely under the control of business rules. Users experiencing these changes have their sessions tracked. Through analysis of this data, final versions can be seen to increase sales conversion, reduce basket drop outs or enhance navigation effectiveness through evidence based decision making. Rudiger is gleaming with happiness at this point – he can make informed, rapid, easy, repeatable and safe changes.

Conclusion

The power of the Agile process coupled with an agile framework can be seen from the simple examples above. You should see the business benefits that can be derived from the features that have been discussed and demonstrated. This trivial example is used as a simple clear vehicle for the Agile/agile technology message but the principles scale tremendously well. In adopting these ideas and applying them to pages on your website, the whole site, a new project and your business as a whole you will be able to demonstrate through hard data a clear positive economic impact.

So, to summarise we will see how Rudi can address each of the ten issues highlighted for his simple example using agile technology:

Intellectual property ownership

Rudi can now rightfully claim ownership of his content. He can access the content because he knows where to find it and it makes sense. The site now lends itself to change whereas before it was actually a hinderance.

Accountability

Rudiger is now fully in control and can justify changes based on accurate Key Performance Indicators to the marketing department, his shareholders and himself.

Resource skills

You don’t need to be a rocket scientist to write copy for your website. Those with the marketing skills market your products. Rudiger can accept the marketing teams input and act on it through his website.

Information

Communication is improved through use of the Agile methodology. Changes are made based on an informed consensus between Rudiger, the marketing folk and shareholders. Testing verifies the effectiveness of changes so all parties are happily glowing rather than rowing.

Process bloat

Really, Rudi do you need three sign-offs any more? No! The red tape is reduced as is risk. A happy cause and effect that makes Rudis life easier and costs reduce.

Systems complexity

Significantly reduced – just look at the example HTML. Rudi may have been on the verge of wastefully hiring a new designer/HTML/Code guru at great cost just to make website changes. He knew that was going to be a bad move and now doesn’t have to.

Legacy issues - Removed.
Time and Cost - Reduced.
Accessibility - Rudi can get his hands on the content he wants as can disabled users and search engines.

To draw our fictional aspect to a close, the sum of the parts of Rudis solution made more of a difference to his business than taking the methodology and technology in isolation. Moneyspyder takes a holistic approach to business problems and associated solutions. Rather than waiting for the research to drop in to your inbox, as thought leaders in all aspects of e-commerce website implementation Moneyspyder proactively seeks out the answers. If they don’t exist, we’ll extend the field. If you have similar issues to Rudi, get in touch.