Paper (10): Creative Collaboration for the Agile Process
Abstract: The Agile Capability Mashup Environment (ACME) methodology is an innovative tool developed to encourage team engagement and consensus building. ACME is based on design thinking and utilizes horizontal collaboration to create an environment where diverse stakeholders, many with deep technical expertise, can engage on a level playing field. ACME combines simple low cost tools (e.g., whiteboards, cut outs, toy figurines, webcams, etc.) that assist teams to develop and communicate their ideas in multi-dimensional ways. This creates a collaborative space where teams can freely explore and critique ideas, with the goal of turning individual knowledge into a useful project team outcome. In the Agile development process teams work to create software and products rapidly and efficiently across different domains. In order for Agile to be executed successfully, individuals and teams with various skills sets (i.e., project management, research, design, engineering, etc.) need to communicate ideas, plan schedules, and collaborate solutions to potential problems. The criticality of communication and coordination in the Agile process necessitates the need for a tool that can appropriately facilitate these activities. When the ACME methodology is applied to Agile development, it encourages and facilitates innovative thinking and collaboration in the early stages of the engineering process as well as throughout product development. This process allows Agile teams to efficiently collaborate within and across areas of expertise to develop innovative products that provide valuable solutions to customers and stakeholders.
Biography: John Hall is a Lead Human Factors Engineer with the MITRE Corporation in the Human Systems Integration, Visualization and Decision Support Department. Mr. Hall has worked at the forefront of collaborative space engineering, utilizing forward-looking trends in technology and space design, to effectively evolve the way spaces are designed and used within the enterprise. This experience has led to developing collaborative command centers in complex, critical environments across the nation. Mr. Hall has been with the MITRE Corporation since 2001, and is a United States Navy veteran.
