Reflection

Challenge & Selection

I have been working with software development in Brazil since 1987 and I would like to  describe here my experience with the Visualization tool in a project of traffic violations, whose  client was the State Transport department.

The scope of the project was to develop an electronic system capable of replacing the traffic  tickets made on paper, by traffic agents.

A previous project had already failed mainly because the system did not work according to the  needs.

A new team was organized and this time we were looking for a better solutions. Before defining  the solution, we would need to understand the processing of a traffic ticket and the routine of a  traffic agent (registration of the ticket, what are the difficulties, …). These points were  neglected in the first project and now would be essential a tool to turn easier the  communication among professionals of different areas (traffic/transportation and information  technology).

We selected the Visualization tool to have a nonverbal way of communication, that was easy to  understand and that create a visual image for people of you are thinking, as commented by  Angela Meyer, in the video Visualization, week 1.

Visualization allowed a greater sense of understanding through graphics, photos, streams, signs  and drawings and that is exactly what we needed to work with different teams. It made easier  to explain the external environment (streets and avenues), internal environment (court) and  possibilities that we haven´t yet seen.

Application

The team was built with:

• 1 traffic agent  • 1 graphic designer  • 1 developer mobile  • 1 developer C #  • 1 tester  • 1 systems analyst  • 1 traffic system coordinator  • 1 project manager

We begin by visiting a real operation to see how a traffic agent records the violations using the  form (paper). A second visit was made to know the processing of the tickets in the Court.

After that, we had 2 meetings with the entire team. We used Visualization to represent what  we had understood about the process. Drawings, some photos, national transportation code  and copies of tickets on paper were included in the project.

At the same time, we created a flow that represented the process. In the flow we highlight the  people responsible for each stage with different colors.

After this, we started a new cycle with 3 more meetings using Visualization tool to design the  operation using a tablet instead of the traditional block of paper.

We worked with Scrum methodology (time box, daily meeting, reviews, ...) and the meetings  with Visualization were used to understand the stories and refine the backlogs included in 15- day sprints.

Insight

Some points raised with the aid of Visualization tool.

a) How to select the violation to be applied.

The drawings, the copies of tickets, the traffic signs and the graphic representation of groups of  possible violations led us to design a much more user friendly user interface. Instead of  selecting the violation based on an alphabetical list the traffic agent can use with symbols that  represent infractions to filter out a much smaller list.

b) The location selection.

The way the previous application filled the information was very similar to the block of paper.  Each ticket was independent of the previous one and a new selection of location and violation  should be made after each new registration.

In this case, Visualization tool helped us to understand how the agent works in practice.  Location and violation practically do not change during a police operation because he/she is  always in the same location, monitoring a specific type of violation (for example, conversion  into a prohibited place). The vehicle is the one that changes between tickets.

Traffic Ticket #1  Traffic Ticket #2

Visualization has helped us to show the concepts, ideas and difficulties for people with different  knowledge of computer science and traffic. Visualization is a form of information exchange that  encourages collective collaboration and gave us different insights to solve problems.

Approach

As previously mentioned, in this project, Visualization tool allowed a greater sense of understanding  with teams from different areas.

Now our approach is to include Visualization tool in new projects to avoid issues due to the non- involvement of external areas.  In my opinion, Visualization tool is a way to encourage everyone's  collaboration in understanding and discovering options for solving a problem.

The use of drawings and other visual elements increases the level of understanding between people and  improves communication between the IT (information technology department) and clients.


Reflection Challenge & Selection I have been working with software development in Brazil since 1987 and I would like to describe here my experience with the Visualization tool in a project of traffic violations , whose client was the State Transport department . The scope of the project was to develop an electronic system capable of replacing the traffic tickets made on paper , by traffic agents . A previous project had already failed mainly because the system did not work according to the needs . A new team was organized and this time we were looking for a better solutions . Before defining the solution , we would need to understand the processing of a traffic ticket and the routine of a traffic agent ( registration of the ticket , what are the difficulties , … ) . These points were neglected in the first project and now would be essential a tool to turn easier the communication among professionals of different areas ( traffic / transportation and information technology ) . We selected the Visualization tool to have a nonverbal way of communication , that was easy to understand and that create a visual image for people of you are thinking , as commented by Angela Meyer , in the video Visualization , week 1 . Visualization allowed a greater sense of understanding through graphics , photos , streams , signs and drawings and that is exactly what we needed to work with different teams . It made easier to explain the external environment ( streets and avenues ) , internal environment ( court ) and possibilities that we haven´t yet seen . Application The team was built with : • 1 traffic agent • 1 graphic designer • 1 developer mobile • 1 developer C # • 1 tester • 1 systems analyst • 1 traffic system coordinator • 1 project manager We begin by visiting a real operation to see how a traffic agent records the violations using the form ( paper ) . A second visit was made to know the processing of the tickets in the Court . After that , we had 2 meetings with the entire team . We used Visualization to represent what we had understood about the process . Drawings , some photos , national transportation code and copies of tickets on paper were included in the project . At the same time , we created a flow that represented the process . In the flow we highlight the people responsible for each stage with different colors . After this , we started a new cycle with 3 more meetings using Visualization tool to design the operation using a tablet instead of the traditional block of paper . We worked with Scrum methodology ( time box , daily meeting , reviews , ... ) and the meetings with Visualization were used to understand the stories and refine the backlogs included in 15- day sprints . Insight Some points raised with the aid of Visualization tool . a ) How to select the violation to be applied . The drawings , the copies of tickets , the traffic signs and the graphic representation of groups of possible violations led us to design a much more user friendly user interface . Instead of selecting the violation based on an alphabetical list the traffic agent can use with symbols that represent infractions to filter out a much smaller list . b ) The location selection . The way the previous application filled the information was very similar to the block of paper . Each ticket was independent of the previous one and a new selection of location and violation should be made after each new registration . In this case , Visualization tool helped us to understand how the agent works in practice . Location and violation practically do not change during a police operation because he / she is always in the same location , monitoring a specific type of violation ( for example , conversion into a prohibited place ) . The vehicle is the one that changes between tickets . Traffic Ticket # 1 Traffic Ticket # 2 Visualization has helped us to show the concepts , ideas and difficulties for people with different knowledge of computer science and traffic . Visualization is a form of information exchange that encourages collective collaboration and gave us different insights to solve problems . Approach As previously mentioned , in this project , Visualization tool allowed a greater sense of understanding with teams from different areas . Now our approach is to include Visualization tool in new projects to avoid issues due to the non- involvement of external areas . In my opinion , Visualization tool is a way to encourage everyone 's collaboration in understanding and discovering options for solving a problem . The use of drawings and other visual elements increases the level of understanding between people and improves communication between the IT ( information technology department ) and clients .