Towards Super User-Centred Continuous Delivery: A Case Study

Abstract

To develop well designed socio-technical systems for a particular context user involvement is essential. Emerging software development approaches that enable continuous delivery of software functionalities provide new opportunities as to how users can be involved in shaping the design. We present a case study of a software project at a Norwegian engineering and construction company in their effort to move towards a user-centred development approach that leverages on continuous delivery principles. We investigate how user representatives in form of super users have been involved in the process and their role in forming and implementing new digital technology in practice. We conclude that utilising super users have been instrumental to design a system that meet users’ needs. Providing opportunities to test the system in a production environment gave rise to new ideas on how to further refine the design. Involving super users also facilitated system adoption among workers.