No. 10: Next steps

After one semester I’m still happy with my chosen topic, or rather say topics (plural). I still believe that my thesis will make sense by combining the agile topic with the use case of cash registers. As one might already tell, simply by looking at blog entries, I had some struggle outlining and combining these two perspectives. Overall I think the working title Agile_x_SelfCheckout is a good approach to sum up what I’m working on.

Dividing the topics more clearly

For the future I have decided to cover each topic separately in my research. So for example in the first half of the next semester I will cover the “agile” perspective, and in the second half it will be all about the findings concerning the cash registers.

Collaboration with REWE Digital

I have started my student job at REWE Digital some weeks ago. I already have a better perspective now on my responsibilities at work. The biggest benefit of collaborating with this company is that I have the access to the test systems and could perform detailed user tests, even including pseudo payments.

Disclosure and sensitive information

As for the blog entries this means that I have to be really careful about what information I am allowed to include in each entry. I have to make sure not to expose disclosed information that is to be kept a secret within the company.

Self Checkout or Served Solutions

So far I have put a lot of focus on self checkout solutions. However, it depends on my specific tasks and goals as an employee of REWE digital, which prototypes I will get to work on.

One things remains: whatever artifact I will be working on, I know that I will have the possibility to cover something relevant to the whole service design process.

Accessibility?

The topic of accessibility remains my biggest concern. I would love to cover it, but once again, due to the possibilities within my employment, it still needs to be decided wether or not, this is a relevant topic or not.

Next Semester

I am looking forward to continuing working on this project and increase my expertise concerning agile project management, as well as getting a better understanding of the struggles users of both served as well as self checkout registers are exposed to.

I will kick off the next semester by adapting my research question to open more possibilities.