Partic ipatory Programming

2nd July 2010 SahanaCamp

Michael Howdenmichael@ aidiq.com

Overview

•Challenges of programming in the fields of Disaster Management and Development.

•Participatory Development •The Power of Questions•User Testing •Training •Support

What are s ome of the challenges in deve loping

s oftware in the fie lds of Dis as ter Management and

?Development

Partic ipatory Development

“Participation refers to involvement whereby local populations engage in the creation, content and conduct of a program or policy designed to change their lives. Participation requires recognition and use of local capacities and avoids the imposition of priorities from the outside.”

Partic ipatory SoftwareDeve lopment•Both use technical skills to solve complex

real world problems•Bottom Up vs.

Top down•Agile vs. Waterfall•Open Source?

Partic ipatory Rural Apprais al•Group dynamics•Sampling•Interviewing•Visualization

Partic ipatory Rural Apprais al•Group dynamics

–learning contracts, role reversals, feedback sessions

•Sampling–transect walks, wealth ranking, social mapping

•Interviewing–focus group discussions, semi-structured

interviews, triangulation

•Visualization–venn diagrams, matrix scoring, timelines

The Ques tion Game

Us er Tes ting•Test Early, Test Often

–3-4 Users

•Test with Anyone•Don’t be defensive!•Testing Triage

–Long Hanging Fruit

•Testing = Participation–But also has a cost

www.sensible.com/secondedition

Training

•Technical or Processes?•Interactive

–Simulations–Participation

•How does the software fit into their jobs?•How does the software create value for

them?

Support

•Approachable•Responsive•Clear•Objective

Conclus ion

•Participation can increase the chances of success of a project

•Involve all stakeholders in the programming process.

•Engage people with questions•Don’t forget User Testing, Training and

Support