1. Users Are From Mars,
Developers Are From Klingon
Agile2012 Conference
August 2012
Don McGreal, Derek Lane

2. What’s the Biggest
Challenge to Building
Software?
Communication

3. So What’s All This Stuff
About Klingons?
Agile Games
Advanced Learning Techniques
Game Theory
Collaboration
Teamwork / Team Building

4. Let the Games Begin!
GeezerSlaw

5. GeezerSlaw Retro
Developers: What went through your mind when the
customers were describing the system?
Customers: How close were the developers to your
vision of the system?
Observers: What did you see? What worked? What
didn’t? Do you think the project will succeed or fail?
Why?
Everyone: Was this experience familiar? What did it
remind you of?

6. Now for Something
Totally Different:
Where Are
Your Keys?

7. WAYK Retro
What just happened?
How did this feel?
During the game we avoided translating things into
English,
Did this help your understanding? If so, how? If
not, why not?
Who can tell me in English what was discussed?
How did it feel to use sign language to help
communicate?
What other techniques could have been used?

8. Agile Applications?
How could you apply these techniques in real
interactions with your customers/developers?
How could you apply these techniques to some
other area of your life?
Have any of your ideas/opinions changed about
communication as a results of this session? How?
Other thoughts / comments?

9. Summary of Techniques
Technique Total Physical Response
Copy Cat Make Me Say Yes / No
Inner Circle My Turn / Your Turn
Full Start at the Beginning
Bite-size Pieces How Fascinating!
Obvious! Pull You Through
Limit Mine / Yours
3 Times Same Order

10. So Let’s See What
You Have Learned:
ReGeezerSlaw

11. Focus on Techniques
Copy Cat
Start at the Beginning
Same Order

12. Focus on Techniques
Full
3 Times
Limit

13. Focus on Techniques
Total Physical Response
Pull You Through
Obviously

14. Focus on Techniques
Bite Size Pieces
Make Me Say Yes
My Turn / Your Turn

15. ReGeezerSlaw Retro
Which techniques were relatively easy to use?
Which techniques were more difficult? Why?
Can you think of a current situation on your project/
team where one of these techniques might help?
Explain.
Which techniques could you use with your boss?
... With your family?

16. What’s Your Movie?

17. So, Are Users from Mars?
Why Mechanics Like Women...
Are Developers from Klingon?
Turbo Entabulator? What Did He Say?

18. References
http://whereareyourkeys.org
http://languagehunters.org
http://tastycupcakes.org
Derek Lane: quikdraw@GunslingerSoftware.com