Exploring user experience designers’ challenges with integrating Agile : Reporting on challenges user experience designers in the construction equipment industry face

The construction equipment one of the least digitized sectors, and the problems have only been amplified by the recent COVID-19 pandemic. Many construction equipment OEMs are turning towards the aftermarket by offering services and products to extend value of the machine. To provide more user satisfaction, and capture a larger share of the aftermarket, they are implementing Agile. However, transitioning from plan-based methods to Agile in an incumbent carry along specific challenges connected to the user experience (UX) designers working on such projects. Through an exploratory approach this study aims to identify challenges encountered by UX designers when integrating Agile and UX. The method entails two rounds of interviews with five stakeholders. First round being structured, and the second round semi-structured. Using thematic analysis, I identify three main challenge areas: designers’ uncertainty with Agile, industry-specific challenges, and misunderstanding of UX among other stakeholders. Finally, I present the ethical considerations, discuss limitations, and further research possibilities