Yvonne Dittrich

Since my time as a student I am interested in use oriented design and development of software. In the last years i especially focussed on the flexible and adaptable software.

Use-orientation cuts across the sub-divisions of software engineering. Process management has to allow for evolution and Participatory Design with users; architectures have to support vertical and horizontal prototyping; requirements are under re-design throughout the life cycle and so on. The product of software development, the processes that lead to it and the context of use respectively its change and development have to be regarded as interlaced domains of reality. Use oriented design has to take all three dimensions into account.

To be able to develop relevant guidelines and methods, I focus in empirical research on the actual work practice of software development. I use qualitative social science methods informed by ethnography and ethnomethodology. Cooperative Method Development uses empirical findings to adapt and further develop methods together with practitioners.

Under the heading 'Design for Change', we looked e.g. at methods, techniques and tools promoting the design of adaptable software that can be tailored to a developing work practice.  Tailorable software brings design to use. It challenges traditional ways to organise software development. Flexible and agile approaches to software processes allow for a interlace of design activities and use. 

Find my CV here