The Transition from Waterfall to Agile: Challenges and Solutions in IT Design

In the past, everything was clear! The as-is-situation was analyzed, business requirements were recorded, challenges derived, technical components solidly specified, and a software design developed. However, as the world has become agile, specification has taken a back seat. Especially for complex IT systems in a company’s core business, the loss of clean design poses a major risk.

What do we find instead? Too much technology, too little thought through. Too much programming, too little design. And if there is any design at all, it’s only at the front end. Too much focus on collaboration tools, and too few comprehensive designs. Product owners are overburdened, and UI/UX developers are left alone.

This talk will cover experiences and lessons learned from IT design during the transition from waterfall to agile, particularly in the German automotive industry. The presentation concludes with 10 rules for successful digital design, aiming to address the gaps and risks that have emerged in this new environment.

Ute Nause is Managing Director at BettercallPaul. She has worked for 30 years as an IT consultant and lead designer on major projects, primarily in the automotive industry. Her heart beats for process design and enterprise architectures. She is passionate about using her structuring skills and design expertise to create sustainable IT landscapes together with the customer. Ms. Nause has been committed to the digital design profession since 2022 and is part of the advisory board of the DDuX conference.