Usability/user interface design in agile processes

The increasing popularity of the “agile” software development methods has prompted claims that such methods compromise the usability of the delivered product. However, this need not be the case. While some authors have suggested remedial extensions or additions that run in parallel with the chosen method, we believe that any agile method, properly applied, will produce software equally as useable as that produced by any other method. The aim of this paper is twofold. Firstly we present a survey of many of the arguments made in the literature, thus bringing together a number of differing concerns. Then we set out to present our arguments debunking these claims.