Workflow for UI Team

This article aims to provide a high-level overview of a workflow for the UI Team. It outlines critical steps, team interactions, and documentation outputs.

1. 1. Idea
   

The conceptual phase where the project idea is generated.

1. 2. Requirements
   

Gathering of project requirements, often in consultation with stakeholders.

1. 3. Stack planning
   

Selection of the technology stack for the project.

1. 4. Wireframe planning
   

Parallel to stack planning, the UI team creates wireframes to visualize the user interface.

1. 5. API contract
   

Together with the backend team, planning efforts are consolidated, resulting in the defining of an API contract. The backend team provides a mock API for frontend development.

1. 6. UI development (local)
   

The user interface is developed locally, based on the API contract.

1. 7. Demonstration (to project manager)
   

The developed UI is demonstrated to the project manager for feedback and approval.

1. 8. Build & Deploy (staging)
   

With a functional API from the backend team, the application is built and deployed to a staging environment for further testing.

1. 9. Testing (case-specific)
   

The application undergoes case-specific testing to ensure quality and functionality.

1. 10. Build & Deploy (production)
   

The final product is built and deployed to the production environment. The operations team is involved at this stage, requesting updates as needed.

• Stakeholders: Provide input on requirements.
• Backend Team: Heavily involved in planning and API development.
• Operations Team: Engaged during the production deployment phase, requested updates as needed.

Below is a list of documentation typically produced at each relevant step (note that each step number corresponds to the ones shown in Figure 1):

1. 2. Requirements specification
   

A detailed document outlining the functional and non-functional requirements for the project.

1. 3. ADR (Architecture Decision Record)
   

Documentation of key architectural decisions made during stack planning.

1. 4. Wireframes
   

Visual representations of the user interface layout and navigation.

1. 5. API contract (medium like ADR)
   

A formal specification of the API endpoints, data structures, and expected behaviors.

1. 6. Unstructured feedback from project manager
   

Notes or informal documentation from the project manager capturing feedback and suggestions.

1. 7. Release notes
   

A summary of features, changes, and fixes included in the current release.

1. 8. Case-specific test report
   

Documentation of test cases executed, results, and any issues found during staging.

1. 9. Case-specific handover docs
   

Documents prepared for the operations team to support deployment and maintenance.

Figure 1. The figure illustrates the workflow to be following by the UI team. It shows the steps involved as well as the points of collaboration/communication (depicted with dashed arrows) with stakeholders, backend teams, and operations teams along the way.