Soft(ware) skills in context: corporate usability training aiming at cross-disciplinary collaboration

Employing user-centered instructional design methodology, we developed a usability training workshop for developers which has remarkable impact on participants\´ attitudes towards the cross-disciplinary collaboration in the software development team. Based mainly on learning experiences during a simulation game, participants gain insights regarding typical pitfalls and opportunities of collaboration with user experience specialists and other non-technical professionals. Rather than teaching abstract, high-level usability principles, we use the "reflected practice" approach as a guiding workshop theme, in order to achieve lasting effects for the succeeding professional practice of software development teams. We include evaluative data based on participants\´ feedback and in-class statements.