User Centred Design
The user requirement capture project can include many different usability research methodologies including; surveys, structured and unstructured interviews, usability tests, and competitor analysis. Typically, the research is undertaken on a one-to-one basis between a usability consultant and an end user, with an average user requirements capture project including up to 15 one-to-one interviews.
Advantages
The main advantages of a user requirements capture is the saving of time and money by validating the scope of a project against its users’ needs and expectations before any work begins. This in turn mitigates the risk of the project launching and failing to meet its objectives (increased online conversion, registrations, visits, etc.). The research will also uncover critical information to improve the end result by answering questions such as; is the current target audience realistic? Can the project be more successful with a different focus? And is the project worth investing in? There is also an important intangible benefit where the project team gains a deep insight into users and their needs at the very beginning, allowing them to remain focused on serving users throughout the duration of the project.
Disadvantages
A user requirements capture will increase the time of the planning phase, which can be a frustration if the project team is keen to get cracking. However, this time is easily saved later in the project due to making quicker, more informed decisions based on user needs. The research can also highlight a conflict in different users’ needs and expectations, which may require a user experience consultant to work with the team on making sense of the conflict and isolating a solution. As this method requires experienced user research professionals to ensure they capture true user requirements rather than unfocused conjecture and opinion, it can add an unexpected cost to the start of a project.
Conclusion
Despite the potential costs incurred early in the project lifecycle, a user requirements capture is an essential tool for any project which interfaces between the business and its users. Understanding user needs and requirements at the beginning of the project helps ensure the product is fully adopted by its users, leading to business success, and in more extreme cases a user requirements capture can save a business from investing time and money in a product which is not required by the target audience.
South African born Keith has lived in the south of England for most of his life. After graduating from University with a degree in Business Information Systems Management he decided to start Strawberrysoup; a website design company based in West Sussex and Dorset.
Keith successfully gained entry into the Southampton University Air Squadron and spent over 12 months training to fly. Since then he has continued to follow his interest in flying and has now began his own training in the form of a Private Pilot's Licence.
Keith also spent 13 months working within the Image and Printing Group at Hewlett Packard in Bracknell. Throughout his time there, he was responsible for many activities including events organisation and website design and maintenance.
Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - User Centred Design