TenForce – Pragmatic Project Management

Reason 1: you are blind, no, you are super blind

Once you have been working with an application for more than a few hours, you’re condemned not have a fresh look anymore. When like many people, you have been working with your own application pages for months and months; there is no word to describe how blind you become. I remember one of the first usability tests we did. We asked our innocent user : ‘where would you look for work that is assigned to you?’ Now there was a tab the size of a six person people carrier that said My to do’s, the guy simply didn’t see it ?!?. Later we realized we had our navigation screwed up, so users just lost track where they were and looked for their items in the wrong place.

Reason 2: the user is always right

Let’s face it: you can make clever explanations to explain just about everything. But when an innocent user tells you ‘I don’ like it, I think it should be like this’, then you should listen. So stop the endless discussions in your team about where the button should go. Show the page to somebody who has never seen it, and they quickly show you if it is on the right spot or not. Or that they don’t understand why you need the button in the first place.

Reason 3: usability testing is cheap

This is the cost per session:

• 2 invitation phone calls
• Follow-up mail with the logistical details
• One laptop
• 2 hours of your time and of the interested team members for each test (1 to 2 tests is enough)
• 1 hour to consolidate the notes

Initially we thought we needed cameras and screen capture software to remember it for our children. We never looked at it again.

Reason 4: one session is better than no session

You can never go wrong when you do just one session. Even one session is better than no session. Don’t do more than 3 per version. Anyhow, you’ll get 80% of the answers you need after the first session. It’s better to do 3 over a period of 3 months.

Reason 5: you can start today

Don’t think you need everything shrink wrapped and ready to hit the shops. Even with half a product, Photoshop mockups people can give you valuable feedback.

If you like more background, there is only one book you should read. It’ll take you a 1 hour of your time and you know everything you need to know. If you are in a hurry, verify this ppt version of the book. It’s maybe the best advice you get today.