Workshop: Improving the Content of User Requirements
Sample Submission from Nigel Bevan
Workshop: Improving the Content of User Requirements
Nigel Bevan |
Short Description
Identifying and defining user requirements is an essential input to good user centered design, but there is little guidance on content. The workshop will share and review examples of user requirements provided by the participants, to generate a structure and contents list that could help practitioners identify and document relevant requirements. Long Description Most existing approaches emphasize the need to understand user requirements in order to provide a basis for good design. They describe the methods that can be used to gather information about users and their tasks. For example the methods suggested by Courage and Baxter are interviews, surveys, user needs analysis, card sorting, group task analysis, focus groups and field studies. But what are the resulting requirements against which the completed system could be evaluated? The Common Industry Specification for Usability Requirements emphasizes the value of high-level requirements for effectiveness, efficiency and satisfaction. But how should these be complemented by more detailed requirements? The standards committee ISO TC159/SC4 is planning a new standard to define the contents of a user requirements specification, but this has proved to be unexpectedly difficult to do. UXPA has established a liaison with the ISO group to enable UXPA to influence the content of future ISO standards, and the output of this workshop could enable UXPA to contribute to the proposed standard on user requirements. The high level objective of the workshop is to provide a categorization of user needs and requirements: a contents list or check list that could help practitioners elicit, identify and document the relevant requirements. There will be immediate benefit to those participating by finding out how other practitioners approach user requirements, and potential indirect benefit from influencing the content of a future international standard. Issues to be discussed include: - Is a common categorization possible or appropriate across different organizations and application domains? - Is there a difference between user needs and user requirements, and is the same categorization appropriate for both? - How important is it to include requirements for effectiveness, efficiency and satisfaction? - Should user requirements always be documented, and is it possible in principle to evaluate whether they have been achieved? The timetable provides a framework for discussing these issues, but will be adapted depending on the knowledge and experience of the participants, and the issues that arise from the position papers. Goals Attendees at this session will:
Agenda Objectives and introductions: 10-15min Overview of the examples and main issues raised: 15min Brief presentation of each example with questions for clarification, each: 5-10min BREAK: Discussion: what are the common principles and situation-specific factors (in groups)?: 30min Report back/suggestions for a structure and contents list: 50min Plans for dissemination and any further work: 10min Selected Reviewer Comments
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