Usability: Changes in the Field - A Look at the System Quality Aspect of Changing Usability Practices

Abstract

System Usability is becoming increasingly important in situations where assistance in the operation of a system is not readily available for the user. Traditionally, usability measures have consisted of post development testing in a usability lab. Usability practitioners are recognising the need for innovative procedures to incorporate usability in system development at an earlier stage than traditional testing allows and User Centred Design is an approach that meets this need. The objective of this chapter is to examine traditional usability testing and compare it to user centred design practices focusing on the resultant quality of the information system. An examination of literature concerning the two approaches is presented and comparisons made to a case study of a large Australian organisation utilising both measures. The experiences of developers and users within the organisation are presented, and the perceived quality of systems developed using both approaches is examined.