Overview |
How do you find out if your documents are serving their intended purpose for your users? You have to ask and/or observe your users interacting with your documents!
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Elements of Usability Testing |
Although usability testing can be raised to a high art1, relatively simple and inexpensive measures can yield big returns for your company. The primary element for successful usability testing is access to the user population. This assertion seems almost too simple to require statement, but it is surprising how many companies fail to carefully observe their customers trying to work with their documentation projects. Observing even a very small sample of actual users trying to use your products in their everyday work environment reveals a surprisingly large amount of information that can greatly improve the success of your product. Stories
abound about how successful companies have implemented simple usability
studies that have resulted in small-to-radical changes in product design
to enhance usability.
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How I Can Help |
I can conduct a usability study by visiting one or more of your users and spending some time observing them using your product. I can then prepare a report that details aspects of your documentation product that are confusing, missing, or otherwise not adequate for the user to successfully complete the task in a timely manner. I will also develop suggestions for remedies to the problems.
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My Qualifications |
I have conducted usability studies for instructional materials developed for a private manufacturing company. |
More Information |
1JoAnn T. Hackos and Janice C. Redish. User and Task Analysis for Interface Design. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. New York. 1998. 488 pp. |