Task Analysis TECM 4250 Dr. Lam

What is Task Analysis? Task analysis is typically a method used in usability testing and user-centered design for the design of interfaces It is the process of learning about ordinary users by observing them in action to understand in detail how they perform their tasks and achieve their intended goals. It helps identify the tasks that websites and applications must support Source: Usability.gov

Task Analysis helps you understand… What your users’ goals are; what they are trying to achieve What users actually do to achieve those goals What experiences (personal, social, and cultural) users bring to the tasks How users are influenced by their physical environment How users’ previous knowledge and experience influence: How they think about their work The workflow they follow to perform their tasks Source: Usability.gov

Task analysis can also be applied to technical manuals Shift from documenting a system to documenting the tasks a user performs with the system Focus from the system itself to how a human interacts with a system > User-centered Design Same holds true for manuals Instead of focusing on the process itself, task analysis helps you focus on the person performing the process

Hierarchical Task Analysis Splitting your user tasks in tasks and sub-tasks Used as an exhaustive description of tasks Therefore, a good starting point for manual development

Textual HTA Source:

Refine the HTA What sub- tasks are missing? What about the way tasks are labeled?

Diagrammatic HTA Source:

Refining HTA Look at the previous slide and determine ways to improve the HTA

Refining HTA Look for paired actions There is a turn off gas, but where is “turn on gas”? restructure generate task “make pot” Reconsider hierarchy Are there higher level steps involved that include putting tea leaves in pot? Determine if tasks can be generalized E.g., make one cup... or more

Refined HTA

Potential Plans of Action Sequence 1.1 then 1.2 then 1.3 Optional if the pot is full 2 Wait when kettle boils, do 1.4 Cycles do while there are still empty cups Parallel do 1; at the same time... Discretionary do any of 1.3.1, or in any order

Steps in HTA 1. Define the task goal (overarching task goal) i.e., what your entire manual is about 2. Data collection – Understand how the actual task is completed/performed Observation, interviews, secondary research 3. Determine the next level of sub-goals by breaking down the overall goal 4. Continue breaking down the sub-goals until all operations are identified 5. Define plans to describe how to perform the operations in each sub-goal level of the hierarchy (previous slide)

Chemex Pour Over Coffee Do an HTA for this process. Go!