1. The audience is listening...

2. Obstacles and Keys to Success in Implementing Usability Engineering
Mike Alexander
LIS 385T.6
Dr. Randolph Bias
February 20, 2003

3. Let’s try that again…

4. Obstacles and Keys to Success in Implementing Usability Engineering
Mike Alexander
LIS 385T.6
Dr. Randolph Bias
February 20, 2003

5. Introduction
Usability engineering (UE) has many names and many definitions
Overall, it has been accepted as a beneficial practice in software development
But, it’s used only sporadically by some organizations, and not at all by others
Why?

6. UE is difficult to implement
Each development organization is unique
However, the obstacles to implementing UE are similar across all
Luckily, so are the key success factors
This paper identifies several common obstacles and a number of the success factors

7. Obstacles Stakeholders don’t see the value in UE
Developers are already over-burdened
Published studies on UE are extremely detailed
“Change is bad. We fear change.” – Garth, Wayne’s World
So, how can we as user advocates overcome these and other obstacles?

8. Selling Usability
UE professionals tend to “evangelize” rather than “sell” usability
Identify key stakeholders, including mgmt, developers, and potential allies
Target your “pitch” to each group, providing data which show how to solve their specific problems

9. Planning the Implementation
Specify what will determine UE success
Find a high-level UE “champion”
Keep the development team’s current maturity and knowledge levels in mind, and provide resources as needed
Choose initial projects with a high likelihood of success in order to build a systematic UE program

10. Provide Feedback & Make Adjustments
Maintain the UE effort by adjusting practices over time
Choose methods and tools according to the project and its spot in the dev. lifecycle
Tailor program feedback to both internal and external stakeholders’ needs
Use feedback to gather “best practices” and bring new team members up to speed

11. Conclusion You must constantly re-sell UE
Continue to develop strong relationships with other stakeholders and allies
Instill UE principles in all team members
Remember that some tasks will always require a UE professional
Know that success depends on change throughout the organization

12. For full-text and references, see
Thank you!
For full-text and references, see
or write me at