User Requirement Analysis

Proceedings of IFIP 17th World Computer Congress, Montreal, Canada, 25-30 August 2002, p133-148. Kluwer Academic Publishers.

User requirements analysis
A review of supporting methods
Martin Maguire
Research School in Ergonomics and Human Factors Loughborough University, UK [e-mail]

Nigel Bevan
Serco Usability Services, UK [e-mail]

Abstract:

Understanding user requirements is an integral part of information systems design and is critical to the success of interactive systems. However specifying these requirements is not so simple to achieve. This paper describes general methods to support user requirements analysis that can be adapted to a range of situations. Some brief case studies are described to illustrate how these methods have been applied in practice. user requirements, user-centred design, usability methods

Key words:

1.

INTRODUCTION

Understanding user requirements is an integral part of information systems design and is critical to the success of interactive systems. It is now widely understood that successful systems and products begin with an understanding of the needs and requirements of the users. As specified in the ISO 13407 standard (ISO, 1999), user-centred design begins with a thorough understanding of the needs and requirements of the users. The benefits can include increased productivity, enhanced quality of work, reductions in support and training costs, and improved user satisfaction. Requirements analysis is not a simple process. Particular problems faced by the analyst are: • addressing complex organisational situations with many stakeholders • users and designers thinking along traditional lines, reflecting the current system and processes, rather than being innovative • users not knowing in advance what they want from the future system (Olphert & Damodaran, 2002)

2 •

M. Maguire and N. Bevan

rapid development cycles, reducing the time available for user needs analysis •

References: Andriole, S. J. (1989), Storyboard prototyping: a new approach to user requirements analysis, QED Information Sciences, Inc. Bevan N (2001) International Standards for HCI and Usability. International Journal of Human-Computer Studies, 55, 4. Bevan, N, Bogomolni, I, & Ryan, N (2000) Cost-effective user centred design, www.usability.serco.com/trump Bevan, N. & Macleod, M (1994) Usability measurement in context. Behaviour and Information Technology, 13, 132-145 Beyer, H. & Holtzblatt, K. (1998), Contextual design: defining customer-centered systems, Morgan Kaufmann Publishers. Bruseberg, A. & McDonagh-Philp, D. (2001), New product development by eliciting user experience and aspirations, International Journal of Human-Computer Studies, 55(4), 435-452. Checkland, P. (1981), Systems thinking, systems practice, Wiley. Cooper, A. (1999), The inmates are running the asylum: why high tech products drive us crazy and how to restore the sanity, Sams publishing. Eason, K.D. (1988), Information technology and organisational change, Taylor and Francis. Ericsson Infocom Consultants AB and Linköping University (2001), The Delta method. www.deltamethod.net/ Hackos, J. & Redish, J. (1998), User and task analysis for interface design, Wiley. Hall, R.R. (2001), Prototyping for usability of new technology, International Journal of Human-Computer Studies, 55, 4, 485-502. IBM (2002), EZSort http://www-3.ibm.com/ibm/easy/eou_ext.nsf/Publish/410 ISO (1997), ISO 9241: Ergonomics requirements for office work with visual display terminals (VDTs), 17parts, International Standards Organisation. ISO (1999), ISO 13407: Human-centred design processes for interactive systems, International Standards Organisation. 16 M. Maguire and N. Bevan ISO (2002), ISO/IEC 9126-4: Software engineering – software product quality – Part 4: Quality in Use Metrics, International Standards Organisation. Kirwan, B. & Ainsworth, L.K. (eds.) (1992), A guide to task analysis, Taylor and Francis. Macaulay, L.A. (1996), Requirements engineering, Springer Verlag Series on Applied Computing. Maguire, M.C. (1998), User-centred requirements handbook. EC Telematics Applications Programme, Project TE 2010 RESPECT (Requirements Engineering and Specification in Telematics), WP4 Deliverable D4.2, version 3.3, May. http:www.lboro.ac.uk/research/husat/respect/rp2.html Maguire, M.C. (1999), NCR Knowledge Lab. Report on study of the management of domestic finances by family groups, 7 May, RSEHF (formerly HUSAT), Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK. Maguire, M.C. & Hirst, S.J. (2001a), Usability evaluation of the LINK project TIGS website and feedback on OVC specification. HUSAT Consultancy Limited, 2 March 2001. RSEHF (formerly HUSAT), Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK. Maguire, M.C. & Hirst, S.J. (2001b), Metropolitan Police Service redesign of corporate intranet pages. HUSAT Consultancy Limited, 26 March 2001. RSEHF (formerly HUSAT), Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK. Maguire, M.C. (2001c), Context of use within usability activities, International Journal of Human-Computer Studies, 55(4), 453-484. Mander, R. & Smith, B. (2002), Web usability for dummies, New York: Hungry Minds. Nielsen, J. (2000), Designing web usability: The practice of simplicity, New Riders Publishing. Nicolle, C. & Abascal, J. (eds.) (2001), Inclusive design guidelines for HCI, Taylor & Francis. Olphert, C.W. & Damodaran, L. (2002), Getting what you want, or wanting what you get? - beyond user centred design, Proceedings of the Third International Conference on Design and Emotion, Loughborough, UK, 1-3 July 2002. Preece, J., Rogers, Y., Sharp, H., Benyon, D., Holland, S. & Carey, T. (1994), Human-computer interaction. Addison-Wesley. Robertson, S. & Roberston, T. (1999), Mastering the requirements process, AddisonWesley and ACM Press. Taylor, B. (1990), The HUFIT planning, analysis and specification toolset, In D. Diaper, G. Cockton, D. Gilmore & B. Shackel, (eds.), Human-Computer Interaction - INTERACT '90, 371-376. Amsterdam: North-Holland.