CPSC 681
Research Methodologies in HCI
Saul Greenberg, Instructor		 Contents

Setting Up A Usability Program

Written by:
Rally Pagulayan for partial requirements for Computer Science 681 : Research Methodologies. March, 1997

Aim

This collection of pages provides issues, insights, and advice for setting up a usability program in a corporate environment.  But actually, there's more...

It's not just usability:

The issues associated with usability programs are parallel, if not equal, to issues faced by people in the larger scope field of human factors.  Additionally, the issues concern not only for starting programs, but also for human factors groups trying to improve or expand their influence within their current environment.

Real Aim

Provide issues, insights, and advice for those...

How do I use this web page?

  1. Read the section, "What are we facing here?".  It provides some background information in terms of the typical frustrations experienced by those who've gone down this road before.  It sets the tone for what you are up against.
  2. Familiarize yourself with the Qualities Associated with Successful Human factors and Usability Groups.  These sections characterize how each quality is manifested in successful programs.  Furthermore, specific techniques for improving the quality in question are presented and discussed.
  3. Read about the conflicting Issues Associated with Usability Labs.
  4. Research Other Sources of Information.
  5. See if you can learn anything from My Own Experiences where I describe my efforts to expand the influence of my own human factors group.
  6. When deciding how to approach your own situation, use the Summary of Specific Techniques as a quick and easy toolbox of potential methods to utilize.

What are we facing here?

Unlike established fields, such as electrical engineering or mechanical engineering, where acceptance in the design life cycle is by default, those who practice human factors engineering (and its related fields of usability engineering, human-computer interaction, user-centered design, etc.) must take it upon themselves to convince people that human factors is an indispensable part of the design process. Call it a hazard of the field.

"The doors seem to be locked, sometimes progress is made only to be frustrated by hidden barriers, and finally a breakthrough is made (but apparently only by slipping in a back door).

- Arnold Lund, in Usability in Practice

This statement was made in reference to the difficulties of starting a human factors engineering group. I feel it sums up quite well the difficulties associated with working in a maturing human factors group.  This process can be frustrating.  There a lot of obstacles to success, ranging from financial issues to technical issues to political issues to personality issues.  Sometimes it seems like there's no clear road ahead.  However, with enough perseverance, successes will come, but only after a lot of hard work, creative solutions, and a little luck.

So, what's the best way to successfully implement a human factors program/group or bring the group to a level where it actually has influence?  There's no "golden key" solution.  However, this web page provides several tools with which to approach the problem. It's up to the individual human factors practitioner to understand where these tools can be used effectively and to then choose the appropriate tools based on the unique characteristics of his or her situation.