High Visibility/Constant Communication

Working in the field of human factors requires that you to spend a great deal of your time evangelizing the profession.  My own experience is that almost all of the negative perceptions of human factors engineering can be traced directly to the fact that people don't know what human factors really involves.  A common misperception is that all we do here is make sure buttons are big.  It's up to us to make others realize what's beneath the surface.  Along with educating the masses, you need to maintain a fairly high profile.  Let people know what you're doings. Indirectly, you're letting people know what you might be able to do for them.  Unfortunately, more often than not, a human factors group that is out of sight is also out of mind.  The final point is that this process never ends.  For every person that's been convinced, there will be several people that need to be convinced. 

Ways to increase visibility and communicate:

"Just do it"

You can't be visible if you're not doing anything.  Take the initiative and start doing usability testing.  It doesn't matter where, just find something small and focused to guarantee a successful outcome.  The first projects should be done at a very informal level.  The main goal of "just doing it" is to introduce the concept of human factors engineering, demonstrate its value, and create interest.

Educate

Find out what people's perceptions are of human factors and usability to define what they know and don't know.  Use this information to target those areas which require educating.  At the earlier stages, focus on decision makers (i.e., garner upper management support).  Some methods include:

• in-house courses
• bringing in outside expertise to teach
• lunchtime seminars
• workshops

Become the center of expertise for human factors engineering

Make it clear that your group is the place to come for all human factors related issues, questions, and advice.

Market yourselves

On a regular basis, make people aware of what the human factors group is doing.  By doing this, you make others aware what you can do for them.  For example,

• publicize activities via e-mail, newsletters, memos, and other corporate publications,
• get to know the people who develop press releases, who lead public tours, update them on interesting issues
• create takeaway materials such as brochures, user guides so people know who to call for help and what you can help them about
• document your successes, something that can be easily produced to people you'd want to convince
• develop and maintain an intranet web-site

Do your job well

Word of mouth and reputation play a big role in the perception of the group.  It's essential that the group consistently delivers on-time, on budget, and provides value to the product.

Present at project/design reviews

The goal is to become an expected and regular topic of issue during normal project reviews and meetings.

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