Lessons from applying usability engineering to fast-paced product development organizations

Abstract

This study discusses why usability engineering, which seems easy to contribute to more usable products, finds little support in fast-paced product development organizations. It discusses the ways in which the environment of a product development organization is quite different from that of a web or software company. Among the differences are faster-paced development, more rigorous process stages, lower number of iterations allowed, and higher cost for usability amendment. Thus many usability professionals cannot escape from the traps of simply fixing glitches instead of solving major problems, and working on product issues only in reaction to usability problems generated by other stakeholders. This study provides some innovative suggestions for usability professionals as effective alternatives to remaining stuck in the typical evaluation and refinement strategy of usability engineering. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2007.