From the ground-up: Role of usability and aesthetics evaluation in creating a knowledge-based website for the U.S. army corps of engineers

Abstract

Government agency websites are places where both tacit and implicit organizational knowledge is managed. To maximize benefits to the organization, these websites must be tailored not only to meet immediate employee needs, but they should also be aesthetically pleasing enough to keep workers engaged and interested in exploring and sharing information. Usability testing allows users to interact with websites and give vital feedback. Knowledge acquired during the usability testing process can be used to improve the information architecture of the website and its content. Preferences for aesthetic features can be gauged simultaneously. This study included usability and aesthetics tests with federal employees who interact with the Natural Resources Management Gateway, a complex information-rich website, on a regular basis. The study clarified the relative importance of both usability and aesthetic features on employee satisfaction and identified the most preferred home page design. Involvement of employees in early design stages of knowledge management systems is strongly advised. © 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.