User involvement in the design process: a case for end-user evaluation of software packages

Abstract

Since, the early 1980s, the number of variety of 'off-the-shelf' software packages have increased dramatically. Such an increase has important implications in terms of the increasing number of end-users, who are using software not tailored to meet their specific needs and requirements. This indicate that the need to evaluate software from perspective of the end-user within an organisation is now even greater. In addition, the recent surge of interest in usability and the overall trend towards greater user involvement in system and product development implies that end-user evaluation will become an increasingly prominent feature of new software development.