|
63% of software projects exceed their budget estimates, with the top four reasons all relating to product usability: frequent requests for changes by users, overlooked tasks, users' lack of understanding of their own requirements, and insufficient user analysis communication and understanding. - Leaderer & Prassad
|
 |
|
|
| |
|
| |
Why is Usability Important?
Usability provides important benefits in terms of cost, product quality, and user satisfaction.
- It can improve development productivity through more efficient design and fewer code revisions.
- It can help to eliminate over-design by emphasizing the functionality required to meet the needs of real users. Design problems can be detected earlier in the development process, saving both time and money.
- It can provide further cost savings through reduced support costs, reduced training requirements, and greater user productivity.
- A usable product means more satisfied users and a better reputation for the web site and for the organization that developed it.
Today, many leading corporations such as Eastman Kodak Company, American Airlines and Microsoft Corporation are incorporating usability engineering into their product development cycles. For them, usability is becoming a competitive advantage. For NASA, usability will play a vital role in our commitment to remaining a trusted, communicative and efficient government agency.
Usability is a design tool. It can:
- Help you uncover the real needs and tasks of the user
- Eliminate over-design
- Provide data for design decisions
- Reduce costs by focusing functionality, design, and development
- Provide a competitive advantage
- Have a demonstrable effect on ROI, deployment costs, and user productivity
- Ensure a better reputation for the product
+ Next: How is Usability Determined?
|
|
|
|
|
