The HCI Professional as Consultant

Sunday, April 14

User interface designers and usability specialists (HCI Specialists) most often play the role of consultant to software development organizations and management even if they are full-time employees of an organization. Because we are most often in the role of consultant influencing the organizations but not in direct ownership of the deliverables, we face special challenges in having our recommendations heard, our designs implemented, and our advice sought.

This workshop will provide an opportunity for HCI specialists to explore their roles, share their challenges, and discuss successful solutions. The activities of the workshop will result in a list of pervasive issues found as a HCI Specialist and techniques to help resolve these issues.

This workshop is for HCI specialists in both corporate and consulting organizations. Participants are asked to submit a position paper of 1000 words or less with the following information:

• your organization (specify if corporate or consulting organization), title, role in the organization, number of years in the field
• one or two difficult challenges you faced as a consultant and your resolution to the problem(s)
• at least four techniques that help illustrate the value of HCI to your management and staff; also, discuss how you would influence a team of developers who are reluctant to work with an HCI specialist
• four issues you are currently facing as a HCI consultant

Contact

Lauren Schwartz 
Microsoft Consulting Services                                      
825 Eighth Avenue,  21st Floor                                     
E-mail: laurensc@microsoft.com
Tel: +1 212-484-1916
Fax: +1 212-245-3678

or

Heather Desurvire
Behavioristics, Inc.
708 Fourth Street, #203
Encinitas, California 92024
E-mail: heather@acm.org
Tel: +1 619-634-1858