CHI 97 Electronic Publications: Special Interest Groups (SIGs)

CHI 97 Electronic Publications: Special Interest Groups (SIGs)

Corporate Pioneers - Lessons Learned: Introducing and Promoting Usability Testing in a Corporate Environment

James Geyerman
CompuServe Incorporated
5000 Arlington Centre Blvd.
P.O. Box 20212
Columbus, OH 43220-0212 USA

+1-614-723-6788
jgeyerman@techdev.compuserve.com

KEYWORDS

Usability, tools, corporate environment, testing, quality.

KEYWORDS
SUMMARY
FORMAT
ISSUES
GOALS

SUMMARY

Customers today demand to receive a quality, usable product. Companies are finding that their products will not sell unless they have the reputation for being usable. One way that companies can ensure usable products is through usability evaluations, user involvement, and testing. A direct result of the need for user-centered design and testing is the challenge of establishing and evolving usability methodology as an integral part of the development process within the corporate environment.

During this SIG, individuals who have had a direct impact on establishing and growing usability efforts in their companies will share their successes, failures, and lessons learned.

Representatives from the following companies will lead this SIG:

Arnie Lund - Ameritech

James Geyerman - CompuServe, Inc.

Georgia Crosby - CompuServe, Inc.

Lora Davenport - Alkon Corporation

Carolyn Snyder - User Interface Engineering

Denise Pieratti - Xerox Corporation

FORMAT

The SIG will begin with a brief introduction to the issues covered during the session. The SIG attendees will also be given an opportunity to bring up additional issues. Each attendee will have the opportunity to attend a breakout sessions on the issue of their choice. Two additional issues determined by the SIG attendees will be discussed in the breakout sessions. The breakout sessions will be facilitated by the various co-leaders of the SIG. During the breakout sessions, there will also be group discussion on other ideas in that issue area. A combined wrap-up session in which the leaders present a brief synopsis in each issue area will conclude the SIG. The results from this session will be summarized and made available.

ISSUES

The followings issues are covered during this session:

Cultural changes associated with introducing usability into an organization

Educating the organization about usability engineering.

Introducing field research methods

The last 100 days of a corporate usability grow-up

TBD by SIG attendees

GOALS

The goal of this SIG is for attendees to leave with ideas and techniques to establish or enhance usability in their own organizations. It is designed for the novice and the advanced usability professional.

CHI 97 Electronic Publications: Special Interest Groups (SIGs)