Measuring Usability

Many usability/user experience tests are "qualitative," recording the obvious problems users have with interfaces. If you want more quantitative information to measure usability, without great expense, check out this article. Also see Usability Testing, Web Conference Style in this blog.

Measuring Usability: The Basics
Friday, October 05, 2007 5:12 AM
Usability measuring techniques ... "Usability is not a luxury. If your website drives revenue, no matter how big or small, you have a vested interest in turning motivated users into buyers, and that requires understanding the needs and expectations of those users. Fortunately, you don't need a big budget or a team of men in...
Feed Source (RSS): Usability In The News

Demotivation

Some companies go out of their way to communicate the wrong messages to their employees. What do these actions communicate?

• Make statements like, "I don't want to hear problems, only solutions." (Message: Keep bad news from me and only tell me when you've figured out a solution, or things get too bad for anyone to fix or hide.)
• Set up a compensation system that rewards "high performers" and punishes "low performers." (Messages: Employees need carrots and sticks to motivate them. They have no intrinsic motivation to do a good job. Managers are unaware of system thinking and system issues that affect individual performance. Managers are unaware of research that says incentives don't work. Managers are willing to set employees against one another so each tries to look good and blame others for problems. Managers would prefer not to hear bad news.)
• Talk about accountability a lot. (Message: Who can we blame it on?)
• Put "motivation" posters on the wall that say things like "Be loyal to the company," " Hard work pays off." "Be creative." and other similar sentiments. (Message: The company thinks employees have to be motivated and have no intrinsic desire to do a good job.)
• Tell employees that they can't talk except for business topics or while on break or lunch. (Messages: Employees are just interchangeable cogs in the wheel with no value or needs as human beings. Employees can't be trusted to balance work and human interaction.)
• Monitor email and web usage. (Messages: The company doesn't trust its employees and doesn't mind demeaning them.)
• Declare a paperless office, then conduct searches of employee desks to find illicit paper. (Messages: Employees can't be trusted. Employees have no dignity and can be treated like children.)
• Drug testing: (Messages: Employees don't have a private life. You won't be trusted in this company.)
• Wave off employees who want to ask questions and say, "Put it in an email." (Messages: My time is more valuable than yours. I don't really want to be bothered with you except at my convenience.)
• Don't listen to new ideas; instead say, "Well, we don't do things that way here." (Messages: Creativity isn't welcome here. Quit rocking the boat, I'm comfortable with no change.)
• Don't solicit feedback. (Message: We don't care what you think and don't want to hear anything negative.)

For my more cynical readers who want a laugh, check out the Demotivators (R) at http://www.despair.com/viewall.html.

David Orr