User-centred redesign of a business system using the Star Life Cycle method

The purpose with this thesis was to study user activities in a business system, MediusFlow. The overall objective was to identify user related problems and to analyse which of the usability data gathering methods to use in the future development process of the company Medius. The outcome of this study indicated that a cognitive related user problem was the most important problem to solve. A Star Life Cycle method was preferred. Two low-fidelity prototypes were developed to exemplify an alternative design solution to the identified cognitive user problem. Furthermore, the two best methods to use when gathering user related requirements were heuristic evaluation and expert review. In addition a company specific Style Guide was created with generic guidelines as a foundation for development of future applications within Medius. SAMMANFATTNING Syftet med examensarbetet var att studera användaraktiviteter i ett affärssystem, MediusFlow. Den övergripande målsättningen var att identifiera användarrelaterade problem samt att analysera vilka metoder för insamling av användarkrav som är bäst lämpade för framtida utvecklingsarbeten inom företaget Medius. Resultatet av studien visade att det allvarligaste problemet var av kognitivt karaktär och var det viktigaste problemet att lösa. En Star Life Cycle metod användes. Två low-fidelity prototyper togs fram för att visa på alternativa lösningar av de påvisade användarproblemen. Dessutom fastställdes att heuristisk utvärdering och expert utvärdering var de mest lämpliga metoderna att använda. Som komplement producerades även en företagsspecifik Style Guide med inriktning mot generiska guidelines för att användas som stöd vid framtida utvecklingsarbeten inom Medius. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT It is a sunny day in July sitting in a nice garden finalising this thesis. It all started in early March by meeting Medius and they offered me to conduct this study in their inspiring environment. After an encouraging discussion with my supervisor at school, Dr Vivian Vimarlund, the thesis work was up and running. I want to give a special thanks to the following people who have given me excellent support throughout the work. • Fredrik Spira, my supervisor at Medius, who guided me throughout the work with inspiring ideas and constructive feedback. • Vivan Vimarlund, Ph.D., examiner and supervisor at the University of Linköping. For excellent guidance and useful comments. • Erika Franzén, opponent. For constructive and useful feedback. • Magnus Ingmarsson, Ph. Lic., for performing an expert review of MediusFlow. • The employees at Medius AB that I interviewed in this study. I also want to thank all employees for the fun and positive working climate at Medius. I am going to miss all of you and the floor ball games. • Finally, I want to thank the company visited for letting me interview and observe users of MediusFlow. I want to thank family, friends and colleagues for all the support. Linköping July 2 2008. _____________________