User Needs Assessment for the Adaptive Management Portal

Paper Abstract: This paper will introduce the reader to the processes a team of individuals from Management, Forestry, Consultants, and Computer Science backgrounds employed to gather user needs/ requirements for a Forestry Portal. The paper will first inform the reader on the background and objectives of the Forestry Portal Project and then discuss the lessons learned and future steps in conducting this study. The ultimate success of a not-for-profit website, portal or application is often judged by its usability. The now famous assumption, " if we build it, they will come " is one of the primary questions at the center of usability studies. The benefits of conducting usability studies can be astounding. A report prepared by a senior usability specialist at Compuware Corporation found that the general rule of thumb in the cost benefit ratio for usability is $1:$10-$100, meaning that if the organization spends $1 on usability studies or techniques, a benefit of between $10-$100 will be realized. (Donahue, 1999) This paper will introduce the reader to the processes a team of individuals from Management, Forestry, Consultants, and Computer Science backgrounds employed to gather user needs/ requirements for a Forestry Portal. The paper will first inform the reader on the background and objectives of the Forestry Portal Project and then discuss the lessons learned and future steps in conducting this study.