Information Breakdowns in Usability Engineering

Usability engineering is the process of involving users throughout the development cycle to produce user-centric, easy to use software. The process model of involving users throughout this cycle is called user-centered design. Although a logical and proven model, the success of this process is often impeded by poor transference of knowledge between usability engineers, interaction designers, and the development team. Information breakdowns occur when communication fails between process members and deliverables are not produced or interpreted to their fullest potential. Lack of, misinterpretation of, or poor quality of information costs development time, project resources, and often the patience and sanity of the people involved. The design and build stages of the user-centered design process are the most volatile for information breakdowns, particularly between the usability engineers and the development team and the interaction designers and the development team. Many of these information problems can be alleviated or even eliminated by providing better audience-centric documents, more open communication channels, and most of all unbounded iteration of create, evaluate, revise, and repeat. The iterative nature of the user-centered design process is the most important tool available in preventing information breakdowns. The constant communication and revision of information provides many opportunities for potential information breakdowns to be discovered, addressed, and resolved.