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Usability – Who Cares?: The Introduction of User-Centred Systems Design in Organisations
Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Science and Technology, Mathematics and Computer Science, Department of Information Technology, Division of Human-Computer Interaction. Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Science and Technology, Mathematics and Computer Science, Department of Information Technology, Human-Computer Interaction.
2010 (English)Doctoral thesis, comprehensive summary (Other academic)
Abstract [en]

This thesis analyses the difficulties encountered in the promotion of usability, especially in relation to occupation health issues, when developing IT systems in a public authority. It examines what happens when User-Centred Systems Design (UCSD) approaches are introduced to organisations with in-house systems development for their employees. It studies how stakeholder values affect the outcomes in terms of usability, occupational health, and institutional acceptance. Moreover, new methods are examined and evaluated as potential tools for assisting the adoption of UCSD. These methods are for example Field studies for system developers, Usability coaching for stakeholders and Management views of usability.

A stated aim is to influence systems development in practice. Hence an action research paradigm has been employed, carrying out research and change in real life settings, gathering and analysing data using qualitative techniques.

This thesis is based on a constructivist perspective, where theories in the areas of learning and organisational change have been used in order to better understand the research questions.

The research demonstrates that most people are enthusiastic to, and interested in, UCSD with a focus on the computerised work environment. Many of the stakeholder groups, such as managers, users, project managers and system developers, changed their construct of identity as well as practice when UCSD was introduced.

However, this research shows that there are several values that affect systems development and hinder usability work. These include for example value of rationality and objectivity, and differing values and perspectives underpinning descriptions and discourse on work and systems development. Values such as automation, efficiency, and customer satisfaction shape the development of new technology, and ultimately the tasks, work practices integrated in IT systems.

Moreover, the results demonstrate that even though many consider usability as important, few take active responsibility for it, as the title of this thesis suggests.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Uppsala: Acta Universitatis Upsaliensis, 2010. , p. 121
Series
Digital Comprehensive Summaries of Uppsala Dissertations from the Faculty of Science and Technology, ISSN 1651-6214 ; 740
Keywords [en]
User-Centred System Design, UCSD, Human-Computer Interaction, HCI, Usability, Perspectives, Sensemaking, Communities of Practice, Action research, Interpretations, Organisational change, Work environment, IT systems development
National Category
Human Computer Interaction
Research subject
Computer Science with specialization in Human-Computer Interaction
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-122387ISBN: 978-91-554-7797-4 (print)OAI: oai:DiVA.org:uu-122387DiVA, id: diva2:310201
Public defence
2010-05-26, Room 2446, Polacksbacken, Lägerhyddsvägen 2D, Uppsala, 13:15 (Swedish)
Opponent
Supervisors
Available from: 2010-05-05 Created: 2010-04-11 Last updated: 2018-01-12Bibliographically approved
List of papers
1. Work environment and computer systems development
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Work environment and computer systems development
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2003 (English)In: Behaviour and Information Technology, ISSN 1362-3001, Vol. 22, no 6, p. 375-387Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Work environment and occupational health problems of different nature are constantly increasing in computer supported work. Most efforts to improve the work environment are focused primarily on physical aspects, and to some extent on psychosocial aspects. Mental workload and cognitive problems are of a more complex nature, more difficult to measure and provide efficient solutions to, and are more seldom studied or solved. Solutions to work environment problems are usually applied to already existing work situations through improved equipment and work place design, health programmes, education, reorganizations, etc. The problems are seldom prevented by means of applying relevant methods early in the systems development process, before the artefacts have been designed and implemented. This paper, and the following papers of this special issue, will focus on the need to integrate different interdisciplinary methods at different phases in the development process of computerized support systems, with the ultimate goal to prevent work environment problems and decrease the health risks to the users.

Keywords
dator, informationsteknologi, kommunikationsteknologi, arbetsmiljö, användbarhet, organisation, organisationsutveckling, datoretik; computer, information, communication, technology, work environment, usability, organizational development, computer ethics
National Category
Computer Sciences Psychology Business Administration
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-46656 (URN)10.1080/01449290310001624356 (DOI)
Available from: 2007-03-19 Created: 2007-03-19 Last updated: 2018-01-11Bibliographically approved
2. Key Principles for User-Centred Systems Design
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Key Principles for User-Centred Systems Design
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2003 In: Behaviour & Information Technology, Vol. 22, no 6, p. 397 – 409-Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-93523 (URN)
Funder
Available from: 2005-09-30 Created: 2005-09-30 Last updated: 2010-11-22Bibliographically approved
3. Usability and User’s Health Issues in Systems Development - Attitudes and Perspectives
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Usability and User’s Health Issues in Systems Development - Attitudes and Perspectives
2007 (English)In: Maturing Usability: Quality in Software, Interaction, and Value, Springer Verlag , 2007Chapter in book (Other academic)
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Springer Verlag, 2007
National Category
Engineering and Technology
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-14949 (URN)978-1846289408 (ISBN)
Available from: 2008-02-01 Created: 2008-02-01 Last updated: 2012-09-28Bibliographically approved
4. User-Centred Systems Design as Organizational Change: A Longitudinal Action Research Project to Improve Usability and the Computerized Work Environment in a Public Authority
Open this publication in new window or tab >>User-Centred Systems Design as Organizational Change: A Longitudinal Action Research Project to Improve Usability and the Computerized Work Environment in a Public Authority
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2009 (English)In: International Journal of Technology and Human Interaction, ISSN 1548-3908, E-ISSN 1548-3916, Vol. 5, no 3, p. 13-53Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Keywords
Attitudes, Field Studies, Management Perspectives, Organizational Change, Public Authority, Usability, Stress, Systems Development Models, Usability Policy, Usability Index, User Centred Systems Design, User Participation, Vision Seminars, Work Environment
National Category
Computer and Information Sciences
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-100307 (URN)10.4018/jthi.2009070102 (DOI)
Available from: 2009-03-30 Created: 2009-03-30 Last updated: 2018-01-13Bibliographically approved
5. Introducing Usability Roles in Public Authorities
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Introducing Usability Roles in Public Authorities
2008 (English)In: Proc. 5th Nordic Conference on Human-Computer Interaction: Building Bridges, New York: ACM Press , 2008, p. 113-122Conference paper, Published paper (Refereed)
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
New York: ACM Press, 2008
Keywords
Usability professional, usability expert, case study, public authority
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-87374 (URN)10.1145/1463160.1463173 (DOI)978-1-59593-704-9 (ISBN)
Available from: 2008-11-17 Created: 2008-09-11 Last updated: 2010-04-13Bibliographically approved
6. Management Perspectives on Usability in a Public Authority - A Case Study
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Management Perspectives on Usability in a Public Authority - A Case Study
2006 (English)In: NordiCHI 2006: Changing Roles, 2006, p. 521-Conference paper, Published paper (Refereed)
Abstract [en]

In trying to understand the problem of poor usability in

computer-supported work, this article looks at management

and their perspective on usability in a public authority.

What are their underlying basic values, assumptions and

attitudes? Why do managers interpret usability as they do,

and what are the consequences for the organization and for

usability? The empirical basis is an interpretive case study

where 19 semi-structured interviews were conducted.

Results indicate that usability is interpreted differently,

depending on the formal roles of informants. Furthermore, a

majority of the informants express personal, but limited,

responsibility for usability. Moreover, we found that basic

values are based on an instrumental view of work where

efficiency and economy are important constituents. We

identified that even though users participate in IT

development, they have no formal responsibility or

authority. They have become IT workers in that they

perform highly technical tasks such as integral testing.

Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-22200 (URN)1-59593-325-5 (ISBN)
Available from: 2007-01-12 Created: 2007-01-12 Last updated: 2010-04-13
7. Hello World!: Experiencing usability methods without usability expertise
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Hello World!: Experiencing usability methods without usability expertise
2009 (English)In: Human-Computer Interaction – INTERACT 2009: Part II, Springer Berlin/Heidelberg, 2009, p. 550-565Conference paper, Published paper (Refereed)
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Springer Berlin/Heidelberg, 2009
Series
Lecture Notes in Computer Science ; 5727
National Category
Human Computer Interaction
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-122356 (URN)10.1007/978-3-642-03658-3_60 (DOI)000270204900060 ()978-3-642-03657-6 (ISBN)
Conference
INTERACT 2009
Available from: 2010-04-09 Created: 2010-04-09 Last updated: 2018-01-12Bibliographically approved
8. Towards a usability coaching method for institutionalizing usability in organisations
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Towards a usability coaching method for institutionalizing usability in organisations
2010 (English)In: Human-Computer Interaction, Berlin: Springer-Verlag , 2010, p. 86-97Conference paper, Published paper (Refereed)
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Berlin: Springer-Verlag, 2010
Series
IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology ; 332
National Category
Human Computer Interaction
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-122357 (URN)10.1007/978-3-642-15231-3_10 (DOI)978-3-642-15230-6 (ISBN)
Conference
World Computer Congress 2010
Available from: 2010-04-09 Created: 2010-04-09 Last updated: 2018-01-12Bibliographically approved

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