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User Experience (Usability)
334 hits
Oct 15, 2003 6:34 pm |
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re: re: Winning the small battles... |
Joe Gannon
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I wanted to offer my perspective from someone who has worked as an employee, and consultant consultant. I think sometimes that it's easier to win a battle if you're a consultant, since you're perceeived as the expert.
Some of the biggest mistakes I've seen is when management fails to listen to a person simply because they create a silo in which a person shouldn't have an opinion because they aren't in that position... For example, I've had disagreements with the usability department, or designers on issues (which later proved out that my analysis was correct.).....you're not a designer, than you shouldn't have an opinion on a design issue. Nonsense. Instead of creating silos, companies should look at how a person can contribute to a project. Some do, but may don't.
I agree with your points that a person needs to be convincing and offer evidence that your approach makes sense.
To avoid frustration, I chalk it up to a learning experience and create a opportunities where I see fit. For example, I had worked on a project in which I had many disagreements with the approach being taken. Although I had tried my best to present my case, the design took off with what I felt was an incorrect approach. So, I did research and conducted usability tests on my own time, then wrote a paid article for a web site.
So, I find that even if you don't win every battle, you win in the long run if you use that knowledge to try to learn and grow.
Joe
> Chris Nagele wrote:
> Hi Kyle. Common struggle? Definitely! I think we have talked about this in the past.
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>This is probably the most difficult aspect of my job. With the majority of my clients i will fight the battle, but there is always the risk of the client not understanding your reasons. I will never settle and build a poor site. It not only looks bad for my company, but it also does nothing for the client and shows that I did not present the right information to convince them.
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>There are a few things you can do.
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>1. Find reports and studies already conducted to show proof of your claims.
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>2. Cost justify the usability. See this book: http://tinyurl.com/qv9s
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>3. Always show deliverables of your research and design efforts (prototyping, testing, scenarios, etc).
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>4. Eat the time (or money) and do a small test on your own.
>I have done usability tests and interviews at no cost to the client just to prove a point. It helps build long-term trust and credibility.
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>5. Usabilty is about results. Show examples of other projects you have done and how you increased conversion rates or productivity.
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>Hope this helps.
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>Chris
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>> Kyle Pero wrote:
>> I'm sure all the other IA/Usability practitioners in this group would agree with me when I say that our job is all about winning the small battles (or, what may seems small to others – For instance, the name of a label).
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>>We know that we can't win every battle, which is why we have to pick and choose the ones worth fighting for.
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>>My question for all of you is how do you convince someone (marketer, business owner, etc.) to try something your way when there is no $$/time in the budget to do testing?
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>>I have a very good rapport with the businesses I work with and I do believe I also have their trust (most times), but from time to time there is always a situation that arises where we butt heads. I have tried benchmarking other sites and backing up my opinions with industry standards, but it's usually to no avail.
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>>At what point do you give up? Is there anything I haven't mentioned that's worth giving a try? I'm curious to hear if this is also a common struggle you all face, and if so, how you deal with it?
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>>Thanks,
>>Kyle
>> Private Reply to Joe Gannon (new win) |
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