the benefits of "do it yourself" usability testing
DESCRIPTION
Given at U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, May 5, 2012TRANSCRIPT
The benefits of “Do It Yourself” Usability Testing
By Jonathan RubinFirst Fridays Program Manager
General Services Administration
Your boss says:
Know your users, for you are not them
Test Process
Schedule + First Meeting
Develop Scenarios
Manage Participants + Trainees
Conduct Test + Debriefing
Write Report
Follow-up Meeting + Track Metrics
Testing RoomObservation Room
1. Binder clip / duct tape
2. Web cam
3. Desk lamp
4. Smartphone
Why our method works
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Top 5 Government Usability Problems
• Too many words
Top 5 Government Usability Problems
• Too many words• Gov speak / jargon
Top 5 Government Usability Problems
• Too many words• Gov speak / jargon• Top tasks hard to find
Top 5 Government Usability Problems
• Too many words• Gov speak / jargon• Top tasks hard to find• Ineffective navigation
Top 5 Government Usability Problems
• Too many words• Gov speak / jargon• Top tasks hard to find• Ineffective navigation• Ineffective search results
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Office of Citizen Services and Innovative Technologies
Example 1:Helping Passports Take Flight
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Example 2: GSA Intranet
?
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Before After
What’s the ROI?
“Spending 10% of your development budget on usability should improve your conversion rate by 83%.” – Jakob Nielson
What’s the ROI?
• Reduced developer time
What’s the ROI?
• Reduced developer time• Reduced training time
What’s the ROI?
• Reduced developer time• Reduced training time• Reduced help desk calls / emails
What’s the ROI?
• Reduced developer time• Reduced training time• Reduced help desk calls / emails• Higher task completion rate
What’s the ROI?
• Reduced developer time• Reduced training time• Reduced help desk calls / emails• Higher task completion rate• Increased productivity
What’s the ROI?
• Reduced developer time• Reduced training time• Reduced help desk calls / emails• Higher task completion rate• Increased productivity• PR boost
What you need to test sites at EPA
• Executive champion!
What you need to test sites at EPA
• Executive champion!• One morning a month
What you need to test sites at EPA
• Executive champion!• One morning a month• 1-2 rooms
What you need to test sites at EPA
• Executive champion!• One morning a month• 1-2 rooms• Laptops
What you need to test sites at EPA
• Executive champion!• One morning a month• 1-2 rooms• Laptops• Screen sharing software
What you need to test sites at EPA
• Executive champion!• One morning a month • 1-2 rooms• Laptops• Screen sharing software• Volunteers
What you need to test sites at EPA
• Executive champion!• One morning a month • 1-2 rooms• Laptops• Screen sharing software• Volunteers• Food
What you need to test sites at EPA
• Executive champion! • One morning a month• 1-2 rooms• Laptops• Screen sharing software• Volunteers• Food• Incentives
What you need to test sites at EPA
• Executive champion! • One morning a month• 1-2 rooms• Laptops• Screen sharing software• Volunteers• Food• Incentives• Training (First Fridays!)
What you need to test sites at EPA
Howto.gov/firstfridays
• Observe a First Fridays test
• Observe a First Fridays test• Recommend a website
• Observe a First Fridays test• Recommend a website• Volunteer as a tester (remote or in person)
• Observe a First Fridays test• Recommend a website• Volunteer as a tester (remote or in person)• Learn to fish (Facilitator in Training program)
Questions?
