Analyzing Task Flow
For every task that a product is designed to support, a flowchart should be
built of the steps necessary to perform that task. Only by identifying all the
aspects of a particular task will opportunities for optimization be revealed.
Once the desired flow of a task is documented, analyze the following issues
to lead to the proper user interface (UI) for the screen(s) designed to support
that task:
- What related information is needed to complete the task? What amount of
information does the user need to ignore?
- What is the frequency of use and volume of data for the screen?
- What widgets are most appropriate? Will the screen be used by high-speed
data entry clerks?
- What level of training do you anticipate the user having on this particular
task and screen?
- What if a user makes a mistake at a particular step, or attempts to bypass
a step? Must the task steps be done sequentially, or can they be done in parallel?
- What decisions is the user required to make along the way? What if those
decisions are only in exceptional cases?
- What other tools might the user be familiar with? What are their expectations
of your product based on these other tools?