Who Are Your Users? What Are Their Needs?

Users of business software use computers for a purpose. They want to get their job done with the software - no more and no less. They also want to get their job done efficiently. They are usually in a hurry and have a pile of work on their desktop. They do not want additional work load caused by cumbersome, inefficient or complicated applications. Equally, they do not want to look stupid, as Alan Cooper points out - neither in their own, nor in their colleagues' eyes.

So, let's summarize:

Users of business software

  • are goal oriented
  • want to get their job done
  • want to get it done efficiently (in time and resources)
  • and are, therefore, impatient

Users of business software do not want to

  • be concerned with the software instead of doing their tasks
  • take more steps than is necessary
  • learn more than is absolutely necessary for their task
  • relearn when there are well-trained procedures
  • look stupid

Note: If you develop for a special audience, such as Web users, your users may be different to usual users of business software.

 

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Source:  Simplifying for Usability