SharePoint and Usability Testing: Why Aren’t We Doing It?

Chris PoteetPortal Solutions

@chrispoteetprowww.siolon.com

What Is Usability Testing?

Definition

“[O]ne user at a time is shown something (whether it’s a Web site, a prototype of a site, or some sketches of individual pages) and asked to either (a) figure out what it is, or (b) try to use it to do a typical task.”

- Steve Krug

Why Aren’t We Doing Usability Testing?

Why Not?

Perceived Cost

Why Not?

Perceived Time

Why Not?

Misinformation

Why Should We DoUsability Testing?

Why?

Verify Content Utility

Why?

Test Information Architectures

Why?

Meets Business’ Needs

Why?

Settles Debates/Resets Focus

Why?

Gives Perspective

Types of Usability Testing

Types

ModeratedA participant is guided by a

present moderator.

Unmoderated/Self-ModeratedA participant is given a task list

and allowed to work alone.

Types

LocalA participant is in the same room

as the moderator.

RemoteA participant either does the test

on their own time or over remote technology

Tools for Usability Testing

Tools: Moderated & Remote

Tools: Moderated/Unmoderated & Local

Tools: Unmoderated & Remote

Putting Together a Usability Test

Designing a Test

Discover Content/Activity Emphasis

Designing a Test

Create Test Questions

Designing a Test

Find Participants

Designing a Test

Test Early and Often

Sample Usability Test

Sample Test

Association of the United States Army

Sample Test

Content Emphasis

• Conferences• Headline News• Membership Benefits

Sample Test

User Tasks

1. Find a chapter close to you2. What does AUSA do and what services do they

provide?3. Locate the schedule for a recent annual meeting4. What are the benefits of a membership?5. What phone number would I use to ask

questions?6. Discover an upcoming conference that interests

you

Designing a Test

View Video

Sample Test

Tester’s Comments

• Couldn’t find city for all results• Same results showed up for search / dropdown• About us page for chapter is blank• She was lost in chapter sites• She never found schedule and didn't notice left hand links• She was overwhelmed with the directory. No main

number– Found main number after a while

• She had no idea how to navigate to the conference result she got

Sample Test

Suggestions

• Add city to chapter results• Order by distance away from zip code• In chapter sites use global navigation and move

ancillary navigation• Why does "chapter activities" take you to chapter

search page?• Add main contact number to contact page. Remove

needlessly long list.• Add synonym for conference to search and possibly

a best bet

Sample Test

$39

Chris PoteetPortal Solutions

@chrispoteetprowww.siolon.com