5 Part 5: V-Modell Reference Work Products

5.3 Products

5.3.7 Requirements and Analyses

5.3.7.7 User Tasks Analysis

Process module: Usability and Ergonomics

Responsible: Ergonomics Manager (when using process module Usability and Ergonomics)

Participating: User, Logistics Developer, Technical Author, Requirements Engineer (Supplier)

Purpose

The »User Tasks Analysis is intended to develop the basis for the design of an adequate system. For this purpose the user tasks to be supported must be presented in their interaction with the working environment.

The analysis of user tasks identifies and describes user profiles, tasks to be supported and system and environmental conditions.

Is generated by

Overall System Specification (see product dependency 4.26)

Overall System Specification (see product dependency 4.25)

Depends on

Overall System Specification (see product dependency 5.6)

5.3.7.7.1 User Profiles

The user profile describes characteristics and prior skills of the future users of the system to be developed. For the preparation of an »Application Profile, personal characteristics of the users - e.g. age and gender - and their professional characteristics - e.g., experience, frequency and intensity of use - will be considered.

Exemplary Product Content

A user profile may include the following information:

Personal characteristics of the user, e.g., age, gender, goggles, right-/left-handedness, color blindness,
knowledge, skills and experiences of the user, e.g., computer skills, training, professional experience,
professional and working skills, e.g., frequency of use, system training, mandatory/voluntary system use, professional category of user like manager, administrative or technical assistant, job fluctuation, use of other tools, importance and complexity of task.

5.3.7.7.2 Physical Operation Environment

The working environment of a user working with a dialog system will be recorded and documented. The results influence the design of the dialog system. Decisive factors include, but are not limited to, location of the system, e.g., office, hangar, public place, influences caused by noise, light, dirt, climatic conditions, vibrations or other external disturbances.

5.3.7.7.3 User Tasks

This subject describes the tasks to be performed by the users of the new system. All work processes and their characteristics which are important for designing the user interface of the system will be presented.

Exemplary Product Content

Sub-subjects of the user tasks include, but are not limited to, the following:

Survey of the business and operational objectives of the new system,
integration of the functional areas supported by the new system within the organizational unit,
description of the work flows to be supported by the new system,
task descriptions, responsibilities, dependencies and hierarchies of the supported functional area,
any measures performed due to a workflow reengineering