Abstract

Usability practitioners come from a variety of educational backgrounds and can pursue a variety of career paths. However, outside of formal degree programs, it is unclear how a usability person can best develop his or her skill set. In this workshop we will explore how managers have helped their teams grow, how we develop standard definitions for job descriptions and skill sets.

Description

As more companies establish usability teams, many managers are left to struggle with the question of what methods they can employ to help their team learn new skills and even what skills their team should have. Any given usability team is likely to be made up of people with a variety of educational backgrounds and levels of work experience. A manager must decide which methodologies are a “must have” for team members and then faces the challenge of finding the appropriate training. Defining a standard skill set for the usability team seems to be a key part in defining the role that the team will play in the organization. Likewise, helping individuals to develop allows the role of the usability team to grow within the organization.

Usability professionals who are working in individual contributor capacities are also challenged to define the course that they would like their career to take. It is not clear what advanced degree, if any, will be most beneficial. Since many groups have different job skill requirements, it also isn’t readily apparent if the expertise they pick up in one position will generalize to another position. Is there a core set of abilities that will allow them to succeed on any usability team?

I am hoping to hear success stories, tips & tricks and brainstorms. Hopefully, the results of this workshop will serve as a resource for managers looking to provide leadership to their teams and usability professionals looking for guidance.

During the day we will choose three focus areas for discussion. (More below on how the focus areas will be selected). For each category of focus, we’ll break into small groups to discuss:

• what worked well, or pitfalls to avoid (based on participant's experience, and information from position papers)
  
• what best practices we can recommend based on this discussion
  
• unanswered questions, based on this discussion
  

Each small group will report back to the larger group, and there will be some time for the whole group to discuss the results.

The workshop leader will review all position papers, and recommend focus areas for discussion, based on common experiences. Prior to the workshop, I will circulate this list by email and solicit further recommendations from participants. We will then finalize the list of topics to discuss at the workshop.

Possible discussion topics could include:

• How to define a standard skill set. What should a usability person know? And does their organizational role influence that definition.
• How to find appropriate training – especially “grass roots” methods outside of conferences and degree programs.
  
• How to define where you want to go as a usability professional AND figure out what abilities will allow you to get there.
  

Applying to Participate in This Workshop

A workshop is a closed session. Admission to a workshop requires an approved position paper from you addressing the issues suggested by the coordinator(s). Please send your position paper (which should be roughly 1 to 3 pages) to Diana DeMarco, ddemarco@mathworks.com. Position papers received by April 25 will be accepted or rejected by April 30, in time for you to register before the early registration deadline on May 2. Position papers received by May 24 will be accepted or rejected by May 29, in time for the May 31 registration discount. Papers received after May 24 will be evaluated at the facilitator's discretion.

Participant selection criteria

We invite position papers from people who have worked as managers or have an interest in exploring the question of professional development. We particularly welcome papers from people who have had experience with innovative solutions to defining and expanding the skill sets of usability practitioners, either as a manager or a direct report. We also invite position papers from those who have worked on developing standard definitions for job descriptions and those who have good ideas to share, even if they don’t have management experience.

Potential participants will be asked to submit a 3-5 page position paper describing their thoughts on and experiences with developing a usability person. Ideally, this will include:

• A "case study" description of the usability group, the issues that were being addressed, how the participant was involved, and the strategies used to resolve the problem.
  
• An analysis of what worked or did not work
• Any lessons or best practices the participant would recommend based on this experience
• Questions the participant has for other practitioners and hopes to have answered during the workshop
• A statement of the potential participant's goals for the workshop
• A short biography of the potential participant
  

Prior to the workshop, the organizer will compile the questions and goals, so that they can be handed out during the workshop.

Dissemination of Results

The workshop leader will produce a report from the workshop for publication in either the UPA Voice or User Experience.

Facilitator

Diana DeMarco Sr. Usability Specialist The MathWorks Voice: 508-647-7871 Fax: 508-647-7002 Email: ddemarco@mathworks.com Diana DeMarco is a Sr. Usability Specialist at The MathWorks. She is responsible for the usability of DSP and Communications product areas and the development of a company-wide style guide. She is also a manager looking for new ways to help her team members develop a full set of skills. Diana is also the founder and current president of the UPA Boston chapter and has co-presented at the UPA conference.