T7 Usability capability maturity models: How to evaluate the user-centeredness of companies?

Timo Jokela
University of Oulu, Finland

Improving the position and effectiveness of user-centred design, UCD, in software and product development is a challenge in many companies. One step towards improvements in the performance of UCD is to carry out a usability capability maturity, UCM, assessment to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of a company in user-centred design.

There have been proposed a number of UCM models since early 90's. The first models were developed in US and Canada, and further developments have taken place in Europe in and Japan. ISO (International Standardization Organization) has also published UCM models, mainly based on the work carried out in European research projects. Recently there has emerged new interest on the topic in US through the initiation by the Ease-of-Use Roundtable.

This tutorial aims to provide an overview on the practice of evaluating user-centred design and on the main features of different UCM models. To make things concrete, the tutorial includes hands-on exercise on selected models. The tutorial is specifically useful to usability managers, consultants and practitioners who wish to develop the usability practices of companies. Also researchers that have interest on the processes and methods of UCD should find the tutorial interesting.

Web page: http://www.tol.oulu.fi/~tjokela/nordichitutorial.htm