10 | 2003

Usability Deserves Respect
Software development is always a gamble, and usability has become part of the table stakes. Ignore usability, and your customers will take their chips and go home.

Usability Must Earn Respect
Rising demand for usability in recent years has increased the supply of less-seasoned usability specialists, some of whom have done more harm than good. While many usability activities are inherently qualitative, it’s time to add a bit more method to our madness.

"Rather than promoting usability as an end in itself, we are trying to understand how usability methods fit into the software development process. In short, we’re trying to earn respect rather than demand it."

-- Carolyn Snyder, Guest Editor

Opening Statement
Carolyn Snyder

Adopting User-Centered Design Within an Agile Process: A Conversation
William Hudson

Beyond Usability Methods: Usability Engineering Through Processes and Outcomes
Timo Jokela

Taking the Measure of User-Centered Design
Jurek Kirakowski and Nigel Claridge

Discount Usability Engineering
Jakob Nielsen

Satisfying Users Against Their Will
Kent Dahlgren

Next Issue

IT Metrics and Benchmarking: Part II
Guest Editor: David Garmus

Due to the unprecedented response Cutter IT Journal received on the first Metrics and Benchmarking issue, we’re coming back with even more insight on how IT organizations are using metrics and benchmarking to reduce costs and quantify ROI. Next month, David Garmus returns to guide you through this contentious and dynamic field.





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The pressure on IT practitioners to be first to market with a product that is right the first time has never been greater. Unfortunately, the adoption of more effective development processes to address this challenge has been slow in coming. How can developers create software with greater usability in the face of skimpy training budgets and tightening deadlines? Cutter IT Journal, software usability expert Carolyn Snyder and a seasoned group of usability veterans will impart their experiences and lessons learned to help your organization diagnose and treat problems in your development processes and create better software more quickly.