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Task AnalysisTECM 4250
Dr Lam
What is Task Analysis
bull Task analysis is typically a method used in usability testing and user-centered design for the design of interfaces
bull It is the process of learning about ordinary users by observing them in action to understand in detail how they perform their tasks and achieve their intended goals
bull It helps identify the tasks that websites and applications must support
Source Usabilitygov
Task Analysis helps you understandhellip
bull What your usersrsquo goals are what they are trying to achieve
bull What users actually do to achieve those goals
bull What experiences (personal social and cultural) users bring to the tasks
bull How users are influenced by their physical environment
bull How usersrsquo previous knowledge and experience influencebull How they think about their workbull The workflow they follow to perform their tasks
Source Usabilitygov
Task analysis can also be applied to technical manuals
bull Shift from documenting a system to documenting the tasks a user performs with the system
bull Focus from the system itself to how a human interacts with a system gt User-centered Design
bull Same holds true for manualsbull Instead of focusing on the process itself task
analysis helps you focus on the person performing the process
Hierarchical Task Analysis
bull Splitting your user tasks in tasks and sub-tasks
bull Used as an exhaustive description of tasks
bull Therefore a good starting point for manual development
Textual HTA
Source httphomepagesinfedacukdateachHCItaskspdf
Refine the HTAbull What
sub-tasks are missing
bull What about the way tasks are labeled
Diagrammatic HTA
Source httphomepagesinfedacukdateachHCItaskspdf
Refining HTA
bull Look at the previous slide and determine ways to improve the HTA
Refining HTA
bull Look for paired actions bull There is a turn off gas but where is ldquoturn on
gasrdquo restructure generate task ldquomake potrdquo
bull Reconsider hierarchybull Are there higher level steps involved that
include putting tea leaves in pot
bull Determine if tasks can be generalizedbull Eg make one cup or more
Refined HTA
Potential Plans of Action
bull Sequence bull 11 then 12 then 13
bull 1113088Optional bull if the pot is full 2
bull 1113088Wait bull when kettle boils do
14
bull 1113088Cycles bull do 51 52 while
there are still empty cups
bull Parallel bull do 1 at the same
time
bull Discretionary bull do any of 131
132 or 133 in any order
Steps in HTA
1 Define the task goal (overarching task goal) bull ie what your entire manual is about
2 Data collection ndash Understand how the actual task is completedperformed
bull Observation interviews secondary research
3 Determine the next level of sub-goals by breaking down the overall goal
4 Continue breaking down the sub-goals until all operations are identified
5 Define plans to describe how to perform the operations in each sub-goal level of the hierarchy (previous slide)
Chemex Pour Over Coffee
bull Do an HTA for this process
bull Go
What is Task Analysis
bull Task analysis is typically a method used in usability testing and user-centered design for the design of interfaces
bull It is the process of learning about ordinary users by observing them in action to understand in detail how they perform their tasks and achieve their intended goals
bull It helps identify the tasks that websites and applications must support
Source Usabilitygov
Task Analysis helps you understandhellip
bull What your usersrsquo goals are what they are trying to achieve
bull What users actually do to achieve those goals
bull What experiences (personal social and cultural) users bring to the tasks
bull How users are influenced by their physical environment
bull How usersrsquo previous knowledge and experience influencebull How they think about their workbull The workflow they follow to perform their tasks
Source Usabilitygov
Task analysis can also be applied to technical manuals
bull Shift from documenting a system to documenting the tasks a user performs with the system
bull Focus from the system itself to how a human interacts with a system gt User-centered Design
bull Same holds true for manualsbull Instead of focusing on the process itself task
analysis helps you focus on the person performing the process
Hierarchical Task Analysis
bull Splitting your user tasks in tasks and sub-tasks
bull Used as an exhaustive description of tasks
bull Therefore a good starting point for manual development
Textual HTA
Source httphomepagesinfedacukdateachHCItaskspdf
Refine the HTAbull What
sub-tasks are missing
bull What about the way tasks are labeled
Diagrammatic HTA
Source httphomepagesinfedacukdateachHCItaskspdf
Refining HTA
bull Look at the previous slide and determine ways to improve the HTA
Refining HTA
bull Look for paired actions bull There is a turn off gas but where is ldquoturn on
gasrdquo restructure generate task ldquomake potrdquo
bull Reconsider hierarchybull Are there higher level steps involved that
include putting tea leaves in pot
bull Determine if tasks can be generalizedbull Eg make one cup or more
Refined HTA
Potential Plans of Action
bull Sequence bull 11 then 12 then 13
bull 1113088Optional bull if the pot is full 2
bull 1113088Wait bull when kettle boils do
14
bull 1113088Cycles bull do 51 52 while
there are still empty cups
bull Parallel bull do 1 at the same
time
bull Discretionary bull do any of 131
132 or 133 in any order
Steps in HTA
1 Define the task goal (overarching task goal) bull ie what your entire manual is about
2 Data collection ndash Understand how the actual task is completedperformed
bull Observation interviews secondary research
3 Determine the next level of sub-goals by breaking down the overall goal
4 Continue breaking down the sub-goals until all operations are identified
5 Define plans to describe how to perform the operations in each sub-goal level of the hierarchy (previous slide)
Chemex Pour Over Coffee
bull Do an HTA for this process
bull Go
Task Analysis helps you understandhellip
bull What your usersrsquo goals are what they are trying to achieve
bull What users actually do to achieve those goals
bull What experiences (personal social and cultural) users bring to the tasks
bull How users are influenced by their physical environment
bull How usersrsquo previous knowledge and experience influencebull How they think about their workbull The workflow they follow to perform their tasks
Source Usabilitygov
Task analysis can also be applied to technical manuals
bull Shift from documenting a system to documenting the tasks a user performs with the system
bull Focus from the system itself to how a human interacts with a system gt User-centered Design
bull Same holds true for manualsbull Instead of focusing on the process itself task
analysis helps you focus on the person performing the process
Hierarchical Task Analysis
bull Splitting your user tasks in tasks and sub-tasks
bull Used as an exhaustive description of tasks
bull Therefore a good starting point for manual development
Textual HTA
Source httphomepagesinfedacukdateachHCItaskspdf
Refine the HTAbull What
sub-tasks are missing
bull What about the way tasks are labeled
Diagrammatic HTA
Source httphomepagesinfedacukdateachHCItaskspdf
Refining HTA
bull Look at the previous slide and determine ways to improve the HTA
Refining HTA
bull Look for paired actions bull There is a turn off gas but where is ldquoturn on
gasrdquo restructure generate task ldquomake potrdquo
bull Reconsider hierarchybull Are there higher level steps involved that
include putting tea leaves in pot
bull Determine if tasks can be generalizedbull Eg make one cup or more
Refined HTA
Potential Plans of Action
bull Sequence bull 11 then 12 then 13
bull 1113088Optional bull if the pot is full 2
bull 1113088Wait bull when kettle boils do
14
bull 1113088Cycles bull do 51 52 while
there are still empty cups
bull Parallel bull do 1 at the same
time
bull Discretionary bull do any of 131
132 or 133 in any order
Steps in HTA
1 Define the task goal (overarching task goal) bull ie what your entire manual is about
2 Data collection ndash Understand how the actual task is completedperformed
bull Observation interviews secondary research
3 Determine the next level of sub-goals by breaking down the overall goal
4 Continue breaking down the sub-goals until all operations are identified
5 Define plans to describe how to perform the operations in each sub-goal level of the hierarchy (previous slide)
Chemex Pour Over Coffee
bull Do an HTA for this process
bull Go
Task analysis can also be applied to technical manuals
bull Shift from documenting a system to documenting the tasks a user performs with the system
bull Focus from the system itself to how a human interacts with a system gt User-centered Design
bull Same holds true for manualsbull Instead of focusing on the process itself task
analysis helps you focus on the person performing the process
Hierarchical Task Analysis
bull Splitting your user tasks in tasks and sub-tasks
bull Used as an exhaustive description of tasks
bull Therefore a good starting point for manual development
Textual HTA
Source httphomepagesinfedacukdateachHCItaskspdf
Refine the HTAbull What
sub-tasks are missing
bull What about the way tasks are labeled
Diagrammatic HTA
Source httphomepagesinfedacukdateachHCItaskspdf
Refining HTA
bull Look at the previous slide and determine ways to improve the HTA
Refining HTA
bull Look for paired actions bull There is a turn off gas but where is ldquoturn on
gasrdquo restructure generate task ldquomake potrdquo
bull Reconsider hierarchybull Are there higher level steps involved that
include putting tea leaves in pot
bull Determine if tasks can be generalizedbull Eg make one cup or more
Refined HTA
Potential Plans of Action
bull Sequence bull 11 then 12 then 13
bull 1113088Optional bull if the pot is full 2
bull 1113088Wait bull when kettle boils do
14
bull 1113088Cycles bull do 51 52 while
there are still empty cups
bull Parallel bull do 1 at the same
time
bull Discretionary bull do any of 131
132 or 133 in any order
Steps in HTA
1 Define the task goal (overarching task goal) bull ie what your entire manual is about
2 Data collection ndash Understand how the actual task is completedperformed
bull Observation interviews secondary research
3 Determine the next level of sub-goals by breaking down the overall goal
4 Continue breaking down the sub-goals until all operations are identified
5 Define plans to describe how to perform the operations in each sub-goal level of the hierarchy (previous slide)
Chemex Pour Over Coffee
bull Do an HTA for this process
bull Go
Hierarchical Task Analysis
bull Splitting your user tasks in tasks and sub-tasks
bull Used as an exhaustive description of tasks
bull Therefore a good starting point for manual development
Textual HTA
Source httphomepagesinfedacukdateachHCItaskspdf
Refine the HTAbull What
sub-tasks are missing
bull What about the way tasks are labeled
Diagrammatic HTA
Source httphomepagesinfedacukdateachHCItaskspdf
Refining HTA
bull Look at the previous slide and determine ways to improve the HTA
Refining HTA
bull Look for paired actions bull There is a turn off gas but where is ldquoturn on
gasrdquo restructure generate task ldquomake potrdquo
bull Reconsider hierarchybull Are there higher level steps involved that
include putting tea leaves in pot
bull Determine if tasks can be generalizedbull Eg make one cup or more
Refined HTA
Potential Plans of Action
bull Sequence bull 11 then 12 then 13
bull 1113088Optional bull if the pot is full 2
bull 1113088Wait bull when kettle boils do
14
bull 1113088Cycles bull do 51 52 while
there are still empty cups
bull Parallel bull do 1 at the same
time
bull Discretionary bull do any of 131
132 or 133 in any order
Steps in HTA
1 Define the task goal (overarching task goal) bull ie what your entire manual is about
2 Data collection ndash Understand how the actual task is completedperformed
bull Observation interviews secondary research
3 Determine the next level of sub-goals by breaking down the overall goal
4 Continue breaking down the sub-goals until all operations are identified
5 Define plans to describe how to perform the operations in each sub-goal level of the hierarchy (previous slide)
Chemex Pour Over Coffee
bull Do an HTA for this process
bull Go
Textual HTA
Source httphomepagesinfedacukdateachHCItaskspdf
Refine the HTAbull What
sub-tasks are missing
bull What about the way tasks are labeled
Diagrammatic HTA
Source httphomepagesinfedacukdateachHCItaskspdf
Refining HTA
bull Look at the previous slide and determine ways to improve the HTA
Refining HTA
bull Look for paired actions bull There is a turn off gas but where is ldquoturn on
gasrdquo restructure generate task ldquomake potrdquo
bull Reconsider hierarchybull Are there higher level steps involved that
include putting tea leaves in pot
bull Determine if tasks can be generalizedbull Eg make one cup or more
Refined HTA
Potential Plans of Action
bull Sequence bull 11 then 12 then 13
bull 1113088Optional bull if the pot is full 2
bull 1113088Wait bull when kettle boils do
14
bull 1113088Cycles bull do 51 52 while
there are still empty cups
bull Parallel bull do 1 at the same
time
bull Discretionary bull do any of 131
132 or 133 in any order
Steps in HTA
1 Define the task goal (overarching task goal) bull ie what your entire manual is about
2 Data collection ndash Understand how the actual task is completedperformed
bull Observation interviews secondary research
3 Determine the next level of sub-goals by breaking down the overall goal
4 Continue breaking down the sub-goals until all operations are identified
5 Define plans to describe how to perform the operations in each sub-goal level of the hierarchy (previous slide)
Chemex Pour Over Coffee
bull Do an HTA for this process
bull Go
Refine the HTAbull What
sub-tasks are missing
bull What about the way tasks are labeled
Diagrammatic HTA
Source httphomepagesinfedacukdateachHCItaskspdf
Refining HTA
bull Look at the previous slide and determine ways to improve the HTA
Refining HTA
bull Look for paired actions bull There is a turn off gas but where is ldquoturn on
gasrdquo restructure generate task ldquomake potrdquo
bull Reconsider hierarchybull Are there higher level steps involved that
include putting tea leaves in pot
bull Determine if tasks can be generalizedbull Eg make one cup or more
Refined HTA
Potential Plans of Action
bull Sequence bull 11 then 12 then 13
bull 1113088Optional bull if the pot is full 2
bull 1113088Wait bull when kettle boils do
14
bull 1113088Cycles bull do 51 52 while
there are still empty cups
bull Parallel bull do 1 at the same
time
bull Discretionary bull do any of 131
132 or 133 in any order
Steps in HTA
1 Define the task goal (overarching task goal) bull ie what your entire manual is about
2 Data collection ndash Understand how the actual task is completedperformed
bull Observation interviews secondary research
3 Determine the next level of sub-goals by breaking down the overall goal
4 Continue breaking down the sub-goals until all operations are identified
5 Define plans to describe how to perform the operations in each sub-goal level of the hierarchy (previous slide)
Chemex Pour Over Coffee
bull Do an HTA for this process
bull Go
Diagrammatic HTA
Source httphomepagesinfedacukdateachHCItaskspdf
Refining HTA
bull Look at the previous slide and determine ways to improve the HTA
Refining HTA
bull Look for paired actions bull There is a turn off gas but where is ldquoturn on
gasrdquo restructure generate task ldquomake potrdquo
bull Reconsider hierarchybull Are there higher level steps involved that
include putting tea leaves in pot
bull Determine if tasks can be generalizedbull Eg make one cup or more
Refined HTA
Potential Plans of Action
bull Sequence bull 11 then 12 then 13
bull 1113088Optional bull if the pot is full 2
bull 1113088Wait bull when kettle boils do
14
bull 1113088Cycles bull do 51 52 while
there are still empty cups
bull Parallel bull do 1 at the same
time
bull Discretionary bull do any of 131
132 or 133 in any order
Steps in HTA
1 Define the task goal (overarching task goal) bull ie what your entire manual is about
2 Data collection ndash Understand how the actual task is completedperformed
bull Observation interviews secondary research
3 Determine the next level of sub-goals by breaking down the overall goal
4 Continue breaking down the sub-goals until all operations are identified
5 Define plans to describe how to perform the operations in each sub-goal level of the hierarchy (previous slide)
Chemex Pour Over Coffee
bull Do an HTA for this process
bull Go
Refining HTA
bull Look at the previous slide and determine ways to improve the HTA
Refining HTA
bull Look for paired actions bull There is a turn off gas but where is ldquoturn on
gasrdquo restructure generate task ldquomake potrdquo
bull Reconsider hierarchybull Are there higher level steps involved that
include putting tea leaves in pot
bull Determine if tasks can be generalizedbull Eg make one cup or more
Refined HTA
Potential Plans of Action
bull Sequence bull 11 then 12 then 13
bull 1113088Optional bull if the pot is full 2
bull 1113088Wait bull when kettle boils do
14
bull 1113088Cycles bull do 51 52 while
there are still empty cups
bull Parallel bull do 1 at the same
time
bull Discretionary bull do any of 131
132 or 133 in any order
Steps in HTA
1 Define the task goal (overarching task goal) bull ie what your entire manual is about
2 Data collection ndash Understand how the actual task is completedperformed
bull Observation interviews secondary research
3 Determine the next level of sub-goals by breaking down the overall goal
4 Continue breaking down the sub-goals until all operations are identified
5 Define plans to describe how to perform the operations in each sub-goal level of the hierarchy (previous slide)
Chemex Pour Over Coffee
bull Do an HTA for this process
bull Go
Refining HTA
bull Look for paired actions bull There is a turn off gas but where is ldquoturn on
gasrdquo restructure generate task ldquomake potrdquo
bull Reconsider hierarchybull Are there higher level steps involved that
include putting tea leaves in pot
bull Determine if tasks can be generalizedbull Eg make one cup or more
Refined HTA
Potential Plans of Action
bull Sequence bull 11 then 12 then 13
bull 1113088Optional bull if the pot is full 2
bull 1113088Wait bull when kettle boils do
14
bull 1113088Cycles bull do 51 52 while
there are still empty cups
bull Parallel bull do 1 at the same
time
bull Discretionary bull do any of 131
132 or 133 in any order
Steps in HTA
1 Define the task goal (overarching task goal) bull ie what your entire manual is about
2 Data collection ndash Understand how the actual task is completedperformed
bull Observation interviews secondary research
3 Determine the next level of sub-goals by breaking down the overall goal
4 Continue breaking down the sub-goals until all operations are identified
5 Define plans to describe how to perform the operations in each sub-goal level of the hierarchy (previous slide)
Chemex Pour Over Coffee
bull Do an HTA for this process
bull Go
Refined HTA
Potential Plans of Action
bull Sequence bull 11 then 12 then 13
bull 1113088Optional bull if the pot is full 2
bull 1113088Wait bull when kettle boils do
14
bull 1113088Cycles bull do 51 52 while
there are still empty cups
bull Parallel bull do 1 at the same
time
bull Discretionary bull do any of 131
132 or 133 in any order
Steps in HTA
1 Define the task goal (overarching task goal) bull ie what your entire manual is about
2 Data collection ndash Understand how the actual task is completedperformed
bull Observation interviews secondary research
3 Determine the next level of sub-goals by breaking down the overall goal
4 Continue breaking down the sub-goals until all operations are identified
5 Define plans to describe how to perform the operations in each sub-goal level of the hierarchy (previous slide)
Chemex Pour Over Coffee
bull Do an HTA for this process
bull Go
Potential Plans of Action
bull Sequence bull 11 then 12 then 13
bull 1113088Optional bull if the pot is full 2
bull 1113088Wait bull when kettle boils do
14
bull 1113088Cycles bull do 51 52 while
there are still empty cups
bull Parallel bull do 1 at the same
time
bull Discretionary bull do any of 131
132 or 133 in any order
Steps in HTA
1 Define the task goal (overarching task goal) bull ie what your entire manual is about
2 Data collection ndash Understand how the actual task is completedperformed
bull Observation interviews secondary research
3 Determine the next level of sub-goals by breaking down the overall goal
4 Continue breaking down the sub-goals until all operations are identified
5 Define plans to describe how to perform the operations in each sub-goal level of the hierarchy (previous slide)
Chemex Pour Over Coffee
bull Do an HTA for this process
bull Go
Steps in HTA
1 Define the task goal (overarching task goal) bull ie what your entire manual is about
2 Data collection ndash Understand how the actual task is completedperformed
bull Observation interviews secondary research
3 Determine the next level of sub-goals by breaking down the overall goal
4 Continue breaking down the sub-goals until all operations are identified
5 Define plans to describe how to perform the operations in each sub-goal level of the hierarchy (previous slide)
Chemex Pour Over Coffee
bull Do an HTA for this process
bull Go
Chemex Pour Over Coffee
bull Do an HTA for this process
bull Go
