Systems development methods and usability in Norway: an industrial perspective

  • Authors:

  • Bendik Bygstad;Gheorghita Ghinea;Eivind Brevik

  • Affiliations:

  • Norwegian School of Information Technology, Oslo, Norway;Norwegian School of Information Technology, Oslo, Norway and School of Information Systems and Computing, Brunel University, UK;Norwegian School of Information Technology, Oslo, Norway

  • Venue:
  • UI-HCII'07 Proceedings of the 2nd international conference on Usability and internationalization
  • Year:
  • 2007

Quantified Score

Hi-index 0.01

Visualization

Abstract

This paper investigates the relationship between traditional systems development methodologies and usability, through a survey of 78 Norwegian IT companies. Building on previous research we proposed two hypotheses; (1) that software companies will generally pay lip service to usability, but do not prioritize it in industrial projects, and (2) that systems development methods and usability are perceived as not being integrated. We find support for both hypotheses. Thus, the use of systems development methods is fairly stable, confirming earlier research. Most companies do not use a formal method, and of those who do, the majority use their own method. Generally, the use of methods is rather pragmatic: Companies that do not use formal methods report that they use elements from such methods. Further, companies that use their own method import elements from standardised methods into their own.