Usability Study

Streamline Software Management Pipeline Tools

The aim of this project was to deliver a design concept that represented the core idea driving the design of a product. It spoke of the most important design decisions, features, and values of a solution. Additionally, it provided a roadmap and reference for further design, development, and implementation, presenting an aspirational picture of the full solution.

Deliverables / UX Research

Usability Testing Report

Wireframes

Clickable Prototype

Tools /

Sketch

Figma

Role /

UX Research,

User Interview,

UIUX Design

Year /

12 weeks, 2022

Contributions /

User Research

Wireframing

User Interface Design

Prototyping

Our Client

Our client, a prominent PC components and CPU manufacturer of semiconductor circuits in the United States, approached us regarding their current software releasing tools. These tools are essential products within the client's platforms, aiding development teams in planning, developing, testing, and deploying software releases.

OVERVIEW

About the Project

Our client approached us with a request to evaluate their existing software release tools. These tools play a crucial role in their platforms, assisting development teams in planning, developing, testing, and deploying software updates. They are especially valuable for agile teams seeking to deliver frequent updates efficiently.

Our goal is to optimize the software release process by understanding user needs, identifying pain points, and collecting pertinent data to assess areas of opportunity.

UNDERSTANDING

Stakeholders Interview

In order to gain a high level understanding about the users and business expectations, we met with six stakeholders, including technical, business, and product owners. Through these conversations, we were able to gain insights into the users' goals, challenges, and pain points.

Insights:

Provided an overview of the existing tools, the business goals, technical constraints, and user needs.
Identified the user groups, their flows, and the overall experience of the application.

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RESEARCH

User Interview

Our approach:

1. Meet users for 2 tools to understand their experience and relationships when using the tools

2.Understand software management lifecycle

3.Asses tool’s usability, identify key pain points and opportunity areas and to propose

SYNTHESIS

Alignment Workshop

After conducting user interviews and gathering insights from our research, we organized them using four UX methodologies, which include:
Personas, Tool Map, User Journey, Usability Assessment

1️⃣ Personas

We conducted interviews with a diverse group of 20 individuals, encompassing eight distinct personas from the two tools.

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Among them, the Gatekeeper from Tool A and the Client Customer Enablement and Product Support Engineer from Tool B are the primary users who extensively utilize these tools.

2️⃣ Mapping the Ecosystem

To assess both tools effectively, it is essential to gain a comprehensive understanding of the current software release process through stakeholder interviews.

Tool A: Software Validation

Tool A handles software validation, enabling teams to establish and track essential checkpoints throughout the software development lifecycle, ensuring effective project management and goal achievement.

Tool B: Software Packaging

Tool B, Build, Kit, and Commit (BKC) Packaging, automates the packaging step, eliminating manual efforts and enhancing reliability. With its robust capabilities, teams can quickly package software and ensure consistency across deployments.

3️⃣ User Journey Map

After identifing the primary user group. We delved into their journey, aiming to understand the user's experience comprehensively over time.

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Insights:

Fragmented Information Sources
The tools, unfortunately, contribute to fragmented information sources rather than centralizing them. Users are left dealing with scattered data across different platforms, leading to a disjointed experience where relevant information is dispersed and difficult to locate.
Incomplete Tool Functionality
Although the tools strived to be helpful, there were still gaps in their functionality. Users often found themselves needing to seek answers or information from external sources, indicating that the tools were not yet comprehensive enough to fulfill all their needs.
Hidden Information
Users faced with the current tools was the difficulty in finding relevant information. Although the tools might provide valuable information, it was often buried within the interface, making it hard for users to discover.

4️⃣ Usability Assessment & Possible Solutions

By identifying the areas where the process begins to falter, we delved deeper into each step to unravel the underlying issues. This enabled us to comprehend the specific aspects of the process that required improvement and consider potential solutions to address them effectively.

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Insights:

After conducting the usability assessment, we have identified several usability issues across the following six categories of improvement:

Navigation: Challenges in finding and accessing specific features or information within the tools.
Kit Information: Difficulties in obtaining and comprehending relevant kit-related details.
Input Processes: Complex or cumbersome data input procedures impacting user efficiency and accuracy.
Decision-Making Workarounds: The need for manual workarounds or additional steps to make informed decisions.
Flows and External Processes: Disconnected or disjointed interactions between different flows and external systems.
Data Traceability: Lack of clear conventions and mechanisms to track and understand data origins and transformations.

🚥 Deliverable Directions

After concluding the presentation, we provided the client with three viable choices regarding the direction of the usability study. By offering a range of options, we ensured that the client had the opportunity to select the most suitable solution tailored to their specific requirements.

Unified Interface

Shared UI, different portals

Consolidating a unified interface with reusable components and widgets that can be shared between Tool A and Tool B, but still allowing independent workflows

Single Streamlined System

New system, one platform

Reframing the BKC process as a unified system, designing a new tool that brings all software management processes together. Addresses overlaps and efficiencies through a single solution

Product Visibility Solution

Common feature, different portals

Creating a cross-portal feature that that allows for multiple levels of tracking, detailed product information and software evolution. Gives a connected view of end to end software release process

🧐 How Might We...

Following the client's decision in favor of option 2, the chosen approach maintains two distinct tools that share common features and components.

Improve Navigation
How might we enhance the navigation experience to enable seamless movement between the two tools for users?
Integrate Validation Test Results
How might we effectively integrate validation test results to streamline the testing process and improve overall efficiency?
Streamline Kit Info
How might we streamline the management and accessibility of Kit information to enhance efficiency and effectiveness in its utilization?
Improve Data Traceability Conventions
How might we improve data traceability conventions to ensure accurate and reliable tracking of data throughout various processes and systems?

📏 Design Principles

We wanted to establish a set of guiding values, beliefs, and best practices that inform the design of a product. The design principles helped us ensure that design decisions were consistent, purposeful, and aligned with the goals and objectives of the project.