Usability engineering in dollars and cents

A cost-benefit analysis of usability engineering's contribution in two projects, obtaining both preproject estimates and postproject feedback, is presented. The first project involved replacing a business system and adding a new function. Usability engineering was completed within the seven-month development schedule. It included three iterations of usability tests that were a mixture of field and laboratory tests of both rough prototypes and the new application running on a test system. The second project involved replacing a semiautomatic process with a fully automated system. Usability activities include task analysis, screen design, baseline testing, usability prototype testing, results reporting, and recommendations for redesign and were completed in 21 months.<
>