Process-centered design
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Process-centered design (PCD) is a design methodology, which proposes a business centric approach for designing user interfaces. Because of the multi-stage business analysis steps involved right from the beginning of the PCD life cycle, it is believed to achieve the highest levels of business-IT alignment that is possible through UI.
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[edit] Purpose
This method is aimed at enterprise applications where there is a business process involved. Unlike content oriented systems such as websites or portals, enterprise applications are built to enable a company's business processes. Enterprise applications often have a clear business goal and a set of specific objectives like- improve employee productivity, increase business performance by a certain percent, etc.
[edit] Comparison between other popular UI design methods
Although there are proven UI design methodologies (like the most popular "User-centered design", which helps design highly Usable Interfaces), PCD differentiates itself by precisely catering to business process intensive software which has not been the case with other UI design methodologies.
[edit] Process-UI alignment
Process-UI alignment is claimed[1] to be the critical component of PCD, which ensures tight alignment between the business process and the enterprise application being developed. Hence in PCD, this step becomes a mandate before the UI design activities begin.
For example: A call center software used by a customer support agent, if designed for high process-UI alignment will achieve tremendous agent productivity improvement and call center performance; which is not likely to be seen if it were designed only for user satisfaction, ease of use, etc.
[edit] PCD in practice
Although PCD is not yet a wide spread methodology, papers and articles are beginning to be published,[1] and some case studies are also showcased.[2] The PCD community on LinkedIn (a professional networking tool) boasts a growing global membership.[3]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b "Process-User Interface Alignment: New Value From a New Level of Alignment". Align Journal. October 03, 2007. http://www.alignjournal.com/index.cfm?section=article&aid=446. Retrieved 2008-08-01.
- ^ Cognizant (a large information technology company) quotes to have successfully applied PCD to a large number of business applications. "Cognizant's Showcase". Cognizant.com. http://www.cognizant.com/html/solutions/services/usability/innovativeProcess.asp. Retrieved 2008-08-01.
- ^ LinkedIn PCD Group boasts a global membership
[edit] External links
- Align Journal, October 3 2007, Retrieved on Aug 01, 2008. Process-User Interface Alignment: New Value From a New Level of Alignment
- More research exploring the relation between business process and user interfaces: ACM SAC 2008: Sousa, Mendonca, Vanderdonckt
