UX Competency - A research based framework for UX/UCD practitioners

UX Competency InitiativeJohn Knight - Usability Newshttp://www.uxcf.org/04-07-2011

UX Industry - current risks/opportunitiesNew industry with big impact and low barriers to entryLow barriers to entry - anyone can call themselves a UX practitionerFast moving industry in constant flux requiring new skills and competenciesDiverse discipline covering widely different skills - e.g. design and researchLack of UX education and gap between practitioners and educatorsLack of defined roles and even job titlesLack of clear skill sets and career pathsAccreditation and standards have failed in this areaPractitioners often have (and need) multidisciplinary backgrounds - no single fixClients and employers may not be familiar with the discipline and know what to ask forRisk - low quality will compromise the sustainability of the discipline. Presentation to insert name here 2

Job Postings on Usability NewsLack of common titles and roles in the industryUser Experience ConsultantSenior User Experience ProfessionalUser Research /Tester /IAWeb Usability PractitionerSenior UX /IADirector, UX and Site OptimizationUser Experience DesignersLead User Experience ArchitectUser Experience Architect /ManagerHead of Design, Digital MediaGraduate User Experience ConsultantJunior User Experience ConsultantManager /Lead Information ArchitectAndroid Mobile User Experience Designer Presentation to insert name here 2

UXCF 2010 - Insights into UX JobsAnalysis of 40 UX role descriptionsPractice orientationSplit between more tradition UCD roles and the newer UX onesUCD roles are more research based while UX ones focus on design and best practiceCompetency orientationRoles evenly split over four orientations - Technical, Generalist, Interaction & Best PracticeRole orientationFour way spit between - Manage, Lead, Design and Expert orientationsAttitudinal orientationFour way spit between - Passionate, Analytical, Creative and Detailed Presentation to insert name here 2

UXCF 2010 - UX Jobs GraphicPractice orientation Attitudinal orientationRole orientation Competency orientation 3

Dreyfus’ Competence Acquisition ModelNovice-to-Expert scale (1) Level Stage Characteristics How know- Recognition How Decision- ledge etc is of context is making treated relevance assessed 1 Novice Rigid adherence to taught rules or plans Without Little situational perception reference to No discretionary judgement context None 2 Advanced Guidelines for action based on attributes or aspects (aspects are global beginner characteristics of situations recognisable only after some prior experience) Situational perception still limited Analytically All attributes and aspects are treated separately and given equal importance 3 Competent Coping with crowdedness Rational Now sees actions at least partially in terms of longer-term goals Conscious, deliberate planning Standardised and routinised procedures In context 4 Proficient Sees situations holistically rather thanmin terms of aspects Sees what is most important in a situation Perceives deviations from the normal pattern Present Decision-making less laboured Uses maxims for guidance, whose meanings vary according to the situation Holistically 5 Expert No longer relies on rules, guidelines or maxims Intuitive grasp of situations based on deep tacit understanding Intuitive Analytic approaches used only in novel situations or when problems occur Vision of what is possibleAdapted from: Dreyfus, S E (1981) Four models v human situational understanding: inherent limitations on the modelling of business expertise USAFOffice of Scientific Research, ref F49620-79-C-0063; Dreyfus, H L & Dreyfus, S E (1984) "Putting computers in their proper place: analysis versus intuitionin the classroom," in D Sloan (ed) The computer in education: a critical perspective Columbia NY, Teachers College Press. 6

The UXCF Dimensions• Practice – e.g. underlying discipline – IA, user research etc• Competency focus – e.g. abstracted skills relevant to practice - analysis• Role – e.g. type of work done – manager, designer etc• Externalisation – e.g. what is produced - reporting to wireframes• Competence - novice, advanced beginner, competent, proficient, expert• Progression – e.g. level in organisation/career - Junior to senior Presentation to insert name here 5

Usability News - Popular UX Job Site Presentation to insert name here 6

Applying UXCF - Usability News Jobs Presentation to insert name here 6

Other observations - gaps in educationPlanning UX work and prioritisationPragmatic design and research decision-making and communicationUnderstanding of the multidisciplinary nature of UX and the various elements that are needed todeliver quality User Experiences Presentation to insert name here 7

Some Observations - Current Job Market• Rise of portfolios vs. CV or wireframe examples• Method of deliverables is changing - skills relating to one option is a risk e.g. wireframing• Medium – emphasis on Web which is overdetermined• Client/employer capability - knowing what is good UX is maturing• Research seems to be more tightly defined than design• Learning on the job/intern increasing Presentation to insert name here 7

Appendix - UXCF 2010 Poster Presentation to insert name here 7

Core UX/UCD ac,vi,es and associated professions UX Jobs UX Activities Business Marketing Analysis User researcher User requirements Functional requirements Concept, Service design Ideation Accessibility UX Architect UX Designer Prototyping IA UI Developer Interface design Wireframing Visual design Usability tester Usability testing Imple m entatio n Web analyticsOutput from UXCF2010 by Nigel Bevan

UX ArchitectConcept/Design Implementation User research Evaluation Training SkillsInnovation Proto/sketch EvaluationExploration Info.vis Att’n to detailDirection Pragmatism Tech knowl.Vision Flexibility Usability exp Objectivity Research Persuasion/influence Communication Analytical

Attitude UX PRO Craft Make it personal See the big picture Value to Active listening Be the glue process Know when to between depts/ Simultaneous use method teams bird’s eye and detail Knowledge of Go out of Understand the process comfort zone process & and engage methodology Analytical skillsSay what you Works in Know a Knowledge ofcannot do teams (co- number of [tech] industry tools & their Tools pilot) Learn to learn uses Articulate new things Responds well to feedback Be creative Opinionated

Collaboration Analytical skills Active listening and facilitation - understanding Collaborate Be able and FlexibleCommunication willing to articulate user and business Be analytical needs Know a Learn to learn methodology new methodologies Know another Work in teams methodology

Design Creative Research Evaluation ProblemProcess solving Multidimensional Knowledge UX Personal qualities Skills PragmatismPresentation/communication Receptiveness Flexibility Visual Oral Appreciate Written other views

Pragmatism Not being defensive Appreciation of Knowledge Standard usability techniques others views Flexibility Presentation skills Visual Oral Written Knowledge Knowledge of “design process” Knowledge User research techniques Qualitative Quantitative Knowledge Best practice/standards Prototyping tools – however simple

UX Competency InitiativeJohn Knight - Usability Newshttp://www.uxcf.org/04-07-2011

http://storify.com	666
https://twitter.com	49
http://a0.twimg.com	43
http://www.twylah.com	20
http://www.linkedin.com	16
http://us-w1.rockmelt.com	6
http://localhost	1
https://twimg0-a.akamaihd.net	1
https://si0.twimg.com	1

UX Competency - A research based framework for UX/UCD practitioners

by John Knight

Accessibility

Categories

Upload Details

Usage Rights

9 Embeds 803

Statistics