Joe's Jottings
Jottings Number 55, Reply G, by Scott Thomas:
Date: Fri, 17 May 96 15:06:22 -0700
Key Thought: NIRFBALLS
I've really enjoyed this thread. When I was in school, studying
things other than computer science, we used to talk about the "hairy
hand of the director" in films or plays where the director's presence
was a little too obvious. This was always meant as a criticism.
Maybe that's one key difference between "art" and utilitarian
occupations like software engineering: it's not that you don't need a
director, but that the director's role doesn't need to be so
inconspicuous for the work to be a success. No room for subtleties in
a software creation, I guess.
As Joe says in his opening remarks, what you call things is important.
So I've taken a moment to codify Interact's "Quality of Experience"
list into NIRFBALLS, because I liked the list, and wanted some way to
remember it. (I've renamed a couple of the characteristics, and added
"Integrated".)
NEEDED - Does the product satisfy a critical business need?
INTEGRATED - Does the product integrate well in look, feel, and
function with other products?
RESEARCHED - Did the designers understand the needs and
characteristics of the people who will use the product?
FLEXIBLE - Can people change the product to suit themselves and
tailor it for other uses?
BALANCED - Is the "total solution" the right balance of people,
process and technology?
AESTHETIC - Is the product pleasing to use?
LEARNABLE & USABLE - Is the product easy to learn and use?
LASTING - What is it like to use the product over longer periods of
time?
SOUND APPROACH - Did the process involve the right players?
involve lots of little steps towards the goal?
Scott