Stakeholder Status And The Effects On Product Usability

Abstract

Organizations dedicate considerable resources to developing software tools and often utilize usability studies to improve their products.  Unfortunately, usability studies can be costly and some companies are using internal employees as participants in an effort to improve their product while controlling costs.  However, the effects of using internal employees on usability study requirement identification and implementation is not yet understood.

This field research was conducted at a Fortune 100 Company and investigates the relationship between participants’ organizational status and the implementation of usability requirements they identify for an Enterprise Storage Resource Management product.  A theoretical model based on status characteristics theory is proposed.  Regression analysis suggests that organizational status is a significant indicator of the likelihood of usability study requirement implementation.  Organizational status of an individual should be carefully considered when soliciting product feedback.