Usability-perspektiv på utvärdering av system för samarbete - en fallstudie på Volvo Aero

Sammanfattning: AbstractIn a dynamic world where demands on organisations are high, it is important for themto quickly be able to change. At the same time it is important that the production ofgoods and services proceeds with a minimum of faults. To facilitate this production ofgoods and services it is crucial that the used information technology is perceived asuseful by the concerned co-workers. This is also true when it comes to systems for cooperation,so called CSCW-systems. The practical goal of research concerningCSCW-systems is to guarantee that Information Technology tools are designed tosupport co-operation among users.Many of the present CSCW-systems incorporate serious usability problems, and thisis largely due to the absence of practical and relevant methods for evaluation. Basedon a case study at Volvo Aero, we look into how an evaluation-method should beconstructed in order to support evaluation of such systems. The evaluation-criteriaused by the thesis is based upon usability-theory. The criteria mentioned in thistheory, and used by us are usefulness, effectiveness, learnability, and attitude.Our study shows that an evaluation based on usability theory should contain thecriteria described within the boundaries of usability. The thesis further shows that anadditional factor, apart from the before mentioned, affects the users feeling of thesystems usability. The evaluation based on usability-theory should according to thethesis, therefore be complemented with criteria concerning adaptation. This to betterbe able to reflect the users view of the systems usability.The result of this thesis could be useful in providing other students or groups with aninterest in evaluation of CSCW-systems, a starting point for further research. Theconclusions presented in the thesis will hopefully be of use for the organisation wherethe case study took place.Keywords: CSCW, Collaboration, Usability, Evaluation, Organisational change