SAP Usability Activities at ASUG Events: Collecting Feedback From End Users

By Michelle Clary, Senior Marketing Manager, SAP User Experience, SAP Labs, Palo Alto – Updated: December 19, 2008

Overview

 

Summary

At ASUG events, SAP development staff (developers, product management, solution management, specialists, user interface designers etc.) have the opportunity to collect feedback on design concepts and applications directly from end users. This is accomplished by carrying out SAP Usability Activities, including usability tests, user interviews, or focus group sessions. SAP User Experience of SAP Labs in Palo Alto organizes and supports these activities by collaborating with development groups in all phases: preparation, on-site support, and post-event analysis, and reporting.

 

What Is ASUG and how Does it Relate to SAP?

ASUG (Americas' SAP Users' Group), is the world's largest, independent community made up of over 50,000 like-minded SAP customers and providers, representing more than 1,750 companies which serve as the collective influential voice of customers shaping the future of SAP solutions. Through experience-driven education and peer networking, ASUG members help each other find new and better ways to solve problems and achieve their business goals. Usability testing at ASUG is optimal for you because it allows you to get your products/solutions into the hands of knowledgeable end users who are eager to give us their feedback.

 

What Are Typical SAP Usability Activities at ASUG Events?

Usability activities give SAP colleagues the opportunity to interact with a wide array of SAP customers, partners, and prospects one-on-one, in a hands-on setting. Individual activity sessions normally last 60 minutes, and include one or a combination of the following:

How do you benefit from conducting SAP Usability Activities at ASUG events? You can receive direct feedback and ideas from the end users with regard to your application or design concept. When using prototypes this helps to make the right design decisions and avoid risks at an early stage of the development phase, thus increasing chances that your final design will meet customer needs. By conducting usability testing, development groups put the Usability Standard of our Product Innovation Lifecycle (PIL) into practice which is based on the ISO standard 13407 on Human-Centered Design Processes for Interactive Systems, particularly with regard to:

  • Actively involving users
  • Iterating design solutions
  • Evaluating designs against requirements

Usability activities bear the potential for additional benefits which are closer related to product management or product definition goals: e.g., inquiring about customer requirements, educating participants about new design features or development directions. While a portion of participants also wants to learn something new, they choose usability testing deliberately for their high degree of interactivity and opportunity to give personal input.

 

Events

2009

ASUG Annual Conference/SAPPHIRE

  • May 11-14: ASUG Annual Conference, Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, Florida

ASUG Fall Forums

  • September 14-16:Business Management (co-located with the Business Objects User Conference), Atlanta, Georgia
  • October 18-21: Operations Optimization, Dallas, Texas

 

Previous Events

2008

ASUG Annual Conference/SAPPHIRE

  • May 4-7: ASUG Annual Conference, Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, Florida

ASUG Fall Focus Forums

  • September 15-17: Operations Optimization, Gaylord Opryland Hotel & Convention Center, Nashville, TN
  • October 20-22:Business Management (co-located with the Business Objects User Conference), Hilton Anatole, Dallas, Texas

 

Additional Information and Resources

Contact

  • Michelle Clary, Senior Marketing Manager, SAP User Experience, SAP Labs, Palo Alto

 

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