Towards a Readiness Model for Usable‐Software Development in Organizations

Abstract

ContextPrioritizing usability in software development is vital to ensure a positive user experience and efficient performance. Failing to do so can result in negative consequences such as increased costs, damage to reputation, and loss of trust. Usability should be considered throughout the entire software development life cycle (SDLC), not just as an afterthought. Accordingly, adopting and integrating usability practices is crucial but can be complex. Thus, organizations must assess their readiness to start and improve usability initiatives. In this context, software organizations can benefit from using a usability readiness model to enhance integration and assist practitioners in systematically and structurally applying usability practices.ObjectiveWe propose a readiness model for usable software development (RMUSD). This model allows organizations to assess their readiness to create usable software, leading to improved user experience and better usability methods throughout the SDLC.MethodTo develop the RMUSD, we conducted a systematic mapping study that gathered 238 relevant studies in the usability engineering domain. From these studies, we synthesized 50 best usability practices that form the foundation of the RMUSD. We also drew inspiration from existing software engineering readiness and usability maturity models.ResultsThe RMUSD is built at five levels, each with various aspects to consider, such as related usability practices, implications, organizational characteristics, and success factors for moving up to the next level. The model was evaluated through two real‐world case studies and eight experts.ConclusionThe evaluation results reveal that the suggested RMUSD is practical in determining the organization's readiness to develop usable software.