What Does User Integration Mean for Software Design?
By Gerd Waloszek, SAP AG, Product Design Center – Originally published in the Philosophy section Abstract Most people readily agree that users should be integrated into the software development process, but many software companies still hesitate to make this happen. This article takes a look at the obstacles that still exist, touches on the necessary changes in the minds of the developers and in the company as a whole, and gives some advice on how user integration can be successfully brought to life. Usability experts have long insisted that users should be integrated into the software development process, but it is only recently that software companies have become willing to listen to their message. For SAP, the Enjoy initiative has brought the idea of user integration to life – and, as a result, changed the thinking of the entire company.
