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Overview

Scenario-based Claims Analysis

Suggested Improvements

References

CS5724 -- HCI
Dr. Carroll

Suggested Improvements

The Banner System, used at Virginia Tech, manages all human resource data related information on campus. The system is versatile enough to handle information about hourly employees and emergency hires as well as research grants and other human resource accounting issues specific to the university environment.

In our evaluation of the system, we learned of many excellent features. Our task, however, was to evaluate select portions, or scenarios, from within the whole system, in order to identify areas of improvement for the user.

Based on our study of scenarios, and claims analysis, the following suggestions are made:

• Shorten form names to meaningful abbreviations; for example, GENMENU becomes GENERAL for General Menu.
• Label menu items with meaningful abbreviations; for example, A for ALUMNI, H for HRS, G for General, V or D for VT HR DEPT, and P for PASSWORD. In addition, underline them.
• I-beam cursor for selection items should be changed to the more common arrow cursor.
• Buttons in Application form windows provide the information on the button or use pop-up menu items with default input item of the field.
• The system should be totally navigable via keyboard and/or mouse.
• The wild card character should be changed to a "*" to be consistent with other applications.
• The entire form should either be filled in when it is displayed or a button should be added to the forms that prompts the user to load the rest of the data.
• The system should automatically save all information as it is entered.
• The system should track transactions that are not submitted and remind users of these transactions to avoid having them lost in the system.
• The "Exit" button should either be changed to only take the user back one level in the form hierarchy, or a "Previous Form" button should be added to allow the user an intuitive method for returning to the previous form.
• The data entry boxes should all look the same and work the same. If a box has pre-determined data, it should be a different shape so the user can see visually that this entry point is different.
• Use of the keyboard should be available for all data entry points, and use of the mouse should be available for all entry points.

Conclusion

The Banner System is in place to provide access to human resource data on a campus wide level. As such, the interface for this system requires that a great number of users be able to interact correctly with the system. It is felt that by including some of the suggestions listed here, the user will be able to complete their tasks on the Banner System in a more timely and productive manner. This will be of benefit to the university as well as to the company developing the system.