User Observations

Observing users perform their work is a helpful and unobtrusive way of gaining an understanding of:

• The tasks they carry out and
• How they use information and other software and hardware devices to achieve an outcome from their interaction with a system

Even if the processes that support the planned system will be different, the observations of the current processes will provide a useful context for discussions. It will also help the engineer empathize with the user, which can result in a deeper understanding of the issues they face and provide the basis for the discovery of potential solutions. An engineer will often discover unmentioned documents, checklists and clue cards that can help illuminate the process. Equipped with a mobile phone or camera, it is also useful for the engineer to take photographs of the user working, which will help engineers and others recall and discuss the task during the requirements analysis phase.

Enterprise Architect supports the modeler in representing files such as photos and scanned documents directly in the model, creating a rich and expressive representation of the user at work. There is the option to represent these as an Artifact (which, with a single key stroke (F12), will launch the file) or to use a hyperlink or even to include the image itself in a diagram. For more information see the Changing Element Appearance topic.

This diagram represents a photograph taken by an engineer of an advanced production line robot assisting with a manufacturing system. The image can be placed into diagrams, and relationships can be drawn between the robot and other parts of the system description, including requirements.