UI defines anything that a user may interact with on a digital screen. UI has been around since the 1980’s, and has since become more complex in nature. Actions that previously required manual inputs can now be done at the click of a button. UI evolved to fit many different types of technologies: phones, watches, tablets and more. UX, which stands for user experience, encompasses all aspects of a product. According to Peter Moreville, your product should be usable, useful, findable, credible, desirable, accessible and valuable.
With this in mind, The Greenspring Review should consider Task Analysis in their structure. Task analysis helps teams discover how they arrived at a certain conclusion. This is extremely useful, as it can make other aspects a lot more clear. It can also allow alternatives to get more room to shine, as this sort of basic questioning is often forgone. There are many different ways to perform Task Analysis, but they accomplish the same goals. Task Analyses cover every option available to you, discover how events occur, sees if desired outcome is more easily achievable and look at alternative goals.
There are two parts of Task Analysis that The Greenspring Review should look: desired and expected outcome. Expected outcome describes what the user thinks is the likely path, while the desired is the path that they want to use. The Greenspring Review needs to keep this in mind for ease of use. By creating UI and designs that are both desired and expected, The Greenspring Review could create something that is truly intuitive. However, it is important to recognize that a perfect design is usually not possible or feasible. Instead, pick the path that is most functional and fits the site’s design philosophy.
Task Analysis also makes something else clear: what angles/designs/questions will NOT work. While Task Analysis can break down the layers of dilemmas that seem simple on the surface, it can also open doors that have no business being open. Some issues, like figuring out why certain people would prefer certain page orders (alphabetical, by popularity, etc.), are best left unsolved. Not only is the work required significant for such a small issue, but these wants are always subject to change. The relevance of the change is also noteworthy, as functions that are essentially useless would act as a waste of space. However, useful user research, like a well put together student survey, would help lead The Greenspring Review in the right direction.
Sources:
Tarik, and Rick Dzekman. “Why Most UX Projects Could Use Task Analysis.” Medium, UX Collective, 16 Dec. 2019, uxdesign.cc/most-ux-projects-could-use-task-analysis-7244e8cf9916.