garygilliland:

It’s just after Christmas and like a lot of people I’ve spent my fair share of time in toy shops and I’ve been reminded of a goal that I had when I ran a programming team. Everything should be designed like a Tomy toy. I don’t mean child-like but where possible solutions should follow the pattern in toys.

I’ve got a memory like a sieve so I like acronyms hence SERIES

• S imple – nothing wasted
• E ngaging – asks to be used
• R obust – hard to break
• I nteractive – instant feedback
• E lective – you choose how to use it
• S timulating – encourages creativity

Compare this with Word, Photoshop and even web apps like Gmail. How many menus, icons and hidden rules are there to cope with before you can use the things?

“You think your users want to use your software. They do not want to use your software. They want to ‘have used’ your software.”

David Platt

If only more developers would learn that this the truth.

Most software is not an experience to be enjoyed but a tool to be used. Make the tool, simple and efficient so that the job can be completed quickly and painlessly.

Professor Merlin Stone has defined six types of solutions provider.

• The niche player: Demonstrates overwhelming specialist knowledge and expertise. Can struggle when faced with problems outside specific area of expertise.
• The rip and replace merchant: ‘My way, or the highway’ approach. Sells by claiming that modern technology will solve all of the customers’ problems – and it’s their version, not the version supplied by competitors.
• The box ticker: Big on promises, short on substance. Corporate culture focused on winning large contracts regardless of whether it’s capable of delivering.
• The cookie cutter: Provides a one size fits all solutions to meet customers’ needs. Offers great prices on a limited range of products.
• The quick fixer: Works around what the customer has, and needs, now. A quick and short-term solution that does meet the immediate needs but may not deliver in the long term.
• The problem solver: Takes a listening approach. Driven by a desire to provide a telecoms solution that matches the customer’s need. Resolute about delivery and transparent about customer-defined and achievable results. Is the key to meeting customer’s requirements and developing a healthy partnership.

Although these were originally developed for the telecoms industry they can be equally applied to organisations and departments across a wide range of industries.

Which one are you?