Comments on: Users Like What They Know http://blog.brodzinski.com/2008/03/users-like-what-they-know.html Dealing with software projects in real life Thu, 11 Mar 2010 19:11:38 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Pawel Brodzinski http://blog.brodzinski.com/2008/03/users-like-what-they-know.html/comment-page-1#comment-1979 Pawel Brodzinski Sat, 05 Apr 2008 10:12:00 +0000 http://blog.brodzinski.com/2008/03/users-like-what-they-know.html#comment-1979 The paradox of new features is that users rarely use them. If you ask them if they want it they'll tell you "of course, give us that darn feature." And after all it would be a success if one tenth will use it.<br/><br/>I don't say you shouldn't listen to your users. You should. But it's always a bit tricky whether to go their way or your way. Most of users don't have big ideas.<br/><br/>And by the way - Microsoft made their way to standarize what they thought is the best GUI. We may counsciously like it or not, but unconsciously we just feel familiar with it. And now, when they changed it in Office 2007 we feel puzzled although it's probably more usable. The paradox of new features is that users rarely use them. If you ask them if they want it they’ll tell you “of course, give us that darn feature.” And after all it would be a success if one tenth will use it.

I don’t say you shouldn’t listen to your users. You should. But it’s always a bit tricky whether to go their way or your way. Most of users don’t have big ideas.

And by the way – Microsoft made their way to standarize what they thought is the best GUI. We may counsciously like it or not, but unconsciously we just feel familiar with it. And now, when they changed it in Office 2007 we feel puzzled although it’s probably more usable.

]]> By: Mike C http://blog.brodzinski.com/2008/03/users-like-what-they-know.html/comment-page-1#comment-1978 Mike C Fri, 04 Apr 2008 22:33:00 +0000 http://blog.brodzinski.com/2008/03/users-like-what-they-know.html#comment-1978 Hi,<br/>People resist change. The more cognitive load (thinking)they have already invested, the more they resist. If you "know" the change provides a better user experience, you can roll it out and take the complaints for a few months. <br/><br/>A better way is to evolve in the direct that customers and users want to go. If you can let them choose whether to add the feature (module) or not, it is an even better design.<br/><br/>Pushing your non-standard design with a complex and bloated system overloaded with features only works if you are Microsoft.<br/>Best<br/>Mike Crocker<br/>Department of Doing Hi,
People resist change. The more cognitive load (thinking)they have already invested, the more they resist. If you “know” the change provides a better user experience, you can roll it out and take the complaints for a few months.

A better way is to evolve in the direct that customers and users want to go. If you can let them choose whether to add the feature (module) or not, it is an even better design.

Pushing your non-standard design with a complex and bloated system overloaded with features only works if you are Microsoft.
Best
Mike Crocker
Department of Doing

]]> By: Anonymous http://blog.brodzinski.com/2008/03/users-like-what-they-know.html/comment-page-1#comment-1977 Anonymous Thu, 03 Apr 2008 05:00:00 +0000 http://blog.brodzinski.com/2008/03/users-like-what-they-know.html#comment-1977 Exactly how I felt when I first had to use Microsoft Office 2007 - where did they move everything to!? Needless to say, I reverted back to an earlier release. I'm hoping to work up the patience to take another stab at its 'glorified' new features. Exactly how I felt when I first had to use Microsoft Office 2007 – where did they move everything to!? Needless to say, I reverted back to an earlier release. I’m hoping to work up the patience to take another stab at its ‘glorified’ new features.

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