Task Analysis: It’s Not Hard and It Works

Task analysis is a more discrete version of journey maps et al. It’s a way to specifically characterize the user’s path to performing a task. Once that’s been done, then you can conduct some process optimization to improve the task flow. The goal here to revamp the task and find ways to get the system to do more of the work for the users. The resulting task flow diagram indicates what screens to design and what needs to go on them. This is the basis for task-oriented design, the foundational basis of User-Centered Design as taught by Don Norman (he was my professor).

I will describe how to perform Task Analysis, with examples, so that you can apply this highly successful technique right away to accurately define your users’ problem and drive innovative solutions that exceed expectations.