TASK ANALYSIS

Task analysis is the process of learning about ordinary users by observing them in action to understand in detail how they perform their tasks and achieve their intended goals.   Tasks analysis helps identify the tasks that your website and applications must support and can also help you refine or re-define your site’s navigation or search by determining the appropriate content scope.

When to Perform a Task Analysis

It’s important to perform a task analysis early in your process, in particular prior to design work.  Task analysis helps support several other aspects of the user-centered design process, including:

• Website requirements gathering
• Developing your content strategy and site structure
• Wireframing and Prototyping
• Performing usability testing

Types of Task Analysis

There are several types of task analysis but among the most common techniques used are:

Cognitive Task Analysis is focused on understanding tasks that require decision-making, problem-solving, memory, attention and judgment.

Hierarchical Task Analysis is focused on decomposing a high-level task subtasks.

How to Conduct a Task Analysis

Your task analysis may have several levels of inquiry, from general to very specific.  In addition to market research, competitive analysis, and web metrics analysis, you can identify top tasks through various user research techniques.