Resumen
The article focuses on strengthening the focus on users' working practices. When the Kommunedata (KMD) usability group was started, the traditional laboratory testing method was used as they wanted to deviate from certain company traditions of user involvement and partly because testing seemed to be the epitome of usability work. New working methods that retain the advantages of traditional testing were introduced. Instead of concentrating on users testing the product, the perspective is widened by allowing more time to discuss users' work situations and by letting users debate how the product will fit into their workplaces. KMD is Denmark's largest systems operator and software house. The company delivers a broad range of services such as computer systems operation, software development, consultancy services and facility management. Customers are primarily local and regional authorities. The usability lab was established in 1994 and quickly grew into a group of nine people. New goals were defined and the aim was to offer more flexible assistance to the project teams. Traditional testing has been a good way to get the department accepted within the company, but as soon as the usefulness of their work was acknowledged, they decided to introduce new methods with more focus on users' work-situations. The usability group at KMD does not envisage a future where traditional usability tests are abolished. But they may end up playing a secondary role, as an activity to be performed after one or more workshops, to clarify whether the final electronic design actually works with users in general. INSET: A Kommunedata Workshop.