Understand
Task Analysis
Breaking a task into its steps, decisions and conditions, to see the work it really takes.
What is Task Analysis?
Breaking a task into its steps, decisions and conditions, to see the work it really takes.
What you learn
Simple-looking steps often hide decisions. Find them before designing.
When it helps
a workflow looks simple on paper, but people struggle or invent workarounds.
Use it at work
- Watch someone do the task from start to finish.
- Write each step and each decision they make.
- Note what they need to know or look up at each point.
- Design for the decisions, not just the steps.
Your output
Watch someone do one task in your product. Note every moment they stop to decide or look something up, and design for those moments.
Watch for
Designing for the steps people describe and missing the decisions behind them.
Related practices
Sources
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