User Analyst

Definition

User Analyst

the role that is played when a person analyzes the users and user organizations

Classification

As illustrated in the preceding figure, User Analyst is part of the following inheritance hierarchy:

• Type: Concrete
• Superclass: Analyst
• Subclasses:
  • None

Responsibilities

The typical role-specific responsibilities of a User Analyst are to:

• Classify users.
• Analyze different kinds of users:
  • Plan, schedule, and perform user demographic, anthropological (ethnographic), cognitive, contextual, behavioral, and usability research.
  • Determine user desires, needs, fears and barriers.
  • Determine user capabilities.
  • Determine user tasks.
• Analyze user organizations.
• Elicit, analyze, and specify GUI-related usability requirements:
  • Perform user task analysis.
  • Model user tasks.
  • Develop usage scenarios.
  • Analyze GUI content.
• Document user analysis.
• Maintains competency in (and stays abreast of) the latest user experience methods techniques, and tools.

User analysts typically inherit the general role responsibilities from the role process component.

Expertise

To fulfill these responsibilities, a User Analyst typically should have the following expertise:

• Knowledge of various forms of user research and methods such as User-centered design (UCD).
• Proficiency in the use of observational (e.g., video and recording) equipment.
• Good verbal and written communication and presentation skills.
• The ability to work effectively with customers and users.
• Knowledge of requirements engineering tasks, techniques, and work products.
• A bachelor’s degree in a user analysis field, such as psychology, sociology, anthropology, human factors, or human computer interactions.

Tasks

A User Analyst typically performs the following role-specific tasks in an iterative, incremental, parallel, and time-boxed manner:

• Requirements Engineering:
  • User Analysis
  • Requirements Reuse
  • Requirements Identification
  • Requirements Analysis
  • Requirements Specification
• Quality Control:
  • Quality Control - Business Strategy Evaluation
  • Quality Control - Digital Branding Evaluation

A User Analyst typically inherits common role tasks from the Role method component.

Teams

A User Analyst typically performs these tasks as a member of the following teams:

• Digital Branding Team
• Requirements Team
• Strategy Evaluation Team

Work Products

As a member of these teams, a User Analyst typically produces all or part of the following work products:

• Requirements Work Products:
  • User Analysis
  • System Requirements Specification
• Quality Work Products:
  • Inspection Report
  • Inspection Summary Report

Guidelines

• This role is typically required if there will be significant user interfaces.
• This role typically inherits the common team guidelines from the roles process component.