Applying User-Centered Design in the Context of the Deming Quality Cycle: The Design and Development of a Server Computer

Abstract

There are many different tools and methodologies in the field of human factors for user-centered design. Similarly, other fields have tools and methodologies that enable practitioners in those fields to perform their work. Although these tools may be used most productively within their specific fields, they might contain elements that lend themselves to being applied in other domain areas. The field of quality engineering has been around for a while and has many useful tools. The similarity in the goals of the fields of human factors engineering and quality engineering suggests that there could be certain methodologies and tools in the area of quality engineering that, practitioners of human factors might find useful and applicable to the development of products and services from a user-centered perspective. This paper explores the application of user-centered design in the context of the Deming Cycle to the development of a server computer in an actual organization. It also provides examples of actual issues that were identified during the “check” phase of the Deming Cycle, and describes the actions that were performed to address these issues.