Observations on meeting usability goals for software products

Making software products more usable has been stated as an industrial, national, and even international goal. Constructive exchanges between those working in universities to build theory and those working in industry to build products have been identified as one way to speed the achievement of this goal. Programmes within IBM have encouraged such exchanges. Drawing on my experience in IBM, I outline some of the problems in setting and meeting software usability goals, discuss briefly the nature of collaborative work, and suggest ways to facilitate working together for mutual benefit despite possible differences in culture and purpose. © 1986 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.