Distorted usability design in IT tendering

Abstract

Request-for-proposals (RFP) are documents in IT tendering that define the selection criteria, evaluation procedures and system requirements including system usability. IT vendors' perspective on RFP-originated system configuration and usability design is less studied than of IT procuring organizations. Analysis of empirical data collected from large IT tendering shows that from the vendor's perspective the objectives and means of usability design during the tendering differ drastically from general usability work. During the tendering, the fundamentals of usability recommendations can be based solely on the requirements of RFPs with no adequate intention to improve system usability in the use context. An ethical analysis of the situation and possible futures and alternatives is represented.

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Index Terms

• Social and professional topics

  • Professional topics

    • Computing profession

      • Codes of ethics