Assignment #5 - Task Analysis

Objectives

Perform and document a formal task analysis

Assignment

You are going to do 2 (or possibly one) task analyses.

Required Task Analysis - Student Registration Process - The first analysis will be the documentation and analysis of the tasks of registration and the use of a student registration system. The analysis should go from the very beginning of the process (I don't even know what to take) to the end of the process (I am now enrolled in classes). This will be a hierarchical task analysis - so you will be responsible for everything under the major heading - Register for Classes and the hierarchical level associated with the tasks. You are free to discuss the levels and sub-tasks on the discussion board.

This will be a hierarchical task analysis with the highest element in the Hierarchy 

- Register for Classes

I will even help you with the Level 2 of the hierarchy

1 Register for Classes

     1.1 Select Classes to Take

     1.2 Select Sections for Selected Classes

     1.3 Complete Registration Process and Pay

Why the numbering scheme? Well simple - there may be a need to reference and return to a task. For example in 1.2 in selecting sections for classes, you may find out there is no section available to fit your needs. In that case you could either (1) seek an over-ride or (2) select a different class. The second selection here will return you back to 1.1 since you will need to select different classes to take. Bottom line is you need to leave the reader with a true understanding of the task to be accomplished.

Secondary Analysis - Your System - In this analysis you will take the system that you designed in assignment 3 and document a task analysis of one task that is important or central to that system.  Please note that there may be different tasks that can be performed in the Task Analysis, but you only need to do an analysis of one of these. If your system design for assignment 3 was student registration - you will only submit the single task analysis.  This will be used in later assignments (  Assignment 6 - Cognitive Walk-through ), so do your best to make the analysis a good one.

This should be submitted as a single word or pdf file.

Information

Topic - Task Analysis 

A useful article is at http://www.uxmatters.com/mt/archives/2010/02/hierarchical-task-analysis.php -  Covers the process well including the diagramming of the analysis. This example includes a lot of redundant information associated with the analysis in the filling out of forms. I do not typically include all this with the analysis as this is trivial to the overall purpose of the analysis. More important would be special information associated with specific fields on the form where there are special instructions. 

HTA is a subset of the entire field of Business Process Modeling ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Business_process_modeling ) and Business Process Mapping (  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Business_process_mapping  ) which contain many different methods for documenting business processes. It is worthwhile to take a look and read through these processes. It is highly likely that in your IT career you will be involved with analysis and documentation of business processes. These are also covered in some detail in CEN4801 System Integration.

Estimated Completion Time

This should take 3-4 hours to complete

Supporting Lectures 

There are multiple lectures that are associated with being able to complete a task analysis, though the majority of the information is included under Task Analysis on the lectures page.

All Course Lectures

Questions and Answers

External Resources

http://www.uxmatters.com/mt/archives/2010/02/hierarchical-task-analysis.php  -

https://loft.io/guide/eeole/hierarchical-task-analysis/  

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Task_analysis 

Grading Criteria

A well documented task analysis with sub-tasks is worth 10 points.