Usability of virtual tools for participatory enterprise modelling

Abstract

Participatory modelling (PM) is focused on actively involving enterprise stakeholders and modelling experts in the modelling process. Typically, participants are co-located and encouraged to collaborate to avoid conceptual misalignment. During Covid-19, however, people were forced to reduce significantly their physical interactions, which led to the embracing of virtual tools. However, limited research has been done to evaluate virtual tools for the purpose of PM or participatory enterprise modelling (PEM), and specifically for the ease-of-use or usability of these tools. Many standardised usability questionnaires are available to evaluate the usability of user interfaces or systems. We provide key criteria for selecting an appropriate standardised questionnaire to measure PM tool usability and, as the main contribution, examine in a controlled experiment the usability of an online tool, MURAL, when participants use PEM. We report on the tool’s usability, using the selected standardised usability questionnaire, and present insights obtained through interviews and observations.

Deelnemende modellering (PM) is daarop gefokus om ondernemingsbelanghebbendes en modelleringskundiges aktief by die modelleringsproses te betrek. Tipies word deelnemers saam geplaas en aangemoedig om saam te werk om konseptuele wanbelyning te vermy. Tydens Covid-19 is mense egter gedwing om hul fisiese interaksies aansienlik te verminder, wat gelei het tot die gebruik van virtuele gereedskap. Beperkte navorsing is egter gedoen om virtuele gereedskap te evalueer vir die doel van PM of deelnemende ondernemingsmodellering (PEM), en spesifiek vir die gemak van gebruik of bruikbaarheid van hierdie instrumente. Daar is baie gestandaardiseerde bruikbaarheidsvraelyste beskikbaar om die bruikbaarheid van gebruikerskoppelvlakke of stelsels te evalueer. Ons verskaf sleutelkriteria vir die keuse van 'n toepaslike gestandaardiseerde vraelys om PM-instrument bruikbaarheid te meet en, as die hoofbydrae, ondersoek in 'n beheerde eksperiment die bruikbaarheid van 'n aanlyn hulpmiddel, MURAL, wanneer deelnemers PEM in 'n beheerde eksperiment gebruik. Ons doen verslag oor die instrument se bruikbaarheid deur die geselekteerde gestandaardiseerde bruikbaarheidsvraelys te gebruik en bied insigte wat verkry is deur onderhoude en waarnemings.