A task analysis is a representation of user tasks, related to the web site in question, that are performed to achieve one or more goals. The task analysis defines key tasks, priorities, sequences, and relationships between data sources or entities involved in the tasks. Researchers hopefully have an idea about the most important tasks from previous interviews, web analytics, stakeholder meetings, the development team, or the project sponsor.
The task model resulting from the task analysis contains a prioritized list of tasks, grouped according to user type or site function. The task model usually includes relevant information outside the specific task steps, such as motivations for action, business value, pain points and gaps that represent opportunities. A detailed task models shows dependencies among related tasks, subdivides tasks into individual steps, and may indicate data types and other supporting information required to complete the steps. Task analysiss and user types are interdependent; each evolves as the other is better understood.
A task model shows how people accomplish their goals using a series of online and offline supports. The model should:
- Focus on tasks with the highest associated business value
- Prioritize tasks
- Note dependencies and relationships between tasks
- Capture category-specific purchase patterns
- Note differences between user types
- Note opportunities that can be exploited by the new system
- Include enough detail about sub-tasks to suggest a technical solution
