HFI Launches Usability Certification for Organisations and Designs

Human Factors International (HFI) has just announced an extension of its successful program for certification of usability practitioners (Certified Usability Analysts) which currently provides certification to about 10% of the world's usability practitioners. As a service to the industry, the company will enable organizations to gain certification for their level of institutionalization of usability. They can be certified as Level III, IV, and V depending on their achievement on HFI's Usability Maturity Model. The certified organizations can then submit a product, application, or website to become certified for usable design.

A "Certified Practice in Usability" will have a validated level of maturity based upon the presence of trained and certified staff, user centered design methods, standards, and tools. The organization will also be rated for its executive attention to usability, organizational structure, and culture of care for customers. Each organizational submission will be systematically reviewed and audited by HFI staff to ensure compliance.

A "Certified Usable Design" can only result from the submission from a certified practice and it generally bears the label of the level of maturity of that practice. Certification assures that an approved user centered design process has been followed and that certified staff have attested that each deliverable document has been appropriately completed. The internal staff must also attest to the usability of the end design. The completed submission must prove the process and approvals. HFI staff will then review the documents and the design; rejecting any submission that fails to meet systematic criteria of good practice.

Eric Schaffer, CEO of Human Factors International, says, "It's time that purchasers can be assured that they will not be tortured with technology. They should be able to buy with an assured level of usability."

Associated Link: Check your potential for Usability Certification

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