Siavash Etemadinezhad, Elahe Amouzadeh, Jamshid Yazdani Charati,
Volume 10, Issue 1 (Iranian Journal of Ergonomics 2022)
Abstract
Objectives: Today, many hardware and software products, including office automation software, and web-based websites are used by employees, including professors and employees of different departments in offices. Websites are considered one of the main competitive advantages in any organization. This study aims to investigate the usability of the Integrated Research Automation System (SYAT): A Heuristic Evaluation.
Methods: The present study was a descriptive- cross- sectional study with a heuristic evaluation performed on the integrated research system software (SYAT) by 3 evaluators. They then evaluated the intensity of each of the ten options and scored from 0 to 4. After each problem was classified as one of the 10 branches of Nielsen's evaluation by the evaluators, similar problems were eliminated and the average scores and the severity of the deterioration of the problems were calculated.
Results: A total of 92 usability problems were identified in evaluating the usability of the web-based software (system) using the components provided by Nielsen. The majority of the issues were related to the detection instead of reminder with 16 problems (17.32%). The lowest number of problems was related to both compatibilities between the system and the real world, and the clarity of the system status with 6 cases (6.52%).
Conclusion: The usability assessment method is inexpensive and simple and the problems caused by websites and applications can be evaluated as feedback to improve them. The more accurate the needs of SYAT system users are, the more effective the system will be and the more satisfied the users will be.
Elahe Amouzadeh, Siavash Etemadinezhad, Jamshid Yazdani Charati,
Volume 13, Issue 3 (Iranian Journal of Ergonomics-In Press 2025)
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Office automation systems are essential for optimizing administrative processes, reducing human errors, and improving organizational efficiency. However, their effectiveness depends on usability and user interaction quality. This study assesses the usability of the Chargoon office automation system at Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences using a mixed-methods approach, addressing gaps in prior evaluations of similar systems in Iranian academic settings.
Methods: A mixed-methods design was employed, with the quantitative component using the standardized System Usability Scale (SUS) and the qualitative component involving heuristic evaluation based on Nielsen's ten principles by five UX experts. Simple random sampling selected 240 employees and faculty members. Performance data, including task completion time and error rates for six frequent tasks, were collected and analyzed using ANOVA and Pearson correlation in SPSS v26.
Results: The mean SUS score was 64.83 (±12.84), indicating acceptable usability with room for improvement. The task 'sending a letter to multiple recipients' showed the highest error rate (15.2%) and completion time (57.3 seconds). Heuristic evaluation identified 99 issues, primarily in system feedback (25%) and error prevention (20%).
Conclusion: The Chargoon system has moderate usability but requires targeted improvements in interface design, feedback mechanisms, and error prevention to reduce cognitive load and operational costs in academic settings
