Classification of Usability Problems (CUP) Scheme

Defect classification can improve product quality and motivate process improvement. Several defect classification schemes have been developed and used with good results in software development. This paper describes the design and test of a defect classification scheme that specifically extracts information from usability problems. We describe the attributes of the defects, the attribute values, including the phases of user interface development. We have tested the classification scheme on defects that were found during heuristic evaluation and user test of software that implements a broker for exchange of on line learning resources. The paper presents results of the classifications and assesses the repeatability of the defect classification scheme. We show how developers, project manager, and process engineers can use information from the defect classification for improvement of the user interface, personal skills and training, and process improvement.