[IxDA Discuss] Thoughts on skinning/customizing enterprise apps?

[Josh Viney]

Offering customization features can definitely work to the advantage of the
application and it's users if the goal of the customization is to add
efficiency.

Things to consider:
1. How much time will users spend customizing the application? Time spent
customizing the application is time spent not actually using the application
for it's designed purpose. There is an actual cost to consider above and
beyond the addition of the customization feature.
2. What level of access/skill set is necessary for customization to take
place? In some cases adding advanced customization features accessible by an
approved few with the correct skill set can be an option. Some organizations
may be willing to hire/train someone specifically for this role. An example
would be a company hiring/training someone specifically to manage a highly
customizable Sharepoint portal.
3. Would the customization allow for users to re-layout the UI to help them
prioritize their work and give them easy access to information that was more
difficult to access before? In this case the feature could add efficiency
for the end user and possibly reduce feature requests from users with very
specific needs.
4. What is at the heart of the user's "can you do this" question? They may
be noticing inefficiencies in the design and assuming that customization is
the answer when the answer may actually be that the app needs some redesign
work.
5. An increase in power means an increase in responsibility. Are the users
ready for that responsibility?

- Josh
EastMedia




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