HCD Blog

DHS (Department of Homeland Security) Usability Testing Kit — So Easy, Anyone Can Do It DHSUsability-2 (2).png Reading Time 2 mins Usability testing is a way to learn how easy or difficult it is for people to use something by observing them actually using it.  In this highly accessible session, you’ll learn how to use the kit’s guidelines and templates to test the usability of your services and solutions.…

Human-Centered AI: 5 HCD Principles for Developing AI  human-centered_AI.png Reading Time 6 mins Introduction  In recent years, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has transcended the realms of science fiction to become an integral part of our daily lives. From recommending the next song on your playlist to predicting global financial markets, AI's capabilities are vast, varied, and truly transformative. As with any disruptive technology, the potential of AI is unparalleled,…

How Collaboration Improves U.S. Health Care interprofessional-collaboration-735x400-1.jpgReading Time 6 mins In the face of escalating healthcare costs and inconsistent quality, the call for increased competition in the United States healthcare system has been prominent. Proponents argue that competition could incentivize hospitals to deliver superior care at reduced costs. However,…

Working with the Public to Improve Digital Forms: A GSA Case Study GSA.pngReading Time: 2 min The American public spends approximately 11.5 billion hours per year filling out federal government forms. Form complexity can result in lack of submission or completion, and errors on forms can cause processing delays and affect whether the form is accepted — which can have far-reaching consequences. Join the CCSQ HCD Community of Practice on Thursday, September 28,…

How to Design the Best Meeting Ever affinity-diagram-landscape.pngReading Time 8 mins I have a confession to make: I'm not a big fan of meetings. Now don't get me wrong. I understand why we have meetings. Meetings can be used to provide new information. Meetings can be used to make new decisions. Meetings can be used to align expectations. Meetings can be used to "meet" new coworkers. Meetings can be long. Meetings can be short. Meetings can include many people.…

Six Methods for Sustained Collaboration 784784p888EDNmain906Landburg_img.jpgReading Time 8 mins Wondering about the real importance of collaboration in organizations? Just ask any leader, and you'll receive an enthusiastic confirmation. Yet, when it comes to the actual outcomes of their collaboration strategies, the answers might differ. A high-ranking executive from a major pharmaceutical company recently revealed, “We've tried various changes,…

Why all the Healthcare Supply Chain Shortages?  Rocky_Mount_Facility_post-July_2023_tornado_opt.png https://www.pfizer.com/news/press-release/press-release-detail/pfizer-announces-post-tornado-relief-plans-rocky-mount?cid=em_PfizerNewsroomAlert&ttype=emReading Time 6 mins  The COVID-19 pandemic exposed vulnerabilities in the US health system supply chains, leading to persistent and elevated supply shortages, economic uncertainty, and growing inflation. Between 2021 and 2022,…

Creative Sprinting baton-600.pngReading Time 6 mins The dictionary definition of sprint is "to race or move at full speed, especially for a short distance, as in running, rowing, etc." Agile methodologies use this term frequently, but organizations such as Scaled Agile Inc. instead use the more generic term iteration https://scaledagileframework.com/iterations/ to refer to "a standard,…

What is an Empathy Map to a Persona?  screen-shot-2017-12-14-at-55525-pm.png Reading Time 4 mins When creating new services or products you can ensure you genuinely meet the end-user's needs with Personas, https://qnetconfluence.cms.gov/display/HCD/Personas but another informative method is Empathy Maps https://qnetconfluence.cms.gov/display/HCD/Empathy+Maps that can build into personas. Personas help you create detailed profiles of your target users,…

Personas, Customer Segmentation and Target Groups – How do they work together? Reading Time 6 minTarget-Audience-4.jpg This is a short and insightful article about what are the differences between Personas, Customer Segmentation and Target Groups, and how these three tasks work together.  Most of us know and use personas, a fictional representation or archetype of a specific user. It is created to help development teams understand and empathize with the needs, behaviors, motivations,…

User Personas Need to Evolve 1_vquNcmrSEK10scjbN7ncWQ.jpg Reading Time 6 Mins UX designers often create user personas that are aesthetically pleasing but contain irrelevant details, diminishing their usefulness for teams. Furthermore, these personas often lack important contextual information and user behaviors that highlight the challenges and frustrations faced by users. Without these critical details, personas become mere deliverables,…

Generating AI Personas – Competitive Analysis  2023-06-28 08_53_37-digital face - Google Search.png Reading Time 8 mins Personas https://qnetconfluence.cms.gov/display/HCD/Personas are an integral part of the HCD UX development process to understand the idiosyncrasies and emotional state of our consumers and users to help build empathy for their challenges and lifestyle while reinforcing the very reason UX exists as a discipline.…

Large health insurers and other companies are especially keen on doctors’ groups that care for patients in private Medicare plans.  609f963c02f45d00046b1be4.png https://www.cvshealth.com/news/company-news/cvs-health-reports-first-quarter-2023-results.htmlone-medical-630x394.png https://press.aboutamazon.…

IRS Banner with IRS Logo (1).pngContinuously Improve Your Website by Using Customer Feedback and Web Analytics: An IRS Case Study Read Time: 2 min All Americans experience challenges while filing tax returns and using the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Free File platform is no exception.   Join the CCSQ HCD Community of Practice on Thursday, June 29, for Continuously Improve Your Website by Using Customer Feedback and Web Analytics: An IRS Case Study.…

2023 Government UX Summit 2023-GOVT-UX-SUMMIT.png https://qnetconfluence.cms.gov/display/HCD/2023/06/09/2023+Government+UX+Summit Read Time: 1 min On June 14, 2023, Digital.gov http://Digital.gov will host the 2023 Government UX Summit https://digital.gov/event/2023/06/14/2023-government-ux-summit/ (10-4pm ET).…