Participatory task modelling: users and developers modelling users' tasks and domains

Abstract

Participatory Task Modelling (PTM) is an approach to systems development that combines the strengths of the task analysis and participatory design traditions. This paper briefly reviews the strengths and weaknesses of standard participatory design and task analysis methods and presents PTM as a practical approach that integrates the best of both. We describe techniques for the participatory development of models of the users' current tasks and domain and models of their envisioned tasks in an enhanced domain. The paper concludes with a discussion of a range of tools and representations used in PTM.