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Plan: How to Perform a Task Analysis

A task analysis is a process of documenting the steps a user is required to perform (actions and/or cognitive processes) to complete a task.

Purpose:
A task analysis is conducted to understand a current system and the information flows within it.

Benefits:
Performing a task analysis shows crucial areas, weak areas (bottlenecks) and unnecessary steps of a process. It is also a starting point to enhance or add steps to incorporate "users requests" (what users may want to do).

Example:
Brushing Teeth

1. Pick up the toothbrush
2. Wet the brush
3. Take the cap off the tube of toothpaste
4. Put paste on the brush
5. Brush teeth
1. Brush the outside of the bottom row of teeth
2. Brush the outside of the top row of teeth
3. Brush the biting surface of the top row of teeth
4. Brush the biting surface of the bottom row of teeth
5. Brush the inside surface of the bottom row of teeth
6. Brush the inside surface of the top row of teeth
6. Spit
7. Rinse the brush
8. Replace the brush in original location
9. Rinse mouth
1. Grasp cup
2. Fill cup with water
3. Rinse teeth with water
4. Spit
5. Replace cup in holder
10. Wipe mouth on sleeve
11. Screw cap back on tube of toothpaste
12. Place tube back in original spot