Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
Figure 1. e-WRAP prototype log in screen (reproduced in McKay & Martin 2007)
gaining and maintaining suitable employment, as
well as promoting and supporting positive mental
health and well being. The design was informed
by knowledge of the difficulties and frustrations
navigating a range of print and electronic work
search systems and the absence of any facility
designed especially for people recovering from
mental illness wanting to re-enter the workforce.
Brainstorming assisted in identifying the five
key tasks of looking, applying, commencing and
keeping work as well as surviving and maintain-
ing motivation and positive self-esteem if unsuc-
cessful. These were developed as the main search
menu for site entry and navigation as shown in
Figure 1.
Task analysis was used to identify all of the
steps involved in each of these activities, informing
the development of a persona and scenarios.
brainstorming process was used to develop the
main features of the persona. A name that could
be used for both sexes was originally preferred so
as to avoid gender bias in the design. However,
it soon became apparent that the persona needed
a gender to enable effective communication
between team members and to create empathy.
Inadvertently team members were referring to
the persona as female so this was formalized by
naming the persona Jill.
Jill was now the main reference point for all
further discussions about the project design and
implementation. She came to life not only by name
but also in terms of age, gender family, educational
background, health and mental health, employ-
ment history, housing, socio-economic status
and race ethnicity and culture. This was done in
a manner that was respectful in the realization
that Jill could not possible represent the diversity
of people recovering from mental illness who
might be looking at returning to work. Figure 2
provides an example of a brief description of a
larger persona developed for Jill.
By including several features of disadvantage
in the “Jill persona” that are not uncommon to
people recovering from mental illness seeking
employment, the project team was able to cater
persona
The personal and disciplinary background of
members of the project team member led to di-
vergent interests and priorities. A persona proved
useful in providing a focus for the project team to
develop a more in-depth and shared understand-
ing of what a potential user might look like. A
Search WWH ::
Custom Search