McInterface
User Interface Design & Development Project
SIMS 213, Spring 2001

: Linda Harjono, Saifon Obromsook, John Yiu Chi Wai
Summary Report | Assignments | Prototypes | Presentations | Team | Vocabulary | Workload Distribution

Personas, Goals, and Task Analysis

Tasks

In this section, we describe the possible tasks that can be done through McInterface. Then, we estimate the frequency and importance of those tasks specific to each persona. This list of tasks is based on the goals and characteristics of our personas, as well as our vision of the service that McInterface will be able to provide. We also identify any possible optional tasks, in addition to the necessary tasks, that may be performed by our personas. The analysis will give us a priority ranking of the tasks our design has to accommodate.

Description of Possible Tasks

To use McInterface, the users will first need to buy McCards. They can buy the McCards from McInterface using ATM cards, debit cards or credit cards. They can also buy the McCards using cash from the cashier. In this case, buying the McCards directly from the cashier makes it more convenient for them to just place their orders with the cashier. However, our target users are repeat customers, they can then use their new McCards to order from McInterface the next time they come to McDonald's.

We decided that the system should not handle cash payment for the following reasons:

The system will ask the users to set their primary language the first time they use the card. Then, users can browse the menu to decide what to order. They may also want to see the nutrition fact of each item as they browse the menu. Once they decide what to order, they need to place the order.

The users can specify special requests on each item that they order, such as “no onion” or “no pickles". After placing a special request, the users can choose whether they want to save the special requests permanently, so that every time they order an item using the cards, the system can automatically add the special request to the item. These tasks are optional, depending on the users' preferences.

Before the order is confirmed, they can make changes to the order, or cancel the order.

Once the order is confirmed, the users can choose whether they want to save their order as one of their MyFavs. This task would be optional. McInterface would have a list of MyFavs in its menu, which functions as shortcuts to users' frequently-ordered food combinations.

After the users confirm their order, they will need to take a receipt with an identification number on it from McInterface. Then, they need to show it to McDonald's staff when picking up the food. We choose this model over an alternative model, which allows people to make the payment at the time they pick up the food, for the following reasons:

Occasionally, the users will also need to add value to their McCards.

Task Matrix

Tasks
Frequency
Importance (1-10 scale)
Comment
Jeff 
Julie
Karina
Jeff 
Julie
Karina
Necessary               
Buy a McCard
Once
Once
Once
10
10
10
Have got to do it
Set the primary language
Once
Once
Once
10
10
10
Have got to do it
Browse to decide what to order
75% of time
40% of time
60% of time
8
6
7
Jeff likes trying new items. Julie almost always orders the same items.
Place an order 
Every time
Every time
Every time
10
10
10
Have got to do it
Take receipt
Every time
Every time
Every time
10
10
10
Have got to do it
Add McCard's value
Bi-monthly
Monthly
Monthly
10
10
10
Jeff usually adds less money to the card than Julie and Karina.
Optional               
See nutrition facts
Never
20% of time
Never
0
5
0
Julie cares about how much fat she consumes. However, she usually orders the same items, so she already remembers the nutrition facts of the items.
Special request
Once
Never
Always
10
0
10
Jeff now feels more comfortable asking for his special request with the McInterface. He then saves it permanently. Alex does not like pickles, but Maria likes pickles. So, Karina always asks for special request for Alex, but does not save it permanently.
Save special request permanently
Once
Never
Never
10
0
0
See above
Make changes to an unconfirmed order
40% of time
20% of time
40% of time
7
5
7
Jeff likes combo meals and then changes the beverage. Karina's kids often change their mind about what drinks they want to have with their Happy Meals. Julie almost always orders using her saved food combination with no changes
Cancel an order
5% of time
5% of time
5% of time
10
10
10
They hardly cancel orders, but the system must still support this task.
Save an order as a MyFav
50% of time
10% of time
never
10
10
0
Jeff likes saving new menu as his new preferred food combination. Julie hardly changes what she orders. She always orders either chicken or fish. Karina never saves order since it is unlikely that she will have the same combination of orders for her and her kids.