Software Usability in Small and Medium Sized Enterprises in Germany: An Empirical Study

Florian Scheiber (), Dominika Wruk (), Achim Oberg (), Johannes Britsch (), Michael Woywode (), Alexander Maedche (), Felix Kahrau (), Hendrik Meth (), Dieter Wallach () and Marcus Plach ()
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Florian Scheiber: University of Mannheim
Dominika Wruk: University of Mannheim
Achim Oberg: University of Mannheim
Johannes Britsch: CAS Software AG
Michael Woywode: University of Mannheim
Alexander Maedche: University of Mannheim
Felix Kahrau: University of Mannheim
Hendrik Meth: University of Mannheim
Dieter Wallach: University of Applied Sciences
Marcus Plach: ERGOSIGN GmbH

A chapter in Software for People, 2012, pp 39-52 from Springer

Abstract: Abstract Usability has become a competitive factor in the software industry. Specifically, the software industry in the United States has recognized this important factor and successfully leverages it for achieving competitive advantage. Compared to this fast development in the US, it seems questionable whether this view is also widespread among small and medium sized software producing and client companies in Germany and whether they direct sufficient attention to usability. This article presents the results of an empirical study exploring the status quo of the importance, the knowledge and the actual use of usability concepts among small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in Germany. Following an organizational field perspective, we investigate how interactions between actors in the software field influence the usability awareness as well as the knowledge and actual use of usability concepts. Based on the results of our study, we provide recommendations on how to increase awareness and maturity of software usability in SMEs in Germany.

Keywords: Small And Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs); Medium-sized Software Company; Current Software Development Practices; Client Software; Sales Development (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2012
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:spr:mgmchp:978-3-642-31371-4_3

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DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-31371-4_3

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