Applying Website Usability Testing Techniques to Promote E-services

Abstract

In this competitive world, websites are considered to be a key aspect of any organization’s competitiveness. In addition to visual esthetics, usability of a website is a strong determinant for user’s satisfaction and pleasure. However, lack of appropriate techniques and attributes for measuring usability may constrain the usefulness of a website. To address this issue, we conduct a statistical study to evaluate the usability levels of e-learning and e-training websites based on human (user) perception. The questionnaire is implemented as user based tool, visitors of a website can use it to evaluate the usability of the websites. The results showed that according to the students’ point view the personalization has the first important criterion for the use of the e-learning websites, while according to experts’ point view the accessibility has the first important criterion for the use of the e-learning websites. Also the result indicated that the experienced respondents have demonstrated satisfaction over the usability attributes of e-learning websites they accessed for their learning purposes; while inexperienced students have expressed their perception on the importance of the usability attributes for accessing e-learning websites. When combining and comparing both finings, based on the outcomes it is evident that, all the attributes yielded satisfaction and were felt important.