I would say the most underrated function of software engineering is ‘Usability Engineering’. Even some of the engineering leaders mistake the importance of it. Worst of all is when the product leaders conceive the usability to start with branding, color, theme, etc., but care less about the product’s actual use. 

This gets further worsened when they least bother to get feedback. Even when there is one (feedback), gets succumbed to the schedule pressure and start convincing everyone else to what they got it.

Unfortunately, once the product is in the customer’s hands, mostly getting proper feedback or getting time to course correct won’t happen. The customer is a God, so the blessing or beating is based on what you delivered. 

Beyond what the customer is experiencing, isn’t it a moral obligation for every engineering leader to ensure to deliver a useful product. The problem is when they get satisfied with a usable product and do not try to produce a useful one. 

A usable product gets qualified to be useful when the intent is achieved with less/no interaction from the customer. Let’s focus more on “usability” and create a better world for everyone.

#usabilityengineering #engineeringleader #productdevelopment #productengineering