Task Analysis
Task Analysis in Detail
Hierarchical Task Analysis (HTA) is the simplest and most widely used form of task analysis. The idea: a task is broken down hierarchically into sub-tasks until you reach a level concrete enough for design decisions.
Hierarchical Decomposition
A complex task is divided into smaller and smaller steps: from the overall goal through main tasks down to concrete actions. This creates a clear map of the work process.
Stopping Criterion
Decomposition ends when sub-tasks are concrete enough to drive design decisions — for example, where the interface needs guidance or which terms users must already know.
Who Benefits?
Especially valuable for complex enterprise software workflows, long onboarding phases, or high support costs. It reveals where users fail before the first interface is drawn.
Related Methods
HTA becomes most powerful when fed by data from Contextual Inquiry or Remote Interviews. The results flow directly into User Flows and information architecture.
Used In
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