#25069
Criticizing Our Colleagues: Tough, But Kind 
I’m not used to writing editorials, but lately I’ve heard complaints from more than a few usability professionals about reviews of their work that were snide, hostile, and lacking in reasonable suggestions and this has moved me to speak out. These complaints deal with a primary activity of our profession: constructive criticism. We are often asked to uncover potential problems with products and processes and recommend design changes that could improve usability – using a tone that is firm and constructive. We are also asked to provide feedback to our usability colleagues in book, proposal, and presentation reviews. I have become concerned that feedback among usability professionals is not always as constructive as the feedback we routinely present to our clients. With the recent introduction of the UPA Code of Conduct, hostile reviews of the work of colleagues could be considered an ethical violation. More about that later.
Wilson, Chauncey E. Usability Professionals Association (2004). Articles>Usability>Professionalism
#21874
Does UPA Need a Code of Conduct?
Many professional societies have developed their own Code of Conduct. Given the high profile lapses in professional conduct and the evolving of the usability profession is it time for us to adopt a code?
Usability Professionals Association (2004). Articles>Usability>Professionalism
#23047
I know lots of usability advocates who speak the language of business quite fluently. Could we get better? Sure. But on the whole, we are the solution, not the problem. Let's not weaken our ranks with friendly fire. We have plenty of real enemies to keep us busy.
Morville, Peter. Semantic Studios (2002). Articles>Usability>Professionalism
#23881
The Search for Well-Defined Usability Discipline
The message about usability is reaching general audiences. However, sometimes the message is garbled and sometimes it is overlooked entirely.
Bachmann, Karen L. Usability Interface (2003). Articles>Usability>Professionalism
#29451
Surviving Our Success: Three Radical Recommendations 
The world of usability practitioners is undergoing massive changes. I know because I read it in the New York Times.
Spool, Jared M. Journal of Usability Studies (2007). Articles>Usability>Professionalism
#26642
Usability: Empiricism or Ideology?
Usability's job is to research user behavior and find out what works. Usability should also defend users' rights and fight for simplicity. Both aspects have their place, and it's important to recognize the difference.
Nielsen, Jakob. Alertbox (2005). Articles>Usability>Professionalism
#20637
Usability: Lighting the Path to the Future of Technical Communication
The future of Technical Communication is something that we are all, as either practitioners, academics or students, keenly interested in. What is the future of our chosen discipline? What exactly is it that a practitioner in the field does today? This paper will explain that through examining one sub-discipline of Technical Communication, Usability, we may see an example of the beginnings of a pattern of professional development.
Torrence, Anthony. Orange Journal, The (2003). Articles>TC>Professionalism>Usability
#20927
In defining a field, each person seems to look at the world and place themselves in the center of the circle, giving their specialty top billing as the summation of all the others. What exactly is gained by this political one-upmanship? In the face of this inflation, I find myself pulling back to the simplest craft title I can find. Or avoiding titles altogether.
Quesenbery, Whitney. WQusability (2001). Articles>Information Design>Professionalism>Usability
#26404
The World is Ready for Usability. Is Usability Ready for the World?
User-centered design is being systematically integrated into the Web, application and product development process. It's the tipping point usability specialists have been waiting for. But are we ready? Does the field have the tools, and resources -- or for that matter the people -- to keep up with the need?
Straub, Kathleen. Usability Interface (2005). Articles>Usability>Professionalism
#33249
UPA Code of Professional Conduct
The Code of Professional Conduct of the Usability Professionals' Association expresses the profession's recognition of its responsibilities to the public, clients, employers, and colleagues. The Code guides members in the performance of their professional responsibilities and express the basic tenets of ethical and professional conduct.
Usability Professionals Association (2005). Articles>Usability>Professionalism>Ethics
#34893
Building Respect for Usability Expertise
Enemies of usability claim that because "the experts disagree," they can safely ignore user advocates' expertise and run with whatever design they personally prefer.
Nielsen, Jakob. Alertbox (2009). Articles>Usability>Professionalism
#34894
ユーザビリティの敵達は「専門家の意見が一致していない」という理由で主張し、ユーザを擁護する者の専門知識を難なく無視し、彼らが個人的に好きなデザインなら何であれ推進する。
Nielsen, Jakob. Usability.gr.jp (2009). (Japanese) Articles>Usability>Professionalism
