In the realm of business analysis, the term ‘horizontal prototype’ holds a significant place. It refers to a type of prototype that provides a broad overview of the entire system or subsystems, focusing on user interaction more than intricate system functionality. This article will delve into the concept of horizontal prototypes, their role in business analysis, and their benefits and drawbacks.
Prototyping is a crucial aspect of business analysis and system design. It involves creating a preliminary model of a system to test and evaluate it before the final system is built. Horizontal prototypes, in particular, are used to visualize and understand the system’s user interface and interaction processes, which are critical for ensuring user satisfaction and system efficiency.
Understanding Horizontal Prototypes
Horizontal prototypes are often referred to as ‘breadth-first’ prototypes because they cover a wide range of the system’s functionality without going into the depth of any particular function. They are typically non-functional and are used to demonstrate the ‘look and feel’ of the system, including the layout of screens, menus, dialog boxes, and other user interface elements.
These prototypes are particularly useful in the early stages of system development, where the goal is to gather user requirements and feedback. They provide a tangible means for users to interact with the system, thus facilitating better understanding and communication between the users and the development team.
Components of Horizontal Prototypes
Horizontal prototypes primarily consist of user interface elements. These include screens, menus, dialog boxes, buttons, and other interactive components. They also include navigation elements that demonstrate how users move from one part of the system to another. However, these prototypes do not include detailed functionality or backend processes.
While creating a horizontal prototype, the focus is on the system’s layout and design. The aim is to create an intuitive and user-friendly interface that meets the users’ needs and expectations. Therefore, the prototype should be visually appealing and easy to navigate, with clear and concise instructions.
Creation of Horizontal Prototypes
Creating a horizontal prototype involves several steps. First, the business analyst and the development team need to understand the users’ needs and expectations. This could involve conducting user interviews, surveys, and observations. Based on this understanding, they create a preliminary design of the system’s user interface.
Next, they create a mock-up or wireframe of the interface using prototyping tools. This mock-up is then presented to the users for feedback. The feedback is incorporated into the prototype, and the process is repeated until the users are satisfied with the design. The final prototype serves as a blueprint for the actual system’s user interface.
Role of Horizontal Prototypes in Business Analysis
Horizontal prototypes play a crucial role in business analysis. They help business analysts understand the users’ needs and expectations, validate requirements, and facilitate communication between the users and the development team.
By providing a tangible representation of the system, horizontal prototypes enable users to interact with the system and provide feedback. This feedback is invaluable for refining the system’s design and ensuring that it meets the users’ needs. Furthermore, these prototypes serve as a reference for the development team, guiding them in the system’s actual development.
Requirement Gathering and Validation
One of the primary uses of horizontal prototypes in business analysis is for requirement gathering and validation. By interacting with the prototype, users can provide feedback on what they like and dislike, what works well and what doesn’t, and what features they would like to see in the final system.
This feedback helps business analysts refine the system’s requirements and ensure that they accurately reflect the users’ needs. The prototype also serves as a validation tool, enabling business analysts to verify that the proposed system meets the users’ requirements.
Facilitating Communication
Horizontal prototypes also facilitate communication between the users and the development team. They provide a common language and a tangible reference point, making it easier for users to express their needs and for developers to understand these needs.
Furthermore, these prototypes enable users to see the impact of their feedback and suggestions, which enhances their engagement and ownership of the system. This collaborative approach leads to a more user-centered design and a more successful system.
Benefits of Horizontal Prototypes
Horizontal prototypes offer several benefits. They facilitate user involvement and feedback, enhance communication, reduce development risks, and improve the system’s design and usability.
By enabling users to interact with the system at an early stage, horizontal prototypes ensure that the system is designed with the users’ needs in mind. This user-centered approach leads to a more intuitive and efficient system, enhancing user satisfaction and system success.
User Involvement and Feedback
One of the key benefits of horizontal prototypes is that they involve users in the system’s design process. By interacting with the prototype, users can provide feedback on the system’s design and functionality, which can be incorporated into the final system.
This user involvement ensures that the system is designed to meet the users’ needs and expectations, leading to a more successful system. Furthermore, the feedback from users helps identify any potential issues or shortcomings in the system’s design, enabling these to be addressed before the final system is developed.
Enhanced Communication
Horizontal prototypes also enhance communication between the users and the development team. They provide a common language and a tangible reference point, making it easier for users to express their needs and for developers to understand these needs.
Furthermore, these prototypes enable users to see the impact of their feedback and suggestions, which enhances their engagement and ownership of the system. This collaborative approach leads to a more user-centered design and a more successful system.
Drawbacks of Horizontal Prototypes
Despite their benefits, horizontal prototypes also have some drawbacks. They can be time-consuming and costly to create, and they may give users a false impression of the system’s functionality. Furthermore, they may lead to scope creep if not managed properly.
However, these drawbacks can be mitigated with careful planning and management. For instance, using prototyping tools can speed up the creation process and reduce costs. Clear communication with users can prevent misunderstandings about the prototype’s purpose and functionality. And setting clear boundaries and expectations can prevent scope creep.
Time-Consuming and Costly
Creating a horizontal prototype can be a time-consuming and costly process. It involves designing and creating a mock-up of the system’s user interface, gathering user feedback, and refining the prototype based on this feedback. This process may need to be repeated several times before the final prototype is approved.
However, the time and cost invested in creating a horizontal prototype can be offset by the benefits it offers. By identifying and addressing potential issues early on, the prototype can save time and money in the long run by preventing costly changes and rework in the later stages of development.
False Impression of Functionality
Because horizontal prototypes focus on the system’s user interface rather than its functionality, they may give users a false impression of the system’s capabilities. Users may assume that the prototype is a fully functional system and may be disappointed when they discover that it is not.
To prevent this misunderstanding, it is important to clearly communicate the purpose of the prototype to the users. They should be informed that the prototype is a preliminary model designed to gather feedback on the system’s design and user interface, and that it does not represent the final system’s functionality.
Conclusion
In conclusion, horizontal prototypes are a valuable tool in business analysis. They provide a tangible representation of the system, facilitating user involvement and feedback, enhancing communication, and improving the system’s design and usability. While they have some drawbacks, these can be mitigated with careful planning and management.
By understanding the concept of horizontal prototypes and their role in business analysis, business analysts can better leverage this tool to create successful systems that meet the users’ needs and expectations.
