tooldesign

=Tool Design=

PeterT leading, aiming for July 2013

= Tool Design Issues = Four key areas: · Back-end: calculation schemes etc. · Front end: interface design / outputs · Implementation platform · Process

Back-end
· Need to ensure consistency in scorings, i.e. 1 should always be low and 3 (or whatever) should always be high. · Need to review ranges. These should be impaired (i.e. always a mid-point). Some variables need to be zero-based, others not. Recommend 1 – 5 or 0 – 4 is appropriate for most circumstances. · We need to review and refine the calculation scheme and possibly conduct a comparative analysis of different calculation schemes to identify the most robust / predictable approach. · We need to include sensitivity analyses when testing calculation schemes. · The new filters etc. need to be integrated into the updated version.

Front-end
· Improve the user management (“idiot-proofing”). · Embed outputs of the tool in narratives describing technologies (pros, cons, application etc.) or // vice versa //. · Explore the use of graphical outputs for explaining outputs (e.g. relative contributions of land, labour etc. to the outcome of the analysis). · Rank and sort lists of outputs. · Automate reporting. · Different outputs for different end-users (e.g. pictorial outputs for farmers’ consumption).

Implementation Platform
· Stick with Excel for now but review as complexity increases. May be a case for moving to a bespoke platform (PC, Android?). <span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">· Deliver tool and manual over the web but no online implementation.

Process
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">· User evaluation. Review experiences of past users of the tool and feed this into proposed re-design. <span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">· Conduct a user-requirement analysis with key informants. <span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">· NT, VP, AD and PT to agree responsibilities for implementing the new version. Possible face-to-face programming-shop, late April. PT will follow up. <span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">· Consider structural linkages to FEAST (VCA?).

= Tool Design Issues = <span style="display: block; height: 1px; left: -40px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; top: 65.5px; width: 1px;">Four key areas: <span style="display: block; height: 1px; left: -40px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; text-indent: -0.25in; top: 65.5px; width: 1px;"> <span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">· Back-end: calculation schemes etc. <span style="display: block; height: 1px; left: -40px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; text-indent: -0.25in; top: 65.5px; width: 1px;"> <span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">· Front end: interface design / outputs <span style="display: block; height: 1px; left: -40px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; text-indent: -0.25in; top: 65.5px; width: 1px;"> <span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">· Implementation platform <span style="display: block; height: 1px; left: -40px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; text-indent: -0.25in; top: 65.5px; width: 1px;"> <span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">· Process

Back-end
<span style="display: block; height: 1px; left: -40px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; text-indent: -0.25in; top: 65.5px; width: 1px;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">· Need to ensure consistency in scorings, i.e. 1 should always be low and 3 (or whatever) should always be high. <span style="display: block; height: 1px; left: -40px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; text-indent: -0.25in; top: 65.5px; width: 1px;"> <span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">· Need to review ranges. These should be impaired (i.e. always a mid-point). Some variables need to be zero-based, others not. Recommend 1 – 5 or 0 – 4 is appropriate for most circumstances. <span style="display: block; height: 1px; left: -40px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; text-indent: -0.25in; top: 65.5px; width: 1px;"> <span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">· We need to review and refine the calculation scheme and possibly conduct a comparative analysis of different calculation schemes to identify the most robust / predictable approach. <span style="display: block; height: 1px; left: -40px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; text-indent: -0.25in; top: 65.5px; width: 1px;"> <span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">· We need to include sensitivity analyses when testing calculation schemes. <span style="display: block; height: 1px; left: -40px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; text-indent: -0.25in; top: 65.5px; width: 1px;"> <span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">· The new filters etc. need to be integrated into the updated version.

Front-end
<span style="display: block; height: 1px; left: -40px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; text-indent: -0.25in; top: 65.5px; width: 1px;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">· Improve the user management (“idiot-proofing”). <span style="display: block; height: 1px; left: -40px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; text-indent: -0.25in; top: 65.5px; width: 1px;"> <span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">· Embed outputs of the tool in narratives describing technologies (pros, cons, application etc.) or // vice versa //. <span style="display: block; height: 1px; left: -40px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; text-indent: -0.25in; top: 65.5px; width: 1px;"> <span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">· Explore the use of graphical outputs for explaining outputs (e.g. relative contributions of land, labour etc. to the outcome of the analysis). <span style="display: block; height: 1px; left: -40px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; text-indent: -0.25in; top: 65.5px; width: 1px;"> <span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">· Rank and sort lists of outputs. <span style="display: block; height: 1px; left: -40px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; text-indent: -0.25in; top: 65.5px; width: 1px;"> <span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">· Automate reporting. <span style="display: block; height: 1px; left: -40px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; text-indent: -0.25in; top: 65.5px; width: 1px;"> <span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">· Different outputs for different end-users (e.g. pictorial outputs for farmers’ consumption).

Implementation Platform
<span style="display: block; height: 1px; left: -40px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; text-indent: -0.25in; top: 65.5px; width: 1px;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">· Stick with Excel for now but review as complexity increases. May be a case for moving to a bespoke platform (PC, Android?). <span style="display: block; height: 1px; left: -40px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; text-indent: -0.25in; top: 65.5px; width: 1px;"> <span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">· Deliver tool and manual over the web but no online implementation.

Process
<span style="display: block; height: 1px; left: -40px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; text-indent: -0.25in; top: 65.5px; width: 1px;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">· User evaluation. Review experiences of past users of the tool and feed this into proposed re-design. <span style="display: block; height: 1px; left: -40px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; text-indent: -0.25in; top: 65.5px; width: 1px;"> <span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">· Conduct a user-requirement analysis with key informants. <span style="display: block; height: 1px; left: -40px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; text-indent: -0.25in; top: 65.5px; width: 1px;"> <span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">· NT, VP, AD and PT to agree responsibilities for implementing the new version. Possible face-to-face programming-shop, late April. PT will follow up. <span style="display: block; height: 1px; left: -40px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; text-indent: -0.25in; top: 65.5px; width: 1px;"> <span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">· Consider structural linkages to FEAST (VCA?).