| This research situates a user needs analysis method, called Strategic User Needs Analysis (SUNA) in an earlier study (Narasimhan, 2001), within the framework of Activity Theory (AT). It tests the suitability of an AT framework for classifying work roles for the purpose of studying the relationship of these roles to the uptake of PDA features by two strategic market segments, namely mobile and non-mobile professionals.;A field test was conducted on 24 users using a 2 x 2 ANOVA design to compare mobile with non-mobile professionals as well as comparing Palm Pilot users with Handspring PDA users. In this study, SUNA used an automatic log of feature usage as a springboard to jog participants' memory with respect to the context of usage of the two features they use most often. Information concerning their work roles and the ways they used the PDA features was examined along with their nominations for additional features. The value of a generic role classification to investigate strategic questions pertaining to the development of new products and feature bundling is discussed. The results suggest that AT is a suitable theoretical framework for SUNA. (Abstract shortened by UMI.). |
