Task Analysis

Updated 09 Sep 2026

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def
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  the analysis and documentation of how a user performs tasks within an interface — what the user and system do, how, when, and with what tools
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  in a software engineering context: the process of understanding the work users perform in specific circumstances and the tasks/subtasks they carry out
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goal
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  identify the tasks, objects, workflows, and task hierarchy the user will perform with the system
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what is studied
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  the work the user performs in specific circumstances
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  specific problem domain objects manipulated by the user
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  the sequence of work tasks (workflow) and the hierarchy of tasks
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approach
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  decompose tasks into sub-tasks recursively until atomic actions are reached
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types / techniques
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  data analysis
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using use cases for task analysis
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  Use Cases show how an end user performs a specific work-related task
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  enables extraction of tasks, objects, and overall workflow
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  helps identify additional helpful features
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in the SE UI design process
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  task analysis is one of the four elements analyzed in User Interface Design, alongside User Analysis, Content Analysis, and Work Environment Analysis
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The goal-task relationshpi
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  a task analysis traces the path: goal -> tasks -> goal achieved — the specific steps a user performs to accomplish something
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Tasks are not goals
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  "task" is a commonly conflated term; a task is the specific, concrete action a user performs, while a goal is the underlying outcome they're actually after — the two are usually not the same thing, and confusing them is a common analysis mistake
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related
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  Use Case
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  User Interface Design
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Cards
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  Distinguish a task from a goal.
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    a goal is the outcome a user actually wants; a task is one of the concrete steps taken to get there — they're commonly conflated but not the same thing

Linked references 6

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Task Analysis

The goal-task relationshpi

Tasks are not goals

Cards

Linked references 6