Digitalisation and the Work Environment: Insights from Evaluating the Contextual Think-Aloud Method

The digital transformation of workplaces necessitates understanding the intricate relationship between software systems and their context. In response, this paper introduces an innovative “Contextual Think-Aloud” method, a refinement of the traditional Think-Aloud evaluation method, aimed at providing software developers with deeper insights into the nature of digital work environments. The efficacy of this method was assessed by involving twenty-nine university students in a twelve-week user-centred software development course. The analysis highlighted the method’s ability to extend understanding of user-system interactions and specific contexts, proving particularly beneficial in early developmental stages. However, challenges such as its resource-intensive nature, user reluctance to express genuine thoughts, and contrasting user opinions were identified. Suggestions for improvement included creating a conducive evaluation environment and preferring interactive prototypes. Despite its inherent challenges and limitations, the Contextual Think-Aloud method emerged as a valuable tool for understanding user interactions and specific contexts in digital work environments. This study contributes significant insights and enhancements to the field of user-centred design methodologies, addressing the evolving needs of digital workplaces in the contemporary scenario, thus enriching the discourse on optimising user-centred design methodologies in the evolving digital workspace, balancing its multifaceted benefits and challenges.