Effective Output Design

Designing Effective Output
Major Topics
• Designing output
• Output technologies
• Factors in choosing an output
technology
• Report design
• Screen design
• Web site design
Designing Output
Output should be designed to:
• Serve the intended purpose.
• Be meaningful to the user.
• Deliver the right quantity of output.
• Deliver it to the right place.
• Provide output on time.
• Choose the right output method.
External and Internal Output
• Internal output is used within the
corporation.
• External output is used outside the
organization.
• External output differs from internal
output in its design and appearance.
• A turnaround document is one that is
sent out and then returned.
Output Technologies
• Output can be in the form of:
• Print.
• Display screen.
• Audio.
• CD-ROM or CD-RW.
• DVD.
• Electronic output.
Output Technologies
(Continued)
• Output technologies differ in their:

• Speed.
• Cost.
• Portability.
• Flexibility.
• Storage and retrieval possibilities.
Video Clips
Video clips are useful for:
• Supplementing static, printed output.
• Distance collaboration.
• Showing how to perform an action.
• Providing brief training episodes.
• Shifting the time of an actual event by recording it
for later output.
• Preserving an important occasion for addition to
an organization’s archives.
Animation
Animation is composed of four
elements:
• Elemental symbols.
• Spatial orientation.
• Transition effects.
• Alteration effects.
Electronic Output
Electronic output includes:
• Fax.
• Electronic mail (email).
• The World Wide Web.
Push and Pull Technology
• Pull technology allows the user to take

formatted data from the Web.
• Push technology sends solicited or
unsolicited information to a customer or
client.
Factors in Choosing an Output
Technology
Factors that must be considered when
choosing an output technology are:
• Who will use the output?
• How many people need the output?
• Where is the output needed?
• What is the purpose of the output?
• What is the speed with which output is
needed?
Factors in Choosing an Output
Technology
Factors that must be considered when choosing an
output technology are (continued):
• How frequently will the output be accessed?
• How long will the output be stored?
• Under what special regulations is the output
produced, stored, and distributed?
• What are the initial and ongoing costs of
maintenance and supplies?
• What are the environmental requirements for
output technologies?
Output Bias
• Analysts must be aware of sources of

output bias and inform users of the
possibilities of bias in output.
• Bias is introduced in three main ways:
• How information is sorted.
• Setting of acceptable limits.
• Choice of graphics.
Strategies to Avoid Bias
Strategies to avoid output bias:
• Awareness of the sources of bias.
• Design of output that includes users.
• Working with users so that they are informed of
the output's biases.
• Creating output that is flexible and allows users to
modify limits and ranges.
• Train users to rely on multiple output for
conducting "reality tests" on system output.
Report Design Considerations
• Constant information does not change

when the report is printed.
• Variable information changes each time
the report is printed.
• Paper quality, type, and size should be
specified.
Printed Reports
• Design reports using software.
• Design guidelines for printed reports
are:
• Include functional attributes, such as
headings, page numbers, and control
breaks.
• Incorporate stylistic and aesthetic
attributes, such as extra blank space and
grouping data.
Display Screen Design
Guidelines for display design are:
• Keep the display simple.
• Keep the display presentation consistent.
• Facilitate user movement among displayed
output.
• Create an attractive display.
Graphical Output
• Primary considerations for designing

graphical output:
• Output must be accurate, easy to
understand and use.
Graphical Output (Continued)
• The analyst must determine:

• The purpose of the graph.
• The kind of data to be displayed.
• The audience.
• The effects on the audience of different
kinds of graphical output.
Web Site Design
• Design principles must be used when
designing Web sites.
• These include:
• Using professional tools.
• Studying other sites.
• Using Web resources.
• Examining the sites of professional Web
site designers.
Web Site Design (Continued)
• Further principles:
• Using tools that you are familiar with.
• Consulting books.
• Examining of poorly designed pages.
• Creating Web templates. Style sheets
allow you to format all Web pages in a site
consistently.
• Using plug-ins, audio, and video sparingly.
Plan Ahead
Pay attention to:
• Structure.
• Content.
• Text.
• Graphics.
• Presentations style.
• Navigation.
• Promotion.
Web Graphics
Guidelines for using graphics when
designing Web sites are:
• Use either JPEG or GIF formats.
• Keep the background simple and readable.
• Create a few professional-looking graphics
for use on your page.
• Reuse bullet or navigational buttons.
• Examine your Web site on a variety of
monitors and graphics resolutions.
Presentation Style
Guidelines for entry displays for Web
sites:
• Provide an entry screen or home page.
• Keep the number of graphics to a
reasonable minimum.
• Use large and colorful fonts for headings.
• Use interesting images and buttons for
links.
Presentation Style
Guidelines for entry displays for Web
sites (continued)
• Use tables to enhance the layout.
• Use the same graphics image on several
Web pages.
• Avoid overusing animation, sound, and
other “busy” elements.
Navigation
Navigation guidelines:
• Use the three-clicks rule.
• Promote the Web site.
• Encourage your viewers to bookmark your
site.

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Designing Effective Output

• Output technologies differ in their:

• Pull technology allows the user to take

• Analysts must be aware of sources of

• Constant information does not change

• Primary considerations for designing

• The analyst must determine:

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