Technological support for graphical user interface development in large-scale enterprises

Abstract: The graphical user interface for a software system has several important roles to fulfill. It shall serve the end users in their interactions with the system and it shall act as a front for the system. It is an advantage if the graphical user interface gives the receiver confidence and inspiration to use the system. Consistency and usability in graphical and technical design are important qualities and aspects that influence the receiver’s opinion of a graphical user interface and additionally the whole system. Moreover when there is a suite of proprietary systems from one supplier, the different application user interfaces shall provide for a homogeneous and familiar impression. The graphical user interface gives furthermore a possibility to confirm brand recognition for the software producer. It is a great challenge for a large-scale enterprise to develop and deliver comprehensive software systems with a common expression and consistency in the different graphical user interfaces. In order for large-scale enterprises to succeed in such activities, it is necessary to coordinate and integrate the development of user interfaces. The focus of this thesis is, consequently, to investigate how technological support for graphical user interface development in large-scale enterprises can contribute to this and support user interface designers and developers in a large-scale enterprise when the product portfolio is widespread. The contributions of the thesis work are presented as a number of observations and the observations as such are summarized in a case study. Moreover, the thesis proposes a technological concept for a large-scale software enterprise, where the aim is to support a common and coordinated way of working with enterprise development of graphical user interfaces.