HManager

Group Members

• Shari Haynes (shaynes@mit.edu)
• Sean McDonald (smcdon@mit.edu)
• Tiffany Lin (tjlin@mit.edu)
• TA: _ ()

Problem Statement

House Managers need an efficient way to manage their tasks and keep residents updated on what projects are going on in the building and what projects are scheduled in the building.  They also need a quick and easy way of seeing how much of their budget that they spent and on what.

GR1

User Analysis

Initially there are two types of users we would like to target and interviewed three potential users. However, we later decided to focus on the group of users that we were least familiar with: the house managers.

• The first would be the house (or building) manager, who would act as an admin. They will need to have a list of task items to be done, and a list of task items they are either currently working on or have completed.  They will be English literate, and be able to use a web or mobile device. 
  • Age: late 30s 
  • Interview Results:
    • Gets multiple questions from students when their requests would be completed, it's frustrating on her part to tell multiple students that there are more pressing issues (ex: fixing a leak, cleaning up a flooded hallway).  Receives multiple requests for the same thing, such as mice.  Wants to receive requests from residents on ways to improve the building and get input from other students on which they would prefer.
• The second type of user would be the residents of the building, who will be able to search for their house manager and submit task items, as well as vote on the tasks they wish to be completed first.  They will be English literate, and be able to use a web or mobile device.  They should be either students or working class men and women.  
  • On campus undergrad student:
    • Age 21:
    • Interview Results:
      • They had a house manager who did not respond to emails, nor did they seem to work on anything, and so students were confused as to what the house manager was actually doing.  Leaves students wondering as to what the housemaster was working on.
  • Off campus grad student:
    • Age: 22
    • Interview Results:
      • The building has a few issues, such as mice, and people smoking, and these issues are usually emailed to the house manager, without much feedback. It would be nice to see if (and how) the issue is being dealt with, or if it is a low priority to the housemasters (and therefore require more petitioning).  

Task Anaysis

Tasks from the point of view of the house manager:

• Verify identity as house manager
• Make a list of things needing to be done in their building
• Update list with items being done at the moment
• Remove tasks that have been done
• Add tasks as needed that need to be done
• Field and/or view requests from residents

Tasks from the point of view of the student (no longer relevant to the scope of the final project):

• Tell house manager which projects I think are more important
• Check the status of building improvements that raise quality of life
• When will repair request be filledUpdated Task Analysis
• House manager needs to see how much money he/she has for that year, and how much he/she has left (optional, see how much was spent already)
• Needs to see completed projects, upcoming projects, repairs being worked on, scheduled maintenance, and student requests
• Needs to be able to input tasks (old, current, and new) 
• Needs to be able to broadcast messages to tell residents what is being worked on

GR2

GR3

GR4

GR6