EN ISO/IEC 25064:2017 PDF

Overview

EN ISO/IEC 25064:2017 (identical to ISO/IEC 25064:2013) defines the Common Industry Format (CIF) for a User Needs Report as part of the SQuaRE family (Software product Quality Requirements and Evaluation). The standard specifies the contents, structure and expected content elements of user needs reports used to collect, document, analyse and consolidate information about users and their needs. It applies to software and hardware systems, products or services (excluding generic peripherals such as a display screen or keyboard). EN ISO/IEC 25064 supports a human-centred design approach and feeds directly into establishing user requirements and usability evaluation.

Key topics and requirements

• Purpose and scope: Clarifies when to prepare a user needs report (new or existing systems, context-of-use changes).
• Content elements: Specifies required report elements such as:
  • initial indicators of need for a system/product/service or improvement
  • user responsibilities and goals
  • source data used to derive needs (stakeholder input, field data, observations)
  • identified user needs and related stakeholder needs
  • identified performance deficiencies, problems and potential improvements
  • consolidated user needs and recommendations
  • data collection methods, participant selection and descriptions
  • supporting information (system description, instruments, data summaries)
• Format guidance: Annex provides a recommended report format (title page, executive summary, methods, findings, annexes).
• Conformance and traceability: Emphasises consistent terminology and traceability from user needs into user requirements and later usability evaluations.

Practical applications and users

• Who uses it:
  • UX researchers and usability specialists preparing formal user needs documentation
  • Systems and software engineers integrating human-centred design into lifecycle processes
  • Product managers, procurers and stakeholders who require objective, traceable user needs
  • Testers and evaluators using user needs as inputs for usability evaluation and verification
• When to use:
  • At project initiation to consolidate context-of-use and user goals
  • During iterative development to update needs based on field data or evaluations
  • As input to user requirements specifications, interaction and interface design, and verification/validation activities
• Benefits:
  • Improves clarity and consistency of usability-related inputs
  • Enhances traceability from user research to system requirements and design
  • Facilitates communication among UX, engineering and management teams

Related standards

• ISO/IEC 25063 - Context of use description (CIF)
• ISO/IEC 25065 - User requirements specification (CIF)
• ISO/IEC 25066 - Usability evaluation report (CIF)
• ISO/IEC 25000 – ISO/IEC 25099 - SQuaRE series
• ISO 9241-210 - Human-centred design for interactive systems
• ISO/IEC 15288 - System life cycle processes

Keywords: EN ISO/IEC 25064:2017, ISO/IEC 25064:2013, SQuaRE, CIF, User Needs Report, usability, user needs, context of use, ISO 9241-210, user requirements.