Unveiling Insights: A UX Research Study on Workday Learning

Workday Learning has become a vital tool for organizations aiming to empower their workforce with accessible and personalized training. To assess its usability and identify areas of improvement, we conducted a comprehensive UX research study focusing on diverse user personas. Here’s an overview of the study, its findings, and actionable recommendations.

Study Overview

1. Participants: We recruited 20 participants representing three distinct personas:

1. New Joiners - Users navigating Workday for the first time.

2. Tenured Users - Experienced employees familiar with Workday.

3. Non-English Speaking Users - Users relying on translated interfaces for navigation.

2. Methodology: A usability study was conducted, focusing on key scenarios that required users to:

   1. Find and enrol in a course.

   2. Plan their learning path.

   3. Use the search functionality effectively.

Metrics collected included task completion time and error rates to evaluate the system’s efficiency and clarity.

3. Process and Timeline: The study was carried out over 1 month, divided into distinct research phases:

   1. Stakeholder Session (Week 1):

      1. Conducted a workshop with stakeholders to understand their challenges and expectations from the research.

      2. Discussed their pain points, such as lack of user engagement and difficulty in locating learning resources.

      3. Recommended appropriate research methodologies to address their concerns.

   2. Planning and Preparation (Week 2):

      1. Defined study objectives and key research questions.

      2. Recruited participants representing diverse personas.

      3. Created test scenarios based on common user tasks within Workday Learning.

   3. Data Collection (Weeks 3-4):

      1. Conducted usability sessions remotely and in person.

      2. Each session lasted approximately 45 minutes, during which participants attempted predefined tasks.

      3. Observed user behavior, collected feedback, and recorded task completion times and errors.

   4. Data Analysis (Week 5):

      1. Analyzed qualitative and quantitative data.

      2. Identified patterns in user behavior, challenges, and pain points.

      3. Synthesized findings into actionable insights and recommendations.

   5. Presentation to Stakeholders (Week 6):

      1. Shared findings in a detailed presentation, including user verbatims, number of clicks required to complete tasks, task completion times, and error rates.

      2. Highlighted key pain points with supporting data to help stakeholders understand the user perspective and prioritize improvements.

Key Findings

1. Search Functionality

1. The global search bar was the most frequently used tool to locate learning resources but consistently delivered irrelevant results.

2. Users often overlooked the dedicated Workday Learning Search, which was more effective but lacked prominence.

2. Information Architecture (IA)

1. The IA was found to be badly unorganized, causing confusion among users.

2. Menus lacked intuitive labelling, making users spend excessive time locating desired features.

3. Icons

1. Icons associated with learning paths and courses were perceived as ambiguous and misaligned with users’ expectations.

4. Non-English Translations

1. Several translations were literal and lacked contextual relevance, leading to misunderstandings among non-English speaking users.

5. Notifications

1. Workday’s notifications for assigned courses did not include direct links, creating a dead-end and frustration for users.

Limitations

• As a Workday-delivered module, customization options are limited. However, adjustments within existing constraints can still improve the user experience significantly.

Actionable Recommendations

1. Enhance Visibility of Learning Search

   1. Make the Workday Learning Search more prominent on the dashboard using visual cues such as color differentiation, placement, or introductory tooltips.

2. Revamp Information Architecture

   1. Reorganize the IA with user feedback, grouping related functionalities logically.

   2. Rename menus to reflect their purpose more clearly, improving navigation for all personas.

3. Redesign Icons

   1. Replace confusing icons with visuals that align with the new IA, ensuring they are intuitive and universally recognizable.

4. Improve Translations

   1. Collaborate with native-speaking linguists to create contextual translations.

   2. Use AI to detect and refine problematic translations automatically.

5. Leverage AI for Recommendations

   1. Integrate AI to suggest personalized learning paths based on users’ roles, previous courses, and interests.

   2. Offer planning tools to help users create and track their learning goals effectively.

6. Add Direct Links to Notifications

   1. Include direct links to courses within notifications, reducing user frustration and making navigation seamless.

Conclusion

Our study highlighted critical gaps in the usability of Workday Learning and offered practical recommendations to address these issues. By improving search functionality, reorganizing IA, refining icons, enhancing translations, and integrating AI, Workday can deliver a more seamless and empowering learning experience. Although constrained by the platform’s delivered nature, these changes can significantly improve usability and user satisfaction.

The next step? Implementing these recommendations and continuously iterating based on user feedback ensures Workday Learning remains a powerful tool for growth and development.