How can we know where we want to go? By identifying usability goals up front, we can align our efforts and get there together.
If we define our goals, we can also measure our progress along the way to reach them as directly and quickly as possible.
In the example at left, a simple visual representation of the flow of a caregiver in a hospital helps explain one of the key transitions where data loss and inaccuracies can be introduced.
The usability goal from this might be to provide easy ways to capture data before leaving the patient, so that someone interrupting the caregiver in the hall does not inadvertently cause them to forget something important.