Sometimes the Obvious is Missing

We developers need input from our users!

This became very clear to me once again last week when I received an unexpected request from a user to add a simple lookup function to a field in their order entry program which has been in use (…and regularly enhanced) for over 5 years.  When I first received the request I was shocked to discover that such an obviously beneficial function would be missing.  In fact, my first thought was something like “How could [the user] miss it?  Of course there is a lookup there!”  Then, upon further investigation and review going back numerous iterations and versions I discovered much to my surprise that it NEVER was there — an obvious omission.

All of this led me to recognize once again the value of having a close relationship with my user community.  Working with the small & medium size companies that I do, it is generally commonplace.   This incident also pointed out to me that user and software developer/designer alike can easily miss obvious functionality enhancements.

P.S.  The program now has the desired lookup!