International Journal of Multidisciplinary and Current Research ISSN: 2321-3124 Research Article Available at: http://ijmcr.com 650|Int. J. of Multidisciplinary and Current research, Vol.5 (May/June 2017) Usability Testing on Sulaimani Polytechnic University Website Hozan Hamarashid and Soran Saeed Sulaimani Polytechnic University, Iraq Accepted 02 June 2017, Available online 05 June 2017, Vol.5 (May/June 2017 issue) Abstract Nowadays, usability is one of the most important part in all part of daily life especially design in all area. Mainly, Computer Science and IT parts. So, this paper aims to show the importance of usability and the steps to be taken in testing usability against websites. Firstly, the usability definition, the vitality importance, why we use testing, when we use testing, how to utilize testing usability, and where to use usability testing to Evaluate websites how it will be efficient, learnable, memorable, and satisfaction. The SPU website which is the Sulaimani Polytechnic University website is taken into consideration to be tested against usability testing to test the four main components of usability testing. Keywords: SPU University, usability testing, utilizing usability, effectiveness, learnability, memorability, satisfaction. 1.1 Introduction The international standard, ISO, defined usability as “ The extent to which a product can be used by specified users to achieve specified goals with effectiveness, efficiency and satisfaction in a specified context of use” On the other hand, “usability refers to the ease with which a User Interface can be used by its intended audience to achieve defined goals. Usability incorporates many factors: design, functionality, structure, information architecture, and more”. (Creech, 2011) Over all of both ideas, usability is vitally important before making a production which helps user to achieve their goals by providing facility of use of this production. 1.2 Executive Summary 1.2.1 What is usability? Usability, simply, it makes a production to be used by users easily. Easy contact to interfaces will be provided by usability. According to International Standard ISO usability has the following features:  Effectiveness: Is a particular task can be done by users?  Efficiency: Can user do the task fast without getting frustrated?  Learnability: Can user do tasks without asking for support? Or do they make a lot of errors during the test?  Satisfaction: Is it enjoyable? Or pleasant to utilize? However, in the (Nielsen, 2003:1) list, there are two other parts:  Memorability: If a user does not use it for a period of time after returning to it, Can user do tasks easily? Or is it memorable?  Errors: how many mistakes user will make? Can they avoid from errors? 1.2.2 Why usability is important? And why we use testing? Generally, people do not like to face problems while using technologies and products if that happen they will leave. In that case usability is significant to test the products or websites before publishing products. Also, it is important to survive websites. (Nielsen, 2003) 1.2.3 When we should test usability? As (Nielsen, 2003) recommended that when usability test should be done here are main steps:  “Before starting the new design”  “If you work on an intranet, read the intranet design annuals to learn from other designs”  “Conduct a field study to see how users behave in their natural habitat”  “Make paper prototypes of one or more new design ideas and test them” On the other hand, (Rubin, n, d) said the test should be conducted in “Pre-design process, Initial prototypes, finished interface”. In the shed light of both ideas usability test is very important in every stages of design.