Defining User Interface Standards

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As noted earlier in this chapter, every organization has unique user computing requirements. Windows 2000 allows you to create standard operating environments, including user interface (UI) standards, based on the needs of your organization.

Whether you choose to accept the Windows 2000 defaults or implement your own UI preferences, Microsoft recommends that you evaluate Windows 2000 configuration options according to the following criteria:

  • Are they easy to learn?

  • Are they efficient to use?

  • Are they easy to remember?

  • Can they help address your top help desk issues or concerns?

  • Do they reduce the number of user errors?

Although few organizations need to research these questions in as much depth as a software manufacturer such as Microsoft, the following techniques might help you configure Windows 2000 to best meet the needs of your users:

  • Focus groups. Bring groups of users together for focused discussions about what they like and dislike about their computer configurations, and what changes could make them more productive.

  • Observational research. Watch users while they work on their computers.

  • Field research. Talk to administrators at other organizations about what they have learned.

  • Expert reviews. Study the research that exists about user interface design and user productivity.

The following sections discuss many of the UI options in Windows 2000 that you can configure using Group Policy. The configuration options that are not set by an administrator become part of the users' profiles, which they can configure at will. If you create a subsequent Group Policy that affects a configuration option, the Group Policy takes precedence. Group Policy settings always take precedence over user-implemented UI configurations, which are saved in the users' profiles.

Basic Users

Basic users have less experience with computers than advanced users; therefore IT configures their systems to maximize their productivity and to minimize their leeway in making potentially harmful changes to their systems. The Run menu and Control Panel are disabled so that only changes specified by an administrator using Group Policy are implemented. Only network links that are assigned by an Administrator are available to users. They also cannot add or remove applications that are not approved by an administrator.

Advanced Users

Advanced users are usually more experienced, frequently run demanding applications that require special configuration options, or are disconnected from the network, and therefore need to be allowed greater leeway to manage their own systems. However, the same mandatory logon and logoff options and features, such as multilingual and accessibility options, must be available to them.