Commonly used when recruiting new staff, the Myers Briggs test assesses character traits and assigns one of sixteen personality types. Pearl's founder Julian Ehrlich said his company's software aims to display the -ESTJ" profile, a -Guardian Supervisor" which acts as a responsible, law-abiding conservator to help users understand how to deal with spam, a stark contrast to the security-led approach of other anti-spam tools.
Pearl's development team used the traits of a Guardian Supervisor to design every element of its software, which is currently undergoing Alpha testing. The result is an application without a -Help" menu - Help does not conform to the profile -instead providing pro-active advice to users based on their actions
-We referred to the profile for each aspect of the user interface," Ehrlich says. -The Guardian Supervisor type can sometimes be perceived as rigid and inflexible by other personality types. So when we mandate processes for technical reasons we explain why. This maintains our Guardian Supervisor brand without irritating users."
Ehrlich believes focussing on making software behave well delivers outstanding ease-of-use. -Because all software features and their behaviours are consistent it is simpler to use and more fun," he says. -Wanted mail is delivered to your in-box, unwanted mail can be made to disappear. If the system is uncertain, it lists mail in a Traffic Report, sorted into user-defined categories. Explanations are based on user definitions, not arcane technical terms."
Pearl Communications is now working to ready its software for beta testing, but also hopes to productise the methodology used to develop the software.
-The whole purpose of a brand is to provide a shortcut so people know what to expect," Ehrlich says. -The problem with a lot of software development is that it focuses on the required functions and the technology to get these working. But working that way ignores the brand and brand values of the company creating the software," an omission which can see software reach the public and offer a contrary and confusing image for a company.
Applying the personality test has let Pearl get around this problem while also streamlining the development process to a remarkable extent.
-When you look at an application through the eyes of the desired personality it suggests the things you need to pay attention to. We have saved so much time working this way because we simply haven't developed features that don't meet our desired personality type. An unexpected surprise has been how back office system controls will reinforce brand values and behaviour among staff, extending brand behaviour to staff-customer interactions."
Ehrlich believes this thinking has wider application. -The marketing department has almost no say in how a company develops software," he says. -We think that this methodology has the potential to get marketing people off the back of IT by making sure that software conforms to the brand."
-We believe that if you applied the same thinking to brand values and only coded the features that support and enhance the brand software development would be faster, cheaper, and better for both the company and the people who use its systems."
