Chapter One — 1.1 Background to the Study

Organizations that depend on agricultural supply chain management are under increasing pressure to modernize, and Usability Testing Practices has emerged as one of the more promising avenues for doing so, given its demonstrated impact in related domains.

Despite this potential, many existing agricultural supply chain management were not originally designed with usability testing practices in mind, resulting in persistent gaps in perceived usability that limit their overall effectiveness. This study examines how Usability Testing Practices can be applied to help close that gap.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Current agricultural supply chain management in many organizations struggle with inadequate perceived usability, often relying on manual processes or outdated architectures that were not designed for today's operating environment. Without a structured approach to integrating usability testing practices, these limitations are likely to persist, exposing organizations to inefficiency, risk, and a poor user experience. This study is motivated by the need to design and evaluate a usability testing practices-based approach to addressing this problem.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

1. To design and implement a usability testing practices-based approach to improving perceived usability in agricultural supply chain management.
2. To evaluate the effectiveness of Usability Testing Practices in enhancing perceived usability within agricultural supply chain management.
3. To identify the key requirements and constraints relevant to deploying usability testing practices in this context.
4. To assess user and stakeholder perception of the resulting system.

1.4 Research Questions

1. How can usability testing practices be applied to improve perceived usability in agricultural supply chain management?
2. How effective is Usability Testing Practices at enhancing perceived usability within agricultural supply chain management?
3. What requirements and constraints are relevant to deploying usability testing practices in this context?
4. How do users and stakeholders perceive the resulting system?

1.5 Significance of the Study

This study is significant to software developers and system architects seeking practical guidance on applying Usability Testing Practices within agricultural supply chain management. It is equally relevant to organizations that rely on these systems, offering a reference point for evaluating whether such an investment is justified, and it adds to the growing body of work on usability testing practices applications in UI/UX design.

1.6 Scope of the Study

As a BSc-level study, its scope is confined to designing and evaluating a usability testing practices-based solution for agricultural supply chain management, focused specifically on perceived usability; broader deployment considerations fall outside this scope.