AI-generated Task Objects

Identifying Task Objects with Product Context Analyzer

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What is a Task Object?

A Task Object factsheet presents a complete view of a single task object, including its lifecycle, possible error states, key attributes, related actions, and the actors interacting with it. It guides the design of UI flows by showing how the object behaves in real user tasks, and informs backend data modeling to ensure system structures and processes reflect actual user workflows.

Basic steps to create a list of Task Object with Product Context Analyzer

1

Enter a research prompt

Specify the task, activity, responsibility, journey, or user group you are interested in

Example: Order Pizza from a delivery service for a business meeting

Tips

Describe the activity in a single sentence without prescribing a particular product or solution.

Optionally include context such as who is performing the activity and under what circumstances.

Adding context helps make the analysis more domain-specific.

Task objects are identified from the tasks and activities included in the analysis.

2

Click 'Start Analysis'

The analysis takes several minutes depending on the scope and number of tasks identified

3

Open the Analysis

As soon as the analysis is completed, you can open it and look at all artifacts

Tips

The quick access view provides direct access to all artifacts grouped by UX method

You can also browse all results by stakeholder, task or task object by clicking on the left icons

4

Browse Task Objects

Click on Task Objects on the left to see all task objects identified across the analysis

Tips

Select an individual task object to open its detailed factsheet

Task objects may be used across multiple tasks and by different stakeholders

5

Select the Task Object Factsheet or Map

The factsheet consolidates the lifecycle, error states, attributes, actions, and actors associated with a task object

Tips

Use the factsheet to inform how the object and its state should be represented in the user interface

Use the identified task objects as the foundation for a human-centred domain and data model

Use the links to explore related tasks and stakeholders in more detail

What can you do with Task Objects?

Use it to design the object's UI

See the object's attributes, states, actions, and lifecycle together so the interface reflects how users actually work with the object.

Expand the design to consider the entire lifecycle

Use lifecycle stages and error states to consider how the product should support the object beyond the immediate task or interaction.

Hand it to your engineering team

Give engineering a human-centred description of the object that can inform domain and data modeling before technical structures are defined.

Compare it with your existing data model

Check whether the system's current entities and attributes reflect the objects users actually work with and the information that matters to them.

Review it with domain experts

Use the factsheet as a structured hypothesis to validate object attributes, lifecycle stages, actions, actors, and exceptional states before committing them to a design.

External Resources

Origins

Shouhong Wang, Information & Management, 1995

Established Practice

Jeff Johnson & Austin Henderson
Sophia V. Prater

Contemporary Thinking

OOUX / Sophia V. Prater
Eric Evans / Domain Language
Product Context Analyzer
ProContext Inc.
377 Roble Ave
Redwood City
CA 94061, USA