Snapshot

To design a feature for a Construction Capital Management web application that enables users to easily track and visualize financial metrics related to construction projects, including total funds requested, approved, and various cost classifications (CAPEX, OPEX, TOTEX) over time.

Users require a clear and intuitive interface to:

• Monitor financial metrics at a glance.
• Compare requested vs. approved funds.
• Analyze costs (CAPEX, OPEX, TOTEX) and total life-cycle costs.
• Visualize Net Present Value (NPV) over time.

User Personas

• Project Manager: Needs to track funding requests and approvals for project budgeting.
• Financial Analyst: Requires detailed insights into costs and financial projections.
• Executive Stakeholder: Wants high-level overviews of financial health and project viability.

Pain Points

• Difficulty in tracking multiple funding metrics in one place.
• Lack of clear visualizations for quick decision-making.
• Complicated access to historical data for financial forecasting.

Key Features

• Interactive Charting: Line and bar charts to visualize NPV and Total Life-cycle costs over time. Ability to overlay different cost classifications for comparison.
• Detailed Data Table: Metrics to include Total Funds Requested, Total Funds Approved, CAPEX, OPEX, TOTEX, Total Life-cycle Cost, Total NPV. Ability to filter and sort by date range.
• Export Options: Options to export data in CSV or PDF format for reporting purposes.

User Flow

• Visualize Data: Users can switch to the chart view to visualize NPV and other metrics over selected timeframes.
• View Detailed Data: Users can click on metrics to drill down into the data table for detailed insights.
• Export Data: Users can choose to export their data for external analysis or reporting.

Prototyping

An interactive prototype was developed using Axure RP, demonstrating chart and data table views:

• Chart View: A dual-axis line chart showing funds over time, with the ability to select different metrics to display.
• Data Table: A clean layout with sortable columns.

Usability Testing

I conducted usability tests with 5 users from each persona category:

• Conducted sessions to observe interactions with the chart features and data table.
• Gathered feedback on ease of navigation, clarity of information, and visual appeal.

Findings

• Chart interactions needed improvement for responsiveness.
• The data table was well-received, but users requested more filtering options.

The final design effectively addressed user needs by consolidating essential financial metrics into an intuitive interface. The feature empowers users to make informed financial decisions regarding construction projects with ease.

Future Enhancements

• Implement advanced filtering and sorting capabilities based on user feedback.
• Explore adding predictive analytics for future NPV projections.
• Incorporate user feedback into iterative design improvements for better usability.

This feature will ultimately enhance the decision-making process for stakeholders involved in construction capital management, ensuring better financial oversight and project planning.