When a software team documents requirements, what do they base the usability requirements on?

Usability requirements are fundamentally focused on how well users can interact with a software product. Basing these requirements on user feedback and studies is essential because it ensures that the documentation reflects real-world experiences and expectations of actual users. By gathering insights directly from users through surveys, interviews, usability testing, and observations, the team can identify pain points, preferences, and needs that must be addressed in the software. This user-centered approach fosters the design of interfaces that are intuitive, efficient, and satisfying, ultimately leading to better user engagement and satisfaction.

While other options like internal team consensus, market analysis, and regulatory standards may provide valuable information, they do not specifically target user interaction and experience in the same way that direct user feedback does. Internal consensus may not reflect the true needs of the users, market analysis can be oriented towards business goals rather than usability, and regulatory standards usually focus on compliance rather than user-centered design. Therefore, anchoring usability requirements in user feedback and studies ensures that the final product aligns with user needs and expectations for optimal usability.