“Paved Roads” is a term I saw somewhere to describe those processes that a system is designed to primarily support. While your software/business/process might have extension points or ancillary capabilities, it should also have paved roads that indicate to a user “this is the way we expect you to go”. Those things that its designed around and expects people to use. This is the beginning of the Pit of Success. Paved Roads provide clarity. They say “go here”.
They are ineffective when they don’t go where users actually want to go. You need to know your system’s purpose.
Signs of a paved road:
- Prominent & consistent entry points (e.g. Windows “Start” menu)
- Affordances
- Clear signs of consideration & optimization
- easy buttons, templates, and Other Forms of Checklist
- Documentation & training made available
Source
- Self