What is SUMI?

Satisfaction is a part of classic definition of usability since a long time. The Software Usability
Measurement Inventory is a rigorously tested and proven method of measuring software
quality from the end user's point of view. SUMI has been developed to provide an authoritative,
standardised measurement of user satisfaction with software. It can be used for the evaluation
and comparison of products (or versions of a product) and to set and track verifiable targets
regarding satisfaction.

SUMI is a classical Likert-type measure of attitude toward a software package. The

questionnaire comprises five subscales: efficiency, affect, helpfulness, control and
learnability. SUMI analysis also provides a “global” satisfaction

SUMI is a consistent method for assessing the quality of use of a software product or prototype,
and can assist with the detection of usability flaws before a product is shipped.

Who should use SUMI?

SUMI is recommended to any organization which wishes to measure the perceived quality of
use of software, either as a developer, a consumer of software, or as a purchaser/consultant.
SUMI is increasingly being used to set quality of use requirements by software procurers.

SUMI also assists the manager in identifying the most appropriate software for their
organization. It has been well documented that if staff have quality tools to work with, this
contributes to overall efficiency of staff and the quality of their work output.

SUMI has been effectively used to:

 assess new products during product evaluation

 make comparisons between products or versions of products
 set targets for future application developments.

SUMI is the de facto industry standard questionnaire for analyzing users' responses to
desktop software or software applications provided through the internet.

Why use SUMI?

SUMI is the only commercially available questionnaire for the assessment of the usability of
software which has been developed, validated, and standardized on an international basis.

SUMI is mentioned in the ISO 9241 standard as a recognized method of testing user
satisfaction.
 SUMI - Questionnaire

    Agree Undecided Disagree

1. This software responds too slowly to inputs. O O O
2. I would like to recommend this software to my colleagues       O O O
3. The instructions and prompts are helpful. O O O
4. The software has at some time stopped unexpectedly   O O O
5. Learning to operate this software initially is full of
O O O
problems.    
6. I sometimes don’t know what to de next with this software.     O O O
7. I enjoy my sessions with this software. O O O
8. I find that the help information given by this software is not
O O O
very useful.
9. If this software stops, it is not easy to restart it. O O O
10. It takes too long to learn the software commands.        O O O
11. I sometimes wonder if I’m using the right command.     O O O
12. Working with this software is satisfying.           O O O
13. The way that system information is presented is clear and
O O O
understandable
14. I feel safer if I use only a few familiar commands or
O O O
operations.           
15. The software documentation is very informative.          O O O
16. This software seems to disrupt the way I normally like to
O O O
arrange my work.
17. Working with this software is mentally stimulating.        O O O
18. There is never enough information on the screen when it’s
O O O
needed.
19. I feel in command of this software when I am using it. O O O
20. I prefer to stick to the facilities that I know best.          O O O
21. I think this software is inconsistent.       O O O
22. I would not like to use this software every day.            O O O
23. I can understand and act on the information provided by this
O O O
software.
24. This software is awkward when I want to do something which
O O O
is not standard
25. There is too much to read before you can use the software.     O O O
26. Tasks can be performed in a straightforward manner using this
O O O
software
27. Using this software is frustrating.          O O O
28. The software has helped me overcome any problems I have
O O O
had using it
29. The speed of this software is fast enough.         O O O
30. I have to go back to look at the guides. O O O
31. It is obvious that user needs have been fully taken into O O O
 consideration.  
32. There have been times in using this software when I have felt
O O O
quite tense.
33. The organisation of the menu or information lists seems quite
O O O
logical.
34. The software allows the user to be economic of keystrokes.    O O O
35. Learning how to use new functions is difficult.   O O O
36. There are too many steps required to get something to work.   O O O
37. I think this software has made me have headache on occasion. O O O
38. Error prevention messages are not adequate.   O O O
39. It is easy to make the software do exactly what you want. O O O
40. I will never learn to use all that is offered in this software.         O O O
41. The software hasn’t always done what I was expecting. O O O
42. The software has a very attractive presentation.           O O O
43. Either the amount or quality of the help information varies
O O O
across the system
44. It is relatively easy to move from one part of a task to another 
O O O
.
45. It is easy to forget how to do things with this software. O O O
46. This software occasionally behaves in a way, which can’t be
O O O
understood.       
47. This software is really very awkward.   O O O
48. It is easy to see at a glance what the options are at each stage  O O O
49. Getting data files in and out of the system is not easy    O O O
50. I have to look for assistance most times when I use this
O O O
software.