Evaluasi Usability Sistem Manajemen Penelitian Dosen Berbasis Prototyping Menggunakan System Usability Scale

Abstract

Lecturer research management in higher education institutions often faces complex administrative challenges that are time-consuming and prone to documentation errors. These problems include difficulties in tracking proposal status, inconsistent progress reporting, and lack of transparency in the review process. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a throwaway prototyping-based development approach in building a lecturer research management information system that is usable, efficient, and capable of improving administrative productivity. The system is designed to simplify research administration activities, such as proposal submission, reviewer assignment, progress reporting, and integrated research output tracking. The study employs a mixed method design that combines quantitative approaches through usability and time efficiency measurements, as well as qualitative approaches through in-depth interviews. The development process applies a throwaway prototyping cycle through stages: (1) initial requirements identification through stakeholder analysis, (2) rapid prototype creation for concept validation, (3) iterative evaluation and validation with end users, (4) prototype disposal and final system implementation based on feedback. This approach was chosen to accelerate requirements elicitation, validate interface flows before full development, and minimize rework before final implementation. The system was implemented as a web application using PHP (Laravel) and a relational database. Usability evaluation was conducted using the System Usability Scale (SUS), complemented by task-based efficiency measurements and brief interviews with end users. The research results show an SUS score of 85.5, indicating excellent usability and high user acceptance. Task completion time for core administrative activities decreased by 35% compared to manual processes. Qualitative feedback shows improved status transparency, reduced administrative burden, and more consistent documentation. Overall, these findings demonstrate that the prototyping model is effective for developing research management systems in higher education, particularly when user feedback is integrated from the outset and conducted iteratively. This study provides empirical contributions by demonstrating that the application of a throwaway prototyping model with early user involvement can produce a lecturer research management system with excellent usability and significant improvements in administrative work efficiency. These findings enrich the body of knowledge in academic information system development by integrating a system development model, usability evaluation using the System Usability Scale (SUS), and task-based efficiency measurement within a comprehensive evaluation framework.