The User Experience layer represents the way any system, application, or device is designed so that it accommodates the persona, purpose, and preferences of all users in an organization. The User Experience should be aligned with a corporate vision to deliver a familiar, interactive, and dynamic user experience and should map to business processes. When implemented well, this layer will ensure that the user experience is consistent across all IT offerings, which are represented in the Platform Vision model’s various layers. Benefits of taking the User Experience into account as an integral part of the IT infrastructure include ease of use, reduced training costs, less context switching between applications and devices, and improved user satisfaction. Measuring and improving usability can result in increased user satisfaction and productivity.

An example of the user experience layer is the Microsoft office ribbon, first implemented in office 2007, and since expanded across all components of Office 2010. It provides a common framework of product features that are grouped according to function and frequency of use.

Architectural pre-requisites: Integrated Communications, ECM and Collaboration, Business Intelligence, Web and Social Computing

Architectural recommendations: SOA and BPM, Data, Security, Infrastructure, IT Process

Solution patterns User Experience enables: Integrated Communications, ECM and Collaboration, Business Intelligence, Web and Social Computing