Forgiveness

Inability to fix mistakes

What is it?

Users sometimes make the wrong decision or take the wrong action due to inattention or misaligned expectations. When it happens, if your product doesn't allow users to easily go back and fix the error, particularly ones that impact users very negatively, they might perceive it as unforgiving and inflexible. This directly impacts users' sense of competence. Being unable to correct errors can lead to frustration and a feeling of ineffectiveness, diminishing user satisfaction and confidence, or even feel resentment toward the product or the brand.

Examples

Problematic "Save" behavior leading to lost changes

Underlying principles

Self-Determination Theory

Self-Determination Theory

Self-Determination Theory

Guiding questions

What are the key mistakes users commonly make in this task or workflow?

What are the key mistakes users commonly make in this task or workflow?

What are the key mistakes users commonly make in this task or workflow?

What is leading users to make errors?

What is leading users to make errors?

What is leading users to make errors?

What questions arise for users when outcomes don't match their expectations?

What questions arise for users when outcomes don't match their expectations?

What questions arise for users when outcomes don't match their expectations?