Incident: Yahoo Mail Redesign Disaster: Removal of Key Features and Glitches

Published Date: 2013-10-15

Postmortem Analysis
Timeline 1. The software failure incident of the Yahoo Mail redesign happened on October 8, 2013 [Article 22120].
System 1. Yahoo Mail redesign interface 2. Tabs function 3. Sorting emails by sender feature 4. Print button 5. Drafts saving functionality 6. Email sending functionality 7. Text formatting functionality 8. Login errors functionality 9. User experience and usability design decisions made by Marissa Mayer, Yahoo CEO [22120]
Responsible Organization 1. Yahoo Mail redesign team [22120] 2. Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer [22120]
Impacted Organization 1. Yahoo Mail users [22120]
Software Causes 1. Removal of key features such as tabs function for opening multiple emails in the same window, inability to sort emails by sender, and missing 'print' button [22120] 2. Introduction of thousands of bugs and glitches in the new Yahoo Mail interface [22120]
Non-software Causes 1. Lack of user research and testing before rolling out the redesign [22120] 2. Decision-making by the CEO without considering user preferences and needs [22120] 3. Removal of key features without understanding their importance to users [22120]
Impacts 1. Removal of key features such as tabs function for opening multiple emails in the same window, sorting emails by sender, and the 'print' button [22120]. 2. User dissatisfaction and anger leading to tens of thousands of complaints about glitches and reduced functionality [22120]. 3. Loss of differentiation from competitor Gmail, leading to users considering switching to other email services [22120]. 4. Major usability issues affecting the product's functionality and user experience [22120]. 5. Thousands of reported bugs and glitches in the new system, including issues with drafts saving, emails not sending properly, text formatting errors, and login errors [22120].
Preventions 1. Conducting thorough user testing and feedback collection before rolling out the redesign could have helped identify and address issues early on [22120]. 2. Implementing a gradual rollout of the redesign to a smaller subset of users initially to catch bugs and gather feedback before a full-scale release [22120]. 3. Retaining key features that users heavily relied on, such as the tabs function for opening multiple emails in the same window and the ability to sort emails by sender, to prevent dissatisfaction and backlash [22120]. 4. Ensuring that essential functionalities like the 'print' button are not overlooked during the redesign process to maintain user convenience and usability [22120]. 5. Addressing reported bugs and glitches promptly to maintain user trust and satisfaction with the service [22120].
Fixes 1. Reverting back to the previous interface design that users were familiar with and appreciated, along with restoring the key features that were removed in the redesign [22120]. 2. Conducting thorough user testing and feedback collection before implementing major changes to the software to ensure that the new design meets user expectations and needs [22120]. 3. Addressing the reported bugs and glitches promptly to improve the overall functionality and user experience of the email service [22120].
References 1. Yahoo Mail users [Article 22120] 2. Observers [Article 22120] 3. Commenters on Yahoo forum [Article 22120] 4. Writer on tech site ZD Net [Article 22120] 5. Users who posted complaints on Yahoo forums [Article 22120]

Software Taxonomy of Faults

Category Option Rationale
Recurring one_organization, multiple_organization <Article 22120> reports on a software failure incident related to Yahoo Mail's redesign that caused outrage among users due to the removal of key features and glitches. Users expressed frustration over the elimination of features like tabs for opening multiple emails, sorting emails by sender, and the absence of a 'print' button. The incident at Yahoo Mail can be considered a software failure within the same organization [22120]. Additionally, the article mentions that many users compared the new Yahoo Mail interface to Gmail, indicating that similar incidents or comparisons have happened with other organizations or their products [22120].
Phase (Design/Operation) design, operation (a) The software failure incident related to the design phase is evident in the article. The redesign of Yahoo Mail by CEO Marissa Mayer led to the elimination of key features, such as the tabs function for opening multiple emails in the same window, the ability to sort emails by sender, and the 'print' button. Users expressed frustration over the new design, with many considering it a knock-off of Gmail and lacking the functionality they valued in Yahoo Mail. Thousands of bugs and glitches were reported following the redesign, indicating issues introduced during the design phase [22120]. (b) The software failure incident related to the operation phase is also highlighted in the articles. Users reported various operational issues with the new Yahoo Mail interface, including drafts not saving, emails not sending properly, text formatting errors, and difficulties logging into the site. These operational failures were a result of the changes made to the system and how users interacted with the updated interface. The complaints about the lack of essential features like the ability to print emails also point to operational challenges faced by users [22120].
Boundary (Internal/External) within_system (a) within_system: The software failure incident in the Yahoo Mail redesign can be attributed to factors originating from within the system. The redesign eliminated key features such as the tabs function for opening multiple emails, sorting emails by sender, and the 'print' button. Additionally, users reported thousands of bugs and glitches within the new interface, indicating internal issues with the redesign [22120].
Nature (Human/Non-human) non-human_actions, human_actions (a) The software failure incident in the Yahoo Mail redesign can be attributed to non-human actions, specifically the removal of key features and introduction of bugs and glitches in the new interface. Users were furious over the elimination of features like tabs for opening multiple emails, sorting emails by sender, and the print button. Additionally, thousands of bugs and glitches were reported in the new system, indicating failures introduced without direct human participation [22120]. (b) On the other hand, human actions can also be considered as a contributing factor to the software failure incident. The decision to redesign Yahoo Mail, led by CEO Marissa Mayer, and the design choices made by the Yahoo team were criticized by users. Users blamed Mayer for the failings in the redesign, accusing her of not conducting sufficient research or testing before rolling out the changes. The design decisions made by the human team at Yahoo played a role in the dissatisfaction and backlash from users [22120].
Dimension (Hardware/Software) software (a) The software failure incident related to hardware: - The articles do not mention any hardware-related issues contributing to the software failure incident. Therefore, it can be inferred that the failure did not originate from hardware-related factors [22120]. (b) The software failure incident related to software: - The software failure incident in this case is primarily attributed to the redesign of Yahoo Mail, which eliminated key features and left users dissatisfied with the new interface. Users reported thousands of bugs, glitches, and reduced functionality after the redesign was implemented. The removal of essential features like tabs for opening multiple emails, sorting emails by sender, and the 'print' button were significant software-related factors contributing to the failure incident [22120].
Objective (Malicious/Non-malicious) non-malicious (a) The software failure incident described in the articles is non-malicious. The incident was a result of a major redesign of Yahoo Mail that eliminated key features, left users unhappy, and caused numerous bugs and glitches. Users were particularly upset about the removal of features like the tabs function, sorting emails by sender, and the 'print' button. The redesign was perceived as a copy of competitor Gmail, and users expressed frustration and disappointment with the changes. There is no indication in the articles that the failure was due to malicious intent; rather, it was a result of design decisions and implementation issues [22120].
Intent (Poor/Accidental Decisions) poor_decisions (a) The software failure incident related to the Yahoo Mail redesign can be attributed to poor decisions made by Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer. Users were furious over the redesign that eliminated key features, such as the tabs function for opening multiple emails, sorting emails by sender, and the 'print' button. The redesign was criticized for making Yahoo Mail look like a Gmail knock-off, leading to tens of thousands of complaints about glitches and reduced functionality. Many users expressed their dissatisfaction with the changes, indicating that the redesign did not align with their expectations and needs [22120].
Capability (Incompetence/Accidental) development_incompetence, accidental (a) The software failure incident in the Yahoo Mail redesign can be attributed to development incompetence. Users were furious over the redesign that eliminated key features, left the interface looking like a 'Gmail knock-off,' and introduced thousands of bugs and glitches [22120]. The removal of essential features like tabs for opening multiple emails, sorting emails by sender, and the 'print' button indicates a lack of understanding of user needs and preferences. Users expressed disappointment with the new design, with one commenter receiving over 27,000 votes on the Yahoo forum for criticizing the redesign. The failure to conduct proper research or testing before rolling out the update also points to a lack of professional competence in the development process. The redesign was described as a 'disaster' by some users and tech writers, highlighting the negative impact of the changes introduced without considering user feedback or usability. (b) The software failure incident in the Yahoo Mail redesign can also be seen as accidental. The introduction of the new interface that stripped away essential features and led to a Gmail-like appearance was not well received by users, who expressed surprise and frustration over the changes. The accidental nature of the failure is evident in the unintended consequences of the redesign, such as the elimination of the tabs function that distinguished Yahoo Mail from its competitors like Gmail. Users pointed out that the new design lacked important functionalities and introduced major glitches and bugs, indicating that the changes were not well thought out or properly tested before implementation. The accidental nature of the failure is further highlighted by users' demands to revert to the old interface and restore the features that were removed without their consent or feedback.
Duration permanent (a) The software failure incident in this case seems to be more of a permanent nature. The redesign of Yahoo Mail by Marissa Mayer resulted in the elimination of key features, such as the tabs function for opening multiple emails in the same window, the ability to sort emails by sender, and the 'print' button. Users expressed their frustration and disappointment with the new interface, with many stating that they would consider switching to other email services like Gmail. Additionally, thousands of bugs and glitches were reported following the redesign, indicating a significant and lasting impact on the usability and functionality of the service [22120].
Behaviour crash, omission, value, other (a) crash: The Yahoo Mail redesign incident led to a significant number of bugs and glitches being reported by users, including issues such as drafts not saving, emails not being sent properly, text not being formatted correctly, and errors logging into the site [22120]. (b) omission: The redesign of Yahoo Mail resulted in the omission of key features that were previously available to users, such as the tabs function for opening multiple emails in the same window, the ability to sort emails by sender, and the 'print' button for printing emails [22120]. (d) value: Users reported that the new Yahoo Mail interface was not meeting their expectations and needs, with many expressing dissatisfaction with the changes made by the redesign. They criticized the new look and functionality, with some users even considering switching to other email services like Gmail due to the perceived shortcomings of the updated Yahoo Mail [22120]. (f) other: The software failure incident also involved a lack of user research and testing before rolling out the redesign, with users expressing frustration that the changes were implemented without proper evaluation of user preferences and needs. Users felt that the redesign did not align with their usage patterns and preferences, leading to a negative reception of the new interface [22120].

IoT System Layer

Layer Option Rationale
Perception None None
Communication None None
Application None None

Other Details

Category Option Rationale
Consequence property The consequence of the software failure incident reported in the articles is mainly related to option (d) property. Users of Yahoo Mail experienced significant impacts on their user experience and functionality due to the redesign that removed key features such as the tabs function, ability to sort emails by sender, and the 'print' button. Additionally, users reported thousands of bugs and glitches in the new system, affecting the usability and reliability of the email service [22120].
Domain information (a) The software failure incident reported in the news article is related to the information industry. Yahoo Mail, a popular email service used for communication and information exchange, underwent a major redesign that resulted in the removal of key features and caused significant user dissatisfaction [Article 22120]. The incident highlights the impact of software failures on information services and user experience in the digital realm.

Sources

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