In human-computer interaction and usability engineering, the Gulf of Execution and Evaluation is the difference between what a person wants to do with a system and what the system actually lets them do.
The Gulf of Execution is a term for how hard it can be for a person to get a system to do what they want it to do. This can happen when the system doesn’t give the user clear or obvious ways to reach their desired goal. The Gulf of Execution can be crossed by making the system easier to use, like by making the interface simpler, giving clear directions or feedback, and giving the right help.
The Gulf of Evaluation is a term for how hard it can be for a user to figure out what the results of their actions in a system are. This can happen when the system doesn’t give clear feedback or data about the user’s actions, or when the feedback isn’t easy to understand. The Gulf of Evaluation can be crossed by giving users clear and useful feedback, such as by showing progress bars, sending alerts, or using visible signs to show whether something worked or not.
