In making enterprise apps more user centered, what I’m talking about is implementing a long, scientifically based, user centered process taking in elements of UI design, business process analysis, business precess reengineering and cultural change, all backed by strong HCI principles and human and organisational psychology. Using this process is something I discovered working with my colleague Matthew Hodgson (http://magia3e.wordpress.com). Before that, I was pretty succcessful doing the same thing, but much of my work was intuitive rather than scientific.
Taking a science-backed approach to user centered design on any application, let alone enterprise applications should lead to a better outcome for business and the users – internal and external. Design work and user consultation takes place across the entire development lifecycle, surprises are reduced in user land, decisions about interfaces can be made early and changed early (and cheaply) if need be.
Enterprise apps don’t need to be “2.0″, but given a significant proportion of users are now used to using applications that interact with them in that style (if there is a 2.0 style), we should be making the effort to adopt the best of what they are experiencing and put it into enterprise applications.

http://dealarchitect.typepad.com/deal_architect/2007/12/ui-again-dont-p.html

if we can rethink UI and business process from the outside in – customer, supplier etc, I am all for it and ok with Ajaxing, web 2.0 it. But in turn I want UI for internal non-value added users turne off, destroyed…

unfortunately internal users have more clout than external users like you…they can put more internal pressure on the CIO. Software salespeople walk their halls etc. so their cries for prettier UI get heard when frankly they should not be in the business process at all, at least not for data entry