ResearchOps: The key to effective user insight

In today’s increasingly complex digital landscape, understanding user needs and behaviors is essential to developing services that meet their expectations. This is where ResearchOps comes in—as a foundational practice for organizing and scaling user insight work.

In this article, we will present three articles from the ReOps+ community, as well as give you three tips for getting started with ResearchOps and principles for best practice.

Articles from ResearchOps

• The eight pillars of user insight
  This article provides a thorough explanation of the eight pillars that must be in place for user insight to succeed, regardless of whether formal systems exist. It covers everything from data collection and analysis to implementation and evaluation, and provides a comprehensive understanding of what is required to achieve valuable user insights. It’s an important first step before scaling and building up the insight infrastructure.

• The ResearchOps environment in Norway
  In this article, we take a closer look at the ResearchOps environment in Norway. We have spoken with ResearchOps specialists and stakeholders in organizations such as NAV, Bekk, Entur, Digdir, Brønnøysundregistrene, and Variant. Here we share insights from their experiences and discuss how ResearchOps has been implemented and further developed in these organizations.

• How to get started with ResearchOps
  This article provides a practical guide to how you can start with ResearchOps. It covers important aspects such as environment, scope, recruitment and administration, data and knowledge organization, colleagues, organizational culture, governance, and, not least, tools and infrastructure. This article is an invaluable resource for anyone who wants to build an effective ResearchOps system in their organization.

Three tips for getting started with ResearchOps

These tips come from the article How to get started with ResearchOps

1. Map the maturity level in the organization
   It is important to understand how mature the organization is when it comes to insight work. Use models such as the "Design Research Maturity Model" to evaluate the current level and identify what needs to be improved to reach the next level. This provides a realistic picture of what is achievable and what steps should be taken further. Consider all the points in the model where you use green to represent what you already do, yellow for what you are working on, and red for what you don’t have.

2. Create a structure and process for Scope
   The scope pillar is often a good starting point for ResearchOps. Consider how employees work with insight work, and whether there is consistency between processes, methods, and implementation of findings from studies. Create standard templates and guidelines that can help inexperienced researchers avoid typical pitfalls. Ensure that all documents and resources are easily accessible and simple to use.

3. Build a solid user recruitment team
   Recruitment and administration of participants takes a lot of time and resources. A dedicated recruitment team that understands the ins and outs of insight work can significantly streamline this process. The team should handle the entire process from selection and screening to planning and payment to participants, and ensure good communication throughout the process.

Principles for best practice

These tips come from our participants in ResearchOps in Norway

• Think beyond design: ResearchOps is not just about designers, but about everyone who works with insights. It can be a link between different roles in the organization and help to professionalize the use of knowledge across departments and strategic levels. This underscores the importance of ResearchOps including a wide range of professionals, not just designers or researchers.

• Consider different types of insight: It is important to think carefully about what types of insight are needed and why. A good approach to targeted insight work should include both tactical and operational insight, as well as exploratory and strategic insight. Building a Research team that can lead this effort and using tools such as the "Research Funnel" can help structure insight work at different levels.

• Share and make the insight useful: Document all insights thoroughly and share it with relevant stakeholders. Ensure that the information is useful and has a concrete impact. Map the effect of the insight to ensure that it is used effectively across the organization and contributes to achieving common goals.

Bidragsytere

India AndersonSigurd Sæther