Operations Thinking – Scaling User Research

User research operations is a critical aspect of designing and delivering successful products and services. It involves the development and implementation of systems, processes, and tools that support the efficient and effective operation of user research activities. This book is designed to provide a comprehensive guide to user research operations for professionals in the field. It covers the key concepts, strategies, and tools needed to successfully plan, execute, and analyze large-scale user research studies. From recruiting and screening participants, to data collection and analysis, to scaling up research efforts, this book offers practical advice and guidance for every stage of the user research process. Whether you’re a seasoned user researcher or just starting out, this book will provide you with the knowledge and skills you need to effectively plan and conduct user research studies at scale.

This book is about how to work together to define and scale user research processes and practices by applying human centered design principles by using operations thinking. Operations thinking is an approach to building, scaling and embedding human centric principles or if you prefer, user centric research capabilities in any organization.

In research operations we are concerned with how to execute user research and how to gether and analyze the data and information that is collected, how to curate it and then report research results to those that need it in a way that is actionable and useful for the organisaiton.

This book explores how user research capabilities can be defined and supported in a systemised way that scales across an organization. Importantly, it describe the use of operations thinking using the 8 ‘P’s of Processes, Practices, People, Performance, Places, Products, Principles and Prioritising. 

The book explores the processes used as part of a human centered design approach applying design thinking. I also examine the use of lean UX and agile principles and how this affects user research and our practice.  I look at approaches to prioritizing, planning and scoping research projects, including determining research goals and objectives, identifying the target market and user groups, and defining the research questions. 

All organizations succeed or fail depending on their people, so this book describes how to recruit, retain and develop the best talent. I describe the key roles you need to hire for to be effective and I discuss the practices – the different research methods (e.g. usability testing, focus groups, surveys) and how to properly implement and execute these methods. I explore the impact and the value of user research methods and practices and how they benefit the organisation.  

I look at how to identity participants, covering strategies for finding and recruiting participants, as well as methods for 

screening and selecting participants to ensure that they are representative of the target audience.

Managing research operations is challenging and I explore topics such as budgeting, project management, and logistics, as well as strategies for building and maintaining a successful research team. 

A community of practice needs to formulate and define a set of principles that guide a community of practice, the governance and ethics in user research where I discuss the importance of ethical considerations in research, such as protecting the privacy and confidentiality of participants, and obtaining informed consent.

At the end of this book I have compiled a range of resources for you to use with links to websites and a bibliography of useful books and further reading.