A common issue in software product organizations is that user researchers report findings and recommendations, but many are not implemented. Why is that? Two main reasons are that the recommendations may not be consistent with business goals or technology or resourcing constraints. Another reason is that the product team may not understand the potential business impact of the recommendations.
To overcome this, we researchers need to become better influencers. We need to ensure that we do the
right research, at the
right time, and
collaborate with product managers to jointly identify product recommendations that impact business metrics. In other words, we need to
become leaders in our organization, advocating for how a smooth user experience can improve our business’ bottom line.
This isn’t only the job of the Research Director or the VP of User Experience. Researchers and designers at all levels are involved in cross-functional team discussions and have opportunities to influence the product direction. So, how do we do so?
This talk will cover several steps to increase your personal influence regarding product decisions, regardless of your job level. We will cover key topics including:
- Establishing effective working relationships
- Improving communication about research throughout the organization
- Understanding the relationship between user experience and product strategy
- Shifting research activities to be more strategic
