Scaling Research

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In this conversation, Roy Opata Olende and Brad Orego discuss the role of research within companies and the need to stretch outside of traditional UX/Design domains. They highlight the importance of research in making better decisions and saving time, and the need for research leaders to communicate the value of research and educate others about its capabilities. Brad also addresses the challenges of leadership in the research field and the need for better training and preparation. Lastly, Brad shares the experience of forming a cross-functional insights group and the benefits of working with different teams and disciplines. The key takeaway is that research leaders should start small and take incremental steps to build relationships, demonstrate value, and drive change within their organizations. -- Connect with Brad: Brad's LinkedIn Brad's website For more UXR & ReOps leadership resources, subscribe to the Scaling Research newsletter at ⁠scalingresearch.com⁠

In this conversation, Josh Williams and Roy Opata Olende discuss the dangers of a monolithic approach to research. They explore the idea of good enough research versus rigorous research, the attachment that UX researchers have to projects, and the importance of understanding the risk associated with different research methods. They also discuss the need for researchers to make a business case for their approach. Lastly, Josh envisions a future where insights organizations and teams come together to provide a holistic view of the business. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Quick Fire Q&A 05:44 Josh's Journey into UXR 12:13 The Current State of UXR 16:18 The Pull Towards a Monolithic Approach 20:26 The Value of Research Studies 24:19 Good Enough vs Rigorous Research 27:30 Risk and Methodology in Research 31:20 Advocating for Contextual Approach to Research 39:08 The Future of Research -- Connect with Josh via LinkedIn Subscribe to the newsletter at scalingresearch.com

For more information and resources, check out scalingresearch.com. -- “How did you get a job in Research Ops?” After I started my past role running Research Ops at Zapier, I got this question in my LinkedIn DM nearly every week. Folks from UX research, Design, People Ops, and many other practices would reach out to learn about my path into this field with an eye to making a switch themselves. Today, you get to hear this transition story from someone I greatly admire in the Research Ops community: Kasey Canlas. Kasey has taken a winding career path having worked in news and project management before making the shift into ReOps. In my chat with Kasey we cover: How volunteering time in UX research paved the way for her move into Research Ops. The power of getting a key leader bought into the ReOps practice. Solving low-hanging fruit to deliver value early on. Why you need to build relationships with the legal and data privacy teams at your company. Advice for a UXR leader who wants to launch ReOps. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/scalingresearch/message

In today's episode, I'm chatting with Stephanie Marsh. Stephanie has a wealth of experience and most recently led user research at the UK's Government Digital Service before hopping over to lead Research Ops at Springer Nature Group. Our conversation covers the gnarly and much-discussed topic of knowledge management. In this chat with Stephanie we discuss: How frustration with 3D pie charts kick-started their career in research. Why knowledge management is a more gnarly problem in UX research than in other functions. The allure of research repos as a knowledge management solution. The value using research skills to determine knowledge management needs. Repositories vs libraries. Practical steps to get started with improved knowledge management. -- You can connect with Stephanie using the links below. LinkedIn: Stephanie Marsh Twitter: @Steph_Marsh81 Medium: Stephanie Marsh Book: User Research --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/scalingresearch/message

Find more posts and resources at www.scalingresearch.com. In today's episode, I'm chatting with Craig Perlmutter. Craig is a Design and Research Ops lead with a wealth of experience, particularly with research labs. Our conversation explores the uniqueness of in-person research within a lab, and it's value in our remote-leaning world. We cover: Craig's path from working on call centre software to running his first research lab. Using a lab to highlight the value of research to senior leadership. In-person vs remote research: when and why each is valuable. Setting up a research lab, including how to create a proof of concept. -- How to get in touch with Craig: LinkedIn: Craig Perlmutter Radio Station: skylinegold.co.uk (Saturdays at 8:00 am) --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/scalingresearch/message

Find more posts and resources at www.scalingresearch.com. In today's episode, I'm chatting with Dave Hora. Dave runs a research consultancy appropriately named Dave's Research Company. He's done research in-house and as a consultant for over a decade; Dave is a deep thinker with a wealth of experience. In this episode we talk about: His path to independent research after working for five startups in nine years The role of research and how that definition impacts democratization UXR today vs a decade ago and what it means about research value Research vs learning Who owns rigour -- How to get in touch with Dave: Twitter: @davesresearch LinkedIn: Dave Hora Website: davesresearch.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/scalingresearch/message

For more info, head to www.scalingresearch.com. In today’s episode, I’m chatting with Tim Toy. Tim runs Research Ops at Airbnb. He's been in the ReOps field for over a decade and has a wealth of experience. In our chat, Tim talks about: Moving from HR recruiting into UX and Research Ops Defining the roadmap for Research Ops at Airbnb Establishing the importance of career growth paths for ReOps The ubiquity of problems in Research Ops across different companies ReOps as a proactive partner for the UX research function --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/scalingresearch/message

For more info, head to www.scalingresearch.com. In today’s episode, I’m chatting with Cory Weissenborn. Cory runs Research Ops at Credit Karma. She has a wealth of experience having worked in Ops for companies of different sizes in a range of industries. In our chat, Cory talks about: The value of Research Ops vs the research coordinator role What projects she tackled when starting her current Ops role The importance of building relationships with cross-functional partners --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/scalingresearch/message

For more info, head to www.scalingresearch.com. In today’s episode, I’m chatting with Kate Towsey. Kate is the Research Ops Manager at Atlassian and the catalyst behind the Research Ops community. If you've Googled Research Ops, she's probably one of the first names that comes up. Kate's wide-ranging path into Ops gives her a unique lens on this work. In our chat, Kate shares about: Research Ops vs research admin The importance of learning how to manage a team Creating research systems vs individual research resources...and much more --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/scalingresearch/message

For more info, head to www.scalingresearch.com. In today’s episode, I’m chatting with Kim Porter who leads Research Ops at BT. We chat about her journey into this role and then discuss Research Ops models. If you're considering launching a Research Ops practice at your company, Kim also has some very handy tips for how to frame that role. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/scalingresearch/message

**Season 2 starts next week** In this short episode, I quickly review Season 1 (yes, this podcast thing-y has seasons) and share some changes for Season 2. If you're enjoyed this podcast, I'd like your help. I'm constantly searching for guests: if you or a friend is a good fit for this podcast, let me know. Twitter is the easiest way to contact me (@royolende) and email also works (opata.olende@gmail.com). --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/scalingresearch/message

Today, I'm joined by Chris Spalton. Chris is a UX research coach at Redgate. While not a traditional Research Ops role, there’s lots of commonality between his position and some of what tends to fall under the Research Ops function. In this episode we talk about: The purpose of his role His journey to becoming a UX research coach The overlap between his role and Research Ops His plans for the future of this role For more advice and info about Research Ops: Subscribe to the podcast. Check out my System17 blog & newsletter. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/scalingresearch/message

In today’s episode, I’m chatting with Molly who leads Research Ops at Mailchimp. We talk about her experiences early in her Research Ops role and what it took for her to grow this practice and her team. -- For more advice and info about Research Ops: Subscribe to the podcast Check out my System17 blog & newsletter --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/scalingresearch/message

In this episode we talk about: How Mitch got into the UX field His role prior to getting involved in Research Ops What led him to start Research Ops projects His decision to not move into a full-time ReOps role Advice for anyone trying to start up ReOps in their company For more advice and info about Research Ops: Subscribe to the podcast. Check out my System17 blog & newsletter --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/scalingresearch/message

Today, I'm joined by Annie York who leads Research Ops at Figma. In this episode we talk about: How she got involved in ResearchOps How her approach to Ops changed when she moved to a different company Which factors most affected how she ran Research Ops in two org --- For more advice and info about Research Ops: Subscribe to the podcast. Check out my System17 blog & newsletter --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/scalingresearch/message

Today, I'm joined by the incredible Noël Lamb. Noël runs Research Ops at Robinhood and has nearly a decade of Research Ops experience having led the practice at Salesforce. In this episode we talk about: Noël's goals in the early stages of ResearchOps What was surprising about her early days in ResearchOps What Noël would you do differently if she was setting up a new ResearchOps practice today The most difficult part of setting up a ResearchOps practice The biggest difference between the early days of launching the practice vs when ResearchOps is established within a company --- For more advice and info about Research Ops: Subscribe to the podcast. Check out my System17 blog & newsletter --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/scalingresearch/message

Today, I'm joined by the super-brilliant Saskia Liebenberg. Saskia runs both Research Ops and Design Ops at Anaplan so she's well placed to talk about the differences between these functions. In this episode we answer the following topics (and more): How Saskia got into Research Ops and then moved over to DesignOps Her experience transitioning to a new practice How work in DesignOps differs from ResearchOps work Are any of these practices more inherently strategic or tactical? How these practices might changing over the next few years Advice for people taking on this mixed DesignOps & ResearchOps role --- For more advice and info about Research Ops: Subscribe to the podcast. Check out my System17 blog & newsletter --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/scalingresearch/message

Welcome to the first episode of Research at Scale! In this short intro, I'll share why I decided to launch a Research Ops podcast. You'll also learn what to expect in each episode. Thanks so much for listening! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/scalingresearch/message