Episode #72: Culture Shock in Corporations with Abbas Jaffer
Nov 20, 2023
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Abbas Jaffer, a Principal Researcher at Circle, discusses the impact of cultural understanding on user research. He shares insights on transitioning from academia to tech, comparing research approaches and predicting AI integration. The conversation explores qualitative research strategies, debunking misconceptions, and presenting research to corporate executives. Furthermore, Abbas emphasizes the strength in admitting 'I Don't Know' and fostering a culture of collective learning.
Abbas Jaffer emphasizes the importance of cultural understanding in user research for creating inclusive products.
Transitioning from academia to tech, Jaffer faced challenges adapting to corporate research timelines and objectives.
Deep dives
Transforming Diverse Education into User Research Approach
Abbas Jaffar's background in International Studies, Theological Studies, and social anthropology has equipped him to embrace a wide perspective in user research. With insights from various disciplines, he adopts a holistic approach to understanding cultural and social dynamics, influencing his strategy in UX research to create valuable and inclusive products.
Navigating from Academia to Tech in User Experience Research
Transitioning from academia to tech presented Abbas Jaffar with a cultural shock in the structural differences between academic and corporate research timelines and objectives. Adapting anthro lenses to understand organizational structures, he learned the language of business priorities, aligning his anthropological insights to address practical business challenges.
Revealing Cyclical Human Responses to Technology and Future of AI
After extensive research, Abbas Jaffar highlights the cyclical nature of human reactions to technology, emphasizing recurring patterns of acceptance after initial skepticism across history. In predicting the future impact of AI, he envisions a focus on aligning AI advancements with human needs and experiences, anticipating enhanced user interactions through embedded AI technologies in products.
Abbas Jaffer, Principal Researcher at Circle, in this episode of 'Cultural Influence in Tech.' Abbas shares insights from his multidisciplinary background in anthropology, Islamic studies, and product research, highlighting the impact of cultural understanding on user research. Delve into Abbas's transition from academia to the tech industry, where he discusses the challenges of adapting to the fast-paced, problem-solving environment. The conversation unfolds into a comparison between academia and tech research, Abbas's perspectives on technology fears and AI integration, and his qualitative research strategies, providing valuable insights for both researchers and tech enthusiasts.
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