013 - Our Discomfort with Research Democratization w/ Dave Hora
Oct 3, 2023
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Dave Hora, research consultant with a wealth of experience, discusses his path to independent research, the role of research in democratization, the evolution of UXR, and the ownership of rigor in research.
Democratization of research should be seen as an opportunity to focus on higher-level problems and empower product teams through better-informed decisions.
Researchers should embrace strategic research and collaborate with cross-functional teams to align product strategy with user needs and drive impactful insights within the organization.
Deep dives
Navigating Research Democratization
In this podcast episode, Dave Hora discusses the concept of research democratization and its implications. He highlights the importance of understanding the role of research and how it impacts the product development process. Dave emphasizes that democratization depends on one's perspective on research and that it shouldn't be seen as a threat to job security. He suggests that research should focus on higher-level problems and shift away from lower-level, shorter-term decisions that can now be handled by the product team. By embracing democratization, teams can leverage the increasing accessibility of research tools and methodologies to make better-informed and faster product decisions.
The Changing Landscape of Research
Dave recognizes that the research landscape is evolving, requiring researchers to adapt and redefine their role. He shares his experience in working with smaller startups and how the constraints and demands of research have shifted over time. For example, usability testing, which used to require meticulous planning and execution, has become more accessible and streamlined with advancements in digital prototyping tools. Dave suggests that researchers should focus on leveraging their unique skills and expertise in higher-level strategic areas, where they can provide value that other team members cannot easily replicate.
Why Democratization Matters
Dave highlights the importance of embracing research democratization as a means of empowering the product team and fostering shared understanding. He notes that democratization does not undermine the value of research; rather, it recognizes that the team as a whole needs access to user insights and context to make better decisions. Dave encourages researchers to facilitate the transition towards democratization by enabling their teammates to handle certain research activities themselves. This allows researchers to focus on more complex user understanding and strategic challenges, ultimately driving better product outcomes.
Moving Towards Strategic Research
Dave emphasizes the need for researchers to shift their focus towards strategic research, rather than getting caught up in tactical activities that can be handled by other team members. He suggests that researchers should embrace the messy and invisible middle ground, where they can contribute to aligning product strategy with user needs. By understanding the larger organizational goals and collaborating with cross-functional teams, researchers can play a vital role in shaping the direction of product development. Dave encourages researchers to reframe their identity as learners, working together with their teammates to drive meaningful insights and impact within the organization.
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
