Summary
Measuring DesignOps value is surprisingly complicated. Many practitioners would agree with the sentiment that measuring their impact feels aspirational at best, and theoretical at worst. Anecdotal evidence and praise from partners (“I don't know what we’d do without you!”) is nice, but doesn’t add up to proof that DesignOps is a worthy return on investment. In this talk, we’ll share two novel approaches to measuring DesignOps success from our upcoming book, The Design Conductors: Your Essential Guide to Design Operations. These methods–the “Jobs to Be Done” and “HEROES” frameworks–can be used to uncover and define measures of value that more accurately capture the impact DesignOps (and design) has on a business and its stakeholders. We will also share some tested rubrics that DesignOps can use to prioritize and implement these new measures.
Key Insights
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Measuring design ops value is crucial yet complex.
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Many design ops teams lack clearly defined metrics and outcomes.
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Traditional business frameworks are inadequate for measuring design ops.
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The Jobs to Be Done framework helps to uncover customer needs in design ops.
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The Heroes framework categorizes impacts of design ops into six areas: health, effectiveness, readiness, outcomes, ecosystem, and sentiment.
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Design ops should focus on making their work visible to ensure organizational investment.
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Tailored metrics can enhance the understanding and appreciation of design ops.
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Each framework offers a unique approach to measuring design ops effectiveness.
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Organizational context should guide measure prioritization.
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Fostering a culture of measurement empowers design ops teams.
Notable Quotes
"Measuring wrong can cost you a half billion dollars."
"We need to broaden our shared definition of design ops value."
"Design and design ops value are often defined by traditional frameworks, but applying these is like trying to fit a star in a box."
"These frameworks are just not good enough for design ops."
"If designers can use the Jobs to Be Done framework, design ops practitioners can too."
"Healthy teams are the foundation of a healthy organization."
"The Heroes framework acts more like a questionnaire rather than a step-by-step guide."
"Design ops can make a significant difference by tracking specific health metrics."
"Measuring sentiment is crucial to reflect the value placed on design."
"Doing good work is what's most important."
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