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The Future of ReOps as a Strategic Function: A Roadmap for Getting There
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Monday, March 25, 2024 • Advancing Research 2024
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The Future of ReOps as a Strategic Function: A Roadmap for Getting There
Speakers: Fatimah Richmond
Link:

Summary

Imagine a future where UX Research Operations (ReOps) is not just part of research execution, but a pivotal force driving business performance and competitive edge. In this session, we will explore the hidden and often untapped superpowers of Strategic Programs already available in your team. Discover how ReOps can evolve from a supportive function for research alone to a strategic linchpin that fuels your business competitive position, at scale. Through engaging case studies, actionable program plans, and measures, this session will equip you with a practical roadmap to assess the current research lifecycle, effectively advocate for resource gaps with research intelligence, and creative approaches to your research hiring & people strategy. Don't miss the opportunity to transform your approach to Research Ops into a strategic pillar of business strategy. This evolution will lead to a significant shift in research perceptions, excellence, and maturity.

Key Insights

  • Research ops should evolve from support roles to strategic partners in decision-making.

  • The integration of AI into research workflows poses new challenges that need careful examination.

  • User research must address increasingly diverse and critical societal requirements.

  • Design leaders need to be positioned within corporate structures to influence strategy effectively.

  • Research operations must broaden their focus from project-level to program-level visibility.

  • The way we frame research ops career advancement significantly affects morale and engagement.

  • Collective communication across departments is crucial for shared ownership of user-centered design.

  • Reflection on personal and organizational biases is necessary for growth in user research practices.

  • Research outputs should align with broader corporate strategies instead of being siloed in design paths.

  • Building a culture that embraces a growth mindset is essential for the evolution of research operations.

Notable Quotes

"I want to inspire you to continue to think critically and creatively about the future of our research operations strategy."

"Research ops is the people, mechanisms, and strategies that set user research in motion."

"We need to start thinking about how research ops can play with user research strategies."

"We need to reflect deeply on why these challenges in research exist."

"This is a moment for research ops to re-emerge as strategic leaders."

"Who's going to measure how AI impacts our workflows?"

"User-centered strategies shouldn't be viewed just as a design problem."

"What is high, slow, and low maturity research?"

"Building this alongside researchers would be great to get their perspective."

"Let's embrace the power of the pivot and learn from each of our roles."

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