In this conversation, Raffaella Roviglioni discusses the critical role of user research in de-risking product development.

Raffaella shares her journey FROM focusing solely on user research TO understanding its strategic importance in product decision-making.

They explore various methods of identifying opportunities for innovation, the importance of continuous research, and the need for triangulating data from multiple sources.

Raffaella emphasizes the significance of understanding customer mental models and the necessity of mapping assumptions to inform better product decisions.

The conversation also touches on handling objections, lessons learned from research experiences, and practical steps for organizations to enhance their research practices.

TAKEAWAYS

* User research is essential for informed product decisions.

* Continuous research helps adapt to changing customer needs.

* Triangulating data from various sources provides a holistic view.

* Mapping assumptions can significantly reduce risks in product development.

* Flexibility and creativity are crucial in research processes.

* Involving stakeholders in research fosters ownership of findings.

* Understanding customer mental models is key to successful product design.

* Research should be an ongoing effort throughout the product lifecycle.

* Effective communication can help address objections to research findings.

* Investing in tailored research enhances competitive advantage.

SOUNDBITES

* "Research can reduce risk in product development."

* "User research is not a one-time activity."

* "Triangulation of data is crucial."

CHAPTERS

00:00 Intro to Show

00:29 Intro to the Guest

01:44 Shifting Focus From Research Activities to Creating Impact

04:17 De-Risking Product Development with User Research

07:39 Qualifying Ideas and Prioritizing Features

13:31 Triangulation of Data for a Holistic Understanding

22:07 How User Research De-Risks Products

24:24 Why Best Practice Reports are not Enough

32:57 When to De-Risk: From Idea identification to Post-Launch

38:42 Misconception: Research is easy

38:42 Misconception: Sampling Doesn't Matter

43:41 Lesson Learned: Being Flexible and Creative in Research

46:30 Lesson Learned: Involving Stakeholders in the Research Process

52:52 Practical Takeaways for Aspiring User Researchers

58:49 Practical Takeaways for Advanced Researchers

58:49 Practical Takeaways for Business Leaders

01:01:29 Success Principle: Adaptability as a Principle in Research

01:02:27 Success Principle: Creativity in tackling challenges

01:04:08 Success Principle: Rigor in Ensuring Research Quality

01:05:04 Addressing Objections through Explanation and Rationale

01:10:34 Creating Better Product by Investing the Best Product Ideas

01:13:07 Raffaella's Content Recommendation

01:14:38 Connect with Raffaella

01:15:04 A Question to our Listeners

KEYWORDS

innovation, de-risking, product, product development, software delivery, UX research, user research, design research, qualitative research, product strategy, customer insights, digital transformation, research methods, product management, data strategy, hypotheses validation, qualifying ideas, prioritizing ideas, continuous discovery, risk reduction