User experience: A simple analysis and summary of user research

As the concept of "user experience" was put forward more than 10 years ago, "user research" has gradually developed into an emerging industry. So, what does "user research" include what work content, how to carry out in the enterprise, what to pay attention to in the implementation process? This article unifies the personal experience, does a simple analysis and the summary.
　

What can user research do?

At present, the industry is more integrated with product design and development process to describe user research, as shown in the following figure:

User research continues to iterate over the product development cycle.

The above explanation is a good description of the continuity and phase of user research in the process of product design and development. However, user research based on product design and development is only part of our work, more effective, more professional user research, should also be able to market development, advertising, marketing strategies, and even the company's brand strategy to provide professional assistance. And only through multi-directional, multi-angle research, we can more systematically understand the user's behavior and motivation, and put forward more comprehensive, more constructive views.

Therefore, it should also study other factors that affect the user experience, so as to obtain a more comprehensive user model.

Three types of user research

The above mentioned the main work of user research, then, to Internet products companies as an example, as a user researcher, how to plan the work, from the breadth and depth of two aspects to gain in-depth understanding of the user, we should think of the problem.

I divided the user research into the following three types, the three types of research work is interrelated, mutual basis and complement.

　　Project-type research , is to solve the temporary problems of research, such as product development, marketing planning, such as temporary problems, these research needs will be at different stages of the product, by the relevant departments.

　　Regular Research is what we need to continue to do, such as regular/occasional user satisfaction surveys, user feedback and channel feedback monitoring, and so on. When the results of the regular user survey, there is a need for in-depth understanding and validation of the problem, we can project, into the category of research projects.

　　Strategic Research is a prospective study on the basis of multi-directional and multi-level user research, combining with other departments or external research results, refining and expanding, and exploring new opportunities.

　

Five key factors for successful user research

Good planning is the foundation, good implementation is the guarantee. In the implementation of user research, the following points are important:

　　1. Clarify the purpose of the study and the questions to be answered

Before you study the plan, figure out why you should do the research, study what questions to answer, and make a written determination.

Many times, customers will want a study to solve their many questions, but this is often unrealistic. In this case, it will be a good start to work out the priorities of these issues with the customer and develop a workable research plan.

　　2. Initiating relevant personnel to participate in the research process

Even in the early stages of the plan, it is still important to have extensive collection of needs and to engage them in the research process.

On the one hand, through the observation of the discussion, to understand everyone's ideas, more background knowledge can make the user Research report more comprehensive, more in-depth, on the other hand, let the research results become common results, improve customer acceptance of it and identity.

I often encounter this situation, at the research report meeting, some people questioned, before I had time to speak, already have been involved in the observation of the client to help me explain:

　　3. operability of research results

The research should not stop at what we have found, but should suggest what we should do next and how to do it.

　　4. Professional presentation and reporting of research results

Good reports also need good packaging. The visual information is more easily understood and accepted by people.

According to the audience, choose a lively and interesting form for them to illustrate the research results.

　　5. Follow-up on implementation of research results

For each of the findings, the relevant stakeholders should be identified with the implementation plan, archiving and tracking, to ensure that the results of user research to implement the follow-up work.

Finally, I would like to say that a good user experience, not a person or a department to achieve the effort, the company's various departments of resources integration and unity, is to achieve a good user experience key. All departments have their own expertise and professional perspective, as long as everyone actively communicate and share, and towards a unified goal to seek solutions, I believe that a better user experience is within reach.