Beyond Tools: The Messy Business of Implementing Research Repositories

Key Insights

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  Successful implementation depends on managing emotional and cultural change, not just selecting the right tool.

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  Ignoring change management and the emotional responses to new processes causes most implementation failures.

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  Teams often fail to engage stakeholders outside their immediate group, leading to rejection or silos.

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  Data and information represent power; changing data flows impacts organizational power dynamics.

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  Starting small with 2–5 people in a pilot is crucial to building momentum before scaling.

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  A clear understanding of who stakeholders are, including decision-makers, is often missing.

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  Momentum Glue—ongoing deep conversations about fears, anxiety, and resistance—is essential for progress.

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  Having organizational support and dedicated time is critical; passion alone isn't enough.

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  Training and establishing protocols post-implementation are vital and often overlooked.

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  Even UX professionals frequently fail to apply research principles when implementing tools internally due to organizational focus and priorities.

Notable Quotes