Getting to the “So What?”: How Management Consulting Practices Can Transform Your Approach to Research
Summary
In her talk at Advancing Research, she’ll share how she applied core management consulting practices to her research work and how those same practices can help you succeed from study to study as well as when scaling research across your organization.
Key Insights
-
•
The principle of putting the most important message, or the 'so what', right upfront is a deeply ingrained practice in management consulting and critical for influence.
-
•
Consultants come equipped with a 'brash willingness' to challenge power and take bold stances on what should come next, a practice user researchers should adopt.
-
•
User researchers often stop at insights, but should assert provocative, inspiring recommendations that advocate for specific directions.
-
•
Consultants rely on a broad variety of data including expert interviews and secondary sources, not just user data; researchers should likewise expand their data sources.
-
•
Focusing relentlessly on outcomes and defining measurable midterm indicators enables teams to innovate faster and track real progress.
-
•
Reusable, road-tested frameworks from consulting serve as a treasure trove that can accelerate communication and amplify research impact.
-
•
McKinsey’s culture includes an 'obligation to dissent' that pushes individuals not just to notice problems but to act on opportunities to improve.
-
•
Dynamic, frequently changing teams and a decentralized yet committee-driven structure force consultants to master stakeholder navigation and coalition building.
-
•
Embedded researchers have an advantage over consultants in experiencing the long-term impact of recommendations and can use this to deepen outcome-oriented research.
-
•
Proactively reaching out to organizational leaders about upcoming big decisions positions researchers as trusted advisors rather than mere data providers.
Notable Quotes
"But what’s the so what? Get to the point and don’t make me wait."
"Without adoption, value is zero."
"If you see a problem or opportunity, you should do something about it."
"User researchers stop at findings and insights, but often do not advocate for a direction."
"We can all become experts at stuff if we work hard enough – sometimes you have to fake it till you make it."
"Put the most important message right up front no matter what the format."
"Bringing in expert interviews and secondary data gives you an outsider’s perspective to challenge the status quo."
"Hoard and reuse your jewels. Those proven frameworks can amplify every hour of your work."
"Teams are better at solving problems and coming up with innovative ideas than solo practitioners."
"Establish yourself as a trusted expert advisor whose work drives meaningful positive change."
Or choose a question:
More Videos
"The biggest myth of all is you can't teach creativity."
Dr. Karl JeffriesThe Science of Creativity for DesignOps
January 8, 2024
"You have to understand how the business actually makes money to align UX with it."
Amy MarquezINVEST: Discussion
June 15, 2018
"Both tribes really believe in doing awesome for customers, that’s our common ground."
Steve Portigal Chris Chapo Kelly Goto Christian RohrerDiscussion
May 13, 2015
"How do you organize a design team to work within a changing environment without freaking everybody out."
Alicia MootyDesign Staffing Models
September 30, 2021
"We may not have tech prowess but our sticky notes, card sorts, and test reports are our real superpowers."
Ana Maria Montero Barrantes Aditi Dhar Michelle Kaplan Nate Osborne Matt LaurenceThe Authentic UX Talent Show
January 8, 2024
"Simply asking stakeholders what success looks like for them in a project is a powerful way to start meaningful conversations."
Lada Gorlenko Sharbani Dhar Sébastien Malo Rob Mitzel Ivana Ng Michal Anne RogondinoTheme 1: Discussion
January 8, 2024
"Most organizations don’t have one research tool, but a mix, so openness and integration are essential."
Sofia QuinteroThe Product Philosophy Behind EnjoyHQ
March 10, 2021
"People don’t actually hate innovation; they like their jobs and feel threatened by change."
Laura KleinUnique challenges of innovation in enterprises
April 23, 2020
"At Hotcho, we started with a qualitative focus, swung too far into quantitative, and then found a balanced middle ground."
Andrew MichaelBuilding a Product Insights Team
March 10, 2022
