Key Insights

• •

  Research, when done well, saves time and prevents costly misdirection, making it an investment rather than a delay.

• •

  Researchers should be paid equally to engineers because their technical skills are equally essential to product success.

• •

  Aligning research teams under influential company leaders, like the CEO or CTO, is key to gaining organizational support.

• •

  Building research teams involves thoughtful hiring pacing to balance individual contributors and managers.

• •

  Remote research in sensitive areas like crypto requires special attention to privacy and geopolitical concerns rarely seen in consumer products.

• •

  Many engineering teams resist research due to hubris, lack of exposure to quality research, or top-down mandates ignoring user evidence.

• •

  Encouraging team members to contribute beyond their explicit roles improves processes and strengthens the team culture.

• •

  Evaluating researchers and designers on behaviors rather than outcomes ensures fairness and accounts for project context variability.

• •

  The research function should report to the part of the organization that can best leverage it, which may vary by company and context.

• •

  Mirroring engineering career frameworks for researchers simplifies compensation and promotion conversations, providing clarity and equity.

Notable Quotes