Summary
We'll take a look at how UX propagates within organizations using a viral model ( a modified SIR model to be more precise ). We'll look at such questions as: Does it simply need more time? Is the transmission rate/function the problem? Is part of the organization effectively "inoculated" against UX? and how, when and where to track progress While getting UX into an organization isn't as simple as solving a set of differential equations, we hope to show you that doing just that might be a useful step in getting insights into what might work and what might not.
Key Insights
-
•
Mathematics is increasingly relevant in UX research, blending quantitative rigor with qualitative insights.
-
•
Exponential growth in social contexts can provide a useful framework for understanding how UX practices spread within organizations.
-
•
Models simplify complex systems, which helps UX designers and researchers to conceptualize user journeys.
-
•
The connection between conceptual models and mathematical models is crucial for understanding system behaviors.
-
•
Viral models can inform the strategies used to implement UX initiatives in organizations sustainably.
-
•
Models need operational definitions to convert qualitative insights into measurable data for analysis.
-
•
Even if mathematical predictions fail to hold, experimenting with models can yield useful information that enriches understanding.
-
•
The relationship between UX adoption and organizational behavior can be analyzed through frameworks inspired by viral spread models.
-
•
Interdisciplinary approaches between humanities and math can lead to richer insights in UX research.
-
•
Math models can inspire creative strategies in understanding and enhancing user experiences.
Notable Quotes
"More math is coming our way into research into UX."
"A model is a simplified representation of a system."
"Exponential growth is not just linear; it multiplies quickly and can be mind-boggling."
"All models are wrong, but some are useful."
"You can create operational definitions to tighten up this notion between the viral model and the conceptual model."
"Mathematical models don't just have to be there for the numbers; they can be inspirational."
"There are competing variants in how UX spreads within an organization."
"Some groups act like they're vaccinated against new UX practices."
"You have to get beyond the SA or V model to understand complex systems."
"It's worth taking a shot whether it works or not; interesting information can come from failure."
More Videos
"Design is a poorly designed word."
John MaedaMaking Sense of Enterprise UX
June 9, 2016
"What we want is for organizations to step away from demographics to understand people as cognitive beings."
Indi YoungThinking styles: Mend hidden cracks in your market
January 8, 2025
"Developing deep customer empathy is fundamental to understanding who is using a product and why."
Chris ChapoData Science and Design: A Tale of Two Tribes
May 13, 2015
"This unusual tool started to raise the use of productivity-oriented tools."
Elizabeth ChurchillExploring Cadence: You, Your Team, and Your Enterprise
June 8, 2017
"We have to make sure that we are being mindful and inclusive."
Rusha SopariwalaRemote, Together: Craft and Collaboration Across Disciplines, Borders, Time Zones, and a Design Org of 170+
June 9, 2022
"Design helps build capital and seeks comfort."
George AyeThat Quiet Little Voice: When Design and Ethics Collide
November 16, 2022
"Creating space for us to name the things we were experiencing allows us to unload some emotional weight."
Ariba JahanTeam Resiliency Through a Pandemic
January 8, 2024
"Design can help create a better world by fostering empathy and collaboration."
Julie Gitlin Esther RaiceDesign as an Agent of Digital Transformation at JPMC
June 9, 2021
"We can decide how to improve the trust of our users based on the way we are transparent with them."
Matteo GrattonCan Data and Ethics Live Together?
October 1, 2021
