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Summary
Design teams are often faced with lack of research resources that can lead to bottlenecks in execution, an ever growing backlog of research questions or worse releasing products without sufficient research. This can lead to rework and expensive development costs. A rapid research program is a tactical, flexible framework that helps teams build better products by executing on more research faster. This model requires aligning resources to operationalize the process and reduce the overhead and time of standard research processes like recruiting.
Key Insights
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Rapid research is best suited for fast, evaluative research questions that unblock design processes quickly.
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Three main rapid research models exist: short and focused, multi-moderator, and multi-topic, each with unique pros and cons.
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Program success hinges on clear roles, a predictable cadence, and socialization within teams to foster participation.
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Rapid research is not a substitute for deep foundational research but complements it in an integrated UX strategy.
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Stakeholder support usually begins with product and design teams before engaging other executives.
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Documentation and sharing findings openly, even without a dedicated research librarian, are critical for program impact.
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Rapid research programs scale better when supported by dedicated research operations for recruiting and logistics.
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LinkedIn’s rapid research program helped break down silos by uncovering cross-product trends and duplicative questions.
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Effective rapid research programs require iterative improvements in processes, starting with simple 4-step cycles.
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One moderator typically handles a single research cycle covering up to three topics, more requires expansion of resources.
Notable Quotes
"Rapid research is a flexible framework for quickly executing UX research for fast and often tactical or evaluative design decisions."
"If your design team cannot act quickly on findings, rapid research is not the method for you."
"It’s important to socialize the research program internally so teams get excited and take initiative."
"The program creates predictability so teams know when to submit questions and when findings will come."
"Foundational research answers big, nebulous questions; rapid research focuses on specific usability questions."
"At LinkedIn, rapid research uncovered trends across products that helped reduce duplicate work."
"You need clear roles for moderators, note takers, recruiters, and designers in a rapid research program."
"Choosing the right cadence depends on your team’s resources and maturity—some do it every two weeks, others monthly."
"Product and design teams are usually the best initial stakeholders to engage for rapid research programs."
"Documentation and making findings visible even without a dedicated research librarian helps maintain program momentum."
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