Summary
It’s a wonderful time for UX people who work in enterprises. We’ve made huge strides—from greater acceptance to concrete impacts—and our opportunities seem endless. But don’t get too comfortable, as enterprises are on the cusp of a huge and disruptive change. A variety of trends are converging to make it increasingly cheap and easy to develop software. In effect, software is becoming a material, and what enterprises make from it is far more important than how we make it. UX people can sit by and watch as enterprises figure out what to make out of the new material of software. Or we can be smart and partner with developers to define the coming generation of products and services. Greg Petroff will help us understand thIs new materiality of software and the opportunities for UX people to increase their impact and relevance.
Key Insights
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Machine learning progresses so fast that many UX tasks may soon be automated, requiring designers to shift roles toward teaching and overseeing AI.
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The Internet of Things enables real-time data collection and predictive analytics that transform how enterprises operate and make decisions.
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Secure blockchain-ledger technology will enhance trust and interoperability among connected devices in enterprise systems.
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Cloud platforms and microservices drastically reduce technical barriers, allowing software to be built from modular, subscribable components.
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Traditional product requirement documents (PRDs) are being replaced by smaller, iterative backlogs that improve adaptability and speed.
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Context-first design goes beyond mobile-first by delivering experiences tailored to users’ current actions, location, and goals.
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Enterprises are shifting from siloed systems of record to integrated systems of engagement and soon systems of assets focused on contextual moments.
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Designers need to learn business language and strategy to become effective partners and leaders within digital transformation efforts.
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Granular development risks fragmentation, making storytelling and maintaining a broader vision critical to keeping teams aligned.
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Ambiguity and fuzziness in design processes can be a source of creativity and opportunity, not just discomfort.
Notable Quotes
"Design-led companies outperform their peers in the marketplace, proving the value of design in business."
"Amazon Echo is the first technology that my artist wife loves because it’s genuinely useful and easy to interact with."
"Machine learning is about recognizing patterns and being shown patterns — we as designers are best suited to teach those machines."
"If you don’t understand the new tech stack, you risk missing the point and get stuck in incremental improvements."
"The way we build software today is fundamentally different — small Lego-like pieces connected together instead of monoliths."
"Context-first means delivering the right experience temporarily and contextually at the moment the user needs it."
"Nobody knows how to cook with these new ingredients yet; it’s a learning process for all organizations."
"The biggest risk for security isn’t hackers; it’s people making mistakes like plugging in infected USB drives."
"Chunking work into smaller bits lets developers write better code, but someone must hold the big story to keep focus."
"Ambiguity can be your friend; things aren’t set in stone and better outcomes happen when things are fuzzy."
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