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Summary
Three of your research colleagues discussed and defended their respective positions on creating actionable insight in the face of politics and silos. Pariticipants then engaged with them in a discussion and Q&A, facilitated by Robin Beers. “In organizations that may not incentivize informed decision-making, researchers need to study power dynamics, cultivate their political influence, and consistently communicate their value to the business.” – Sonja Bobrowska “AI tools will change the way people consume researchers, relying more and more on receiving personalized summaries. This will only exacerbate silos and lead to miscommunication. To avoid this, the best skill researchers can learn is creating compelling visual frameworks rather than weighty reports.” – Mujtaba Hameed “The best report and presentation ever do not necessarily mean your findings will be adopted. Insights virtually don’t exist if you aren’t able to make them stick by putting them to work.” – Josh Morales
Key Insights
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Actionable insights include both immediate product decisions and long-term organizational mindset shifts.
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Time is a crucial ingredient for insight adoption, sometimes taking years before foundational research impacts decisions.
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Embedded research teams and collaborative work sessions increase the likelihood of insights being acted upon.
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In highly political organizations, researchers must navigate power dynamics and relationships like informal politicians.
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Building trust and focusing on individual stakeholders' success can be more impactful than targeting company-wide action.
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Silos are often inevitable but can be leveraged by understanding their power structures and working within them.
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Conflict from cross-silo insights is natural and can catalyze necessary conversations leading to alignment.
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Transparency from leadership about decision-making processes helps researchers craft credible, resonant narratives.
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Researchers must experiment with communication approaches tailored to different organizational cultures and power holders.
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Separating personal identity from the adoption of insights helps maintain researcher resilience amid political resistance.
Notable Quotes
"If we only measure actionable insights by immediate changes, we lose a lot of the power research has - Josh."
"The one ingredient that made some insights work was simply time, letting organizations digest them - Sonia."
"What’s actionable to me is what makes my client look good and rise through the organization - Moba."
"Insights virtually don’t exist if you aren’t able to make them stick by putting them to work - Robin quoting Josh."
"You’re not just a researcher, you’re a politician trying to understand how power flows - Sonia."
"Research often reveals findings beyond your scoped area, which can connect teams or start conflicts - Josh."
"Power is not necessarily the enemy; those holding it want evidence to make decisions - Josh."
"Silos give you authority over your kingdom; that’s why they naturally form in organizations - Sonia."
"Sometimes you have to tailor your message to meet individual standards and preferences to be heard - Moba."
"Set expectations low because mindset change and insight adoption take time and aren’t guaranteed - Josh."
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