Log in or create a free Rosenverse account to watch this video.
Log in Create free account100s of community videos are available to free members. Conference talks are generally available to Gold members.
Start Small for Big Impact
Summary
Organizations often start thinking about implementing operations support when they get to a certain size - when things start breaking or something goes massively wrong, when it becomes an imperative for existence. But there is massive benefit from building a research ops function much earlier on in your team growth. Saskia Liebenberg will explain how she's implemented research ops at Deliveroo in a team of 10 researchers, and how she's used the ResearchOps framework to build a strategy that supports the team in their specific context.
Key Insights
-
•
Starting research operations proactively before scaling challenges emerge reduces stress and increases effectiveness.
-
•
A small research team of 5-10 researchers is a manageable and ideal size to kickstart research ops.
-
•
Non-research backgrounds, such as project or program management, can be highly effective in research ops roles.
-
•
Setting up standardized folder structures, project codes, and templates early significantly accelerates research workflows.
-
•
Regular one-to-one interviews with researchers reveal critical pain points and increase trust in research ops.
-
•
Recruitment coordinators acting as ‘recruitment gurus’ greatly enhance participant recruiting efficiency and researcher focus.
-
•
Research ops and design ops teams can and should collaborate closely, especially in tooling and onboarding.
-
•
GDPR compliance, often feared, can be simplified in research ops by taking ownership and reassuring researchers.
-
•
Research ops requires more than one person; spreading operational responsibilities improves quality and morale.
-
•
Operational tools like Google Sheets and Trello remain powerful starting points before investing in automation.
Notable Quotes
"I call it proactive research ops because often teams only think about ops when something breaks, but we started early before there was drama."
"My dog is tiny but had a huge impact – that’s how small research ops can have big impacts on the team."
"Renaming project folders felt like changing someone's baby's name, but it was essential to get clarity and consistency."
"If you solve the problems your users are experiencing, they'll trust you and come back to you."
"You don’t have to be a researcher to do research ops; people from marketing or HR backgrounds learn on the job and bring valuable perspectives."
"Having a recruitment coordinator who knows all the agencies and best practices is a game changer — a recruitment guru."
"The research team is embedded within product squads, working closely with designers, engineers, and data analysts."
"Setting up research ops raised team morale and retention because researchers felt valued and supported."
"Research ops isn’t a one-person job. Expect to need more headcount sooner than you think."
"Google Sheets and Trello are our best friends — simple, flexible, and really powerful for managing research ops."
Or choose a question:
More Videos
"Maturity is not linear; the tanker company had a lot to learn from the speedboat, and vice versa."
John CutlerOxbows, Rivers, and Estuaries: How to navigate the currents of change (without burning out)
December 3, 2024
"We’re all capable of creating and perpetuating toxic work relationships."
Darian DavisLessons from a Toxic Work Relationship
January 8, 2024
"You don’t have to sit through two hours a day; we’ll spend about 15 minutes on setup then you’ll pair up and do the exercise."
Dave GrayGroup Activity: Making Sense of DesignOps
November 7, 2017
"If you are a glue person expecting to be indispensable, you are more dispensable than you think. But if you’re a catalyst moving information and translating to action, that’s more valuable now."
John CutlerThe Alignment Trap
November 29, 2023
"Diagrams provide transparency in the face of uncertainty by showing what there is to know, even if the news is not good."
Abby CovertStuck? Diagrams Help
October 27, 2022
"If you want to get faster output, optimize the work and workflow first — not add more hours."
Mark InterranteCollaboration Flows in Product Development
June 9, 2017
"Obsession with gadgetry and cool tech ignores the fact that most critical future changes are mundane and essential, like clean water."
Devon PowersImagining Better Futures
March 9, 2022
"Researchers want designers to help them with the research because there aren’t enough researchers in the world."
Prayag NarulaHow to Empower Your Designers to Do Good Research – And Why You Want To
June 10, 2022
"Skills are like onboarding material for the model; you write them as simple markdown files that describe workflows or tools."
Peter Van DijckHands on AI #3: Claude Code for UX people
October 22, 2025
Latest Books All books
Dig deeper with the Rosenbot
What alternative decision-making structures support more equitable power sharing beyond majority voting?
What role does cultural storytelling play in improving research understanding and connection?
What is automation bias and how can UX design mitigate its risks in AI-augmented clinical decision support?