On a recent episode of the Anthro to UX podcast, Fatimah Richmond, an applied anthropologist with extensive experience in UX research at companies like Google and LinkedIn, shared her valuable insights on the evolving landscape of research operations. Her unique perspective, shaped by over 15 years in user research before pivoting to research operations and programs, offers a compelling vision for the future of UX research and the critical role that anthropological thinking can play in shaping it.

The Evolution of UX Research

Fatimah’s career trajectory mirrors the broader evolution of UX research over the past two decades. She describes a shift from isolated usability labs to a more integrated approach where UX practitioners are involved across the entire customer and user lifecycle. This evolution has brought researchers closer to the decision-making table, but it has also introduced new challenges and opportunities.

One of the most significant changes Fatimah highlights is the diversification of UX roles. The field now encompasses a wide range of specialties, from usability evaluations to strategic insights. While this diversity has enriched the field, it has also led to a fragmentation of the research narrative within organizations. This fragmentation is where research operations, or ResearchOps, can come into play.

The Strategic Potential of Research Operations

Fatimah sees ResearchOps as more than just a function for managing logistics and infrastructure. She believes that researchers with anthropological training have a unique opportunity to shape the strategic direction of ResearchOps and, by extension, the entire research function within organizations.

One area where Fatimah sees immense potential is in assessing and improving research maturity within organizations. This involves not just evaluating the technical capabilities of research teams but also understanding the cultural and organizational factors that influence the impact of research work. By applying anthropological methods to study their own organizations, researchers can uncover insights that help design more effective research operations.

Strategic Planning and Insight Integration

Another crucial aspect of ResearchOps that Fatimah emphasizes is its role in strategy and insight integration. She points out that valuable research insights are often lost in the shuffle of day-to-day operations. By creating systems and processes to track the lifecycle of research projects from inception to implementation, researchers can ensure that their work has a lasting impact on product development and business strategy.

Fatimah argues that anthropological training is particularly valuable in this context. Researchers are not just collecting data; they’re telling stories that can shape the direction of their companies. However, to do this effectively, Fatimah suggests developing new ways of measuring the impact of research work.

The Power of Critical Reflexivity

One of the most powerful tools that Fatimah identifies from her anthropological background is the ability to apply critical reflexivity to research work. This means not just studying users but also turning the analytical lens on the researchers themselves and their organizations. By doing so, researchers can uncover hidden power dynamics and cultural factors that might influence research processes and outcomes.

Creativity and Innovation in Research Practice

Looking to the future of research operations, Fatimah emphasizes the importance of fostering creativity and innovation within research teams. She suggests that this goes beyond just adopting new tools or methodologies; it’s about cultivating a mindset of continuous learning and experimentation.

Fatimah shares a personal example of how her background in poetry has given her new perspectives on storytelling and data presentation that she’s been able to apply in her work. She encourages creating space for this kind of cross-pollination of ideas to develop more innovative approaches to research operations.

The Future of Strategic Research Operations

Fatimah envisions a future where research operations play a central role in shaping corporate strategy. To achieve this, she argues that researchers need to take ownership of their narrative within their organizations. This means going beyond just presenting findings and actively working to integrate insights into decision-making processes at all levels.

One way to do this, Fatimah suggests, is by redesigning roles to focus more on strategic operations. This might involve creating new positions that bridge the gap between research and business strategyor developing training programs that help researchers think more strategically about their work.

Fatimah also emphasizes the need for better measurement and communication of the value of research work. She argues that this isn’t just about counting the number of research projects completed or insights generated; it’s about tracking how research impacts business outcomes over time. By developing more sophisticated metrics and dashboards, researchers can make a stronger case for the strategic importance of research within their organizations.

The Anthropological Advantage in UX Research

Fatimah’s insights highlight the unique perspective that applied anthropologists bring to UX research and operations. The ability to study complex social systems and uncover hidden cultural dynamics provides tools not just to conduct research, but to truly understand and influence the organizational contexts in which that research takes place.

By leveraging these skills and taking a more proactive approach to shaping research operations, anthropologists in UX can ensure that their work continues to play a vital role in shaping the future of products and businesses. While the challenges ahead are significant, Fatimah’s perspective suggests that the opportunities for anthropologists in UX are equally substantial. As the field continues to evolve, the anthropological toolkit will undoubtedly play a crucial role in driving meaningful change and innovation in UX research.