UX Research Geeks

Rethinking where UX research belongs | Joel Barr | #76

UX Research Geeks

Show Notes

Joel Barr, a UX engineer and software creation professional, reflects on why we need to rethink the place of UX research within organizations, arguing that researchers have much greater impact when they sit under operations rather than product. He explores the decline of field research, the importance of connecting UX to sales and customer success teams, and the risks of overrelying on AI and synthetic participants. Joel also advocates for measuring UX through business outcomes such as revenue, retention, and operational success rather than product-centric metrics, debating that only by proving its commercial impact can UX secure its future.

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Episode highlights 00:01:48 - Why UX Research should not sit under Product 00:08:08 - Servant leadership 00:11:40 - How companies benefit from having UX researchers in the field 00:16:27 - Will UX Research lose influence if moved under Operations? 00:21:23 - AI in UX research 00:26:10 - Connecting UX research with retention and sales metrics 00:28:12 - Summing up

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About this podcast: Welcome to UX Research Geeks, where Tina Ličková, a researcher and strategist, talks with researchers from around the globe about topics that matter to them.

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