User research

In this video, product managers talk about the importance of user research and how you can get involved as a product manager.

User research helps teams learn about users and create products that meet their needs. Watch this video to hear product managers talk about the importance of user research and how you can get involved.

Some teams will have dedicated user researchers, but, depending on the size of your team, you may have to do it yourself.

User research is an ongoing process that occurs throughout the whole product lifecycle.

Remember that user research is not just talking to users or reviewing feedback comments. It’s a structured and methodical process designed to give you as much insight as possible so your team can make the right decisions for your product.

Without user research, you won’t know what problems you’re trying to solve, what to build or if the product or service you create will work well for users. Asking the right kind of questions will help you to understand your users and their needs.

You’ll need to find out:

• who your likely users are
• what they’re trying to do
• how they’re trying to do it now
• how their life or work influences what they do and how
• how they use and experience existing products or services
• whether your assumptions about users are true or not
• the barriers they face

The better you understand your users, the more likely you are to design and build a product that works well for them.

Task

Have you been involved in user research before? What did you learn from it? Share your experiences in the comments below.