R&D Toolkit
  1. Overview
      2. Overview
    1. Introduction
      2.
      1. Recent Updates
        2.
    2. Tools
      3.
      1. Research
        2.
      2. Delivery
        3.
    3. Resources
      4.
      1. R&D
        2.
      2. Websites
        3.
      3. Project Tracking
        4.
      4. Further Resources
        5.
  2. Research
      3. Research Tools
    1. Problem
      2.
      1. Discovery
        2.
      2. Prioritisation
        3.
      3. Project Scoping
        4.
      4. Framing
        5.
    2. Empathise
      3.
      1. Investigate
        2.
      2. User Interview
        3.
      3. User Insights
        4.
      4. Data
        5.
    3. Mapping
      4.
      1. Research Mapping
        2.
      2. User Mapping
        3.
      3. Organisation Mapping
        4.
    4. Synthesis
      5.
      1. Problem Reframing
        2.
      2. Define
        3.
      3. Feature Prioritisation
        4.
  3. Design
      4. Design Tools
    1. Ideation
      2.
      1. Warm Up
        2.
      2. Sketching
        3.
      3. Storyboarding
        4.
      4. Design Studio
        5.
  4. Delivery
      5. Delivery Tools
    1. Agile
      2.
    2. Scrum
      3.
      1. Overview
        2.
      2. Team
        3.
      3. Events
        4.
      4. Artifacts
        5.
      5. Glossary
        6.

marc.tools

A Product R&D Toolkit

Welcome. I'm Marc and this is a Toolkit to create things.
Research Tools    Mapping
Research Mapping

The large volumes of research so far will feel loosely connected, but also random and even disparate - we can begin to tie it all together visually to spot themes, commonalties and ultimately opportunities.

The trends and other insights that come from this ultimately help us make better decisions when moving forwards, which enables us to revisit the original decision when we iterate.

Section Tools
Summarising Research
Affinity Map
Concept Mapping
Assumptions Map
  
Mapping    Research Mapping
Tool Info
Category Research Mapping
Updated 21/08/20
Templates   PDF     Miro
Creator N/A

As we come out of the research phase, we would have collected a lot of fascinating insights and valuable data through the various methods used.

It is helpful to collect the outcome of this research in a single place that can be referred back to, adding as many insights as possible that can then be used to further understand and evaluate the problem, lining us up for ideation and hopefully finding a solution.

This also acts as a valuable way of aligning stakeholders as to the research and showing the true value of this resource intensive process.

  
Mapping    Research Mapping
Tool Info
Category Research Mapping
Updated 21/08/20
Templates   PDF     Miro
Creator Jiro Kawakita

With lots of data and insights obtained during the research phase, it can seem a bit disparate and random. Using an Affinity Map, we can begin to group this research output and spot patterns - interpreting things from the perspective of the user.

This is a highly valuable approach when it comes to analysing that such a problem exists, and the size of the problem. It can also provide insight in to a different problem or taking the project in a slightly different direction, if for example the problem is slightly different to the initial assumptions.

Using a collaborative approach through a workshop, we can take each individual insight and other research point and keeping it brief, put it on a single sticky note.

From here we can plot the sticky notes and group them to identify themes and stack those that are similar to help build priority and importance around the point.

Note: We can use Affinity Mapping for a variety of other Product and Design related tasks, like grouping similar ideas or usability feedback for example.

Further Resources
  Affinity Diagramming for Collaboratively Sorting UX Findings and Design Ideas
  Affinity Diagrams – Learn How to Cluster and Bundle Ideas and Facts
  
Mapping    Research Mapping
Tool Info
Category Research Mapping
Updated 21/08/20
Templates   PDF     Miro
Creator Joseph D. Novak

Concept Mapping aims to connect insights that have a commonality that lead to an idea or product feature. By organising and structuring existing knowledge along with research around the problem space it helps with creating concepts that can help with understanding.

Perfect as a workshop to build consensus and unity amongst teams, iteration is encouraged to clarify and get closer to accuracy, it enables individuals and teams to become a lot more knowledgeable about a thing a lot quicker.

Taking two words (concepts), and then linking them together with a relevant word creates a 'proposition' - as we move forward linking and cross-linking, this map becomes a hierarchy of meaning and therefore a rapid amount of knowledge on the concepts.

Further Resources
  Cognitive Maps, Mind Maps, and Concept Maps: Definitions
  The Origin and Development of Concept Maps
  Concept Mapping Together
  
Mapping    Research Mapping
Tool Info
Category Research Mapping
Updated 21/08/20
Templates   PDF     Miro
Creator David J Bland

One of the best parts of product development is building the picture, envisaging what you want to build and how it fits in to the grand scheme of things, all with the assumption enough users want it.

Unfortunately, these assumptions can steer us in the wrong direction, resulting in wasted time and resource. However, an Assumptions Map can help deconstruct these assumptions which can prove valuable when it comes to experimenting and prototyping.

Focusing on the key assumptions of Desirability (do they want it?) Viability (should we do this?) and Feasibility (can we do this?), we can map and test our assumptions as a team, pushing us to check that our existing plan is valid and also creating a list of future exploratory areas.

Further Resources
  Assumptions Mapping
  An Introduction to Assumptions Mapping with David J. Bland: Webinar Recap