AmpUp: Building and running a rapid research team for a SaaS company
QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE USER RESEARCHER | AGILE AND LEAN METHODS
This year, I had a life-changing experience managing a user research team at AmpUp,and I loved every second of the collaborative, strategic, research, and data democratization work it entailed. Hired initially as the solo UX researcher to define product specs and target users, I soon grew my team to four interns to meets the research demands. Through assumption mapping and research prioritization workshops, I created a research repository, roadmap and set goals.
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With my own small team, I balance being a manager and researcher. I am deeply involved throughout the research process - creating protocols, conducting studies, analyzing data, and presenting findings. Here's a glimpse of four back-to-back sprints that I led.
A diary study exploring behaviors, activities, and coping mechanisms of job seekers
Stakeholder: Product team | Timeline: 4 weeks
I conducted a two-week exploratory diary study to uncover key behaviors, emotions, and concerns of US job seekers, resulting in development of preliminary user journey maps that helped set direction for proof-of-concept product features.
A three part survey on job seeker's support systems and mental well-being challenges
Stakeholder: Product, Design Team| Timeline: 4 weeks
I conducted a three-part survey to learn if job seekers value mental well-being, the tools they use to address it, and their reliance on support systems. This helped shape a proto-persona, better define the problem space, and guide the prioritization of user-centric features.
In-depth interviews about frustrations, support systems and emotional resilience
Stakeholder: Product, Design Team| Timeline: 4 weeks
I conducted six semi-structured interviews to understand when and how job seekers reach out to support networks and their emotional responses following these interactions. The insights helped refine the user profile and identify two key features for the proof-of-concept.
Concept testing to understand the product's value and its user reception
Stakeholder: Product, Engineering, Design Team| Timeline: 4 weeks
I used moderated and unmoderated user testing to evaluate the value of product functions and assess if users were willing to use them for emotional support. The insights helped improve interface design, refine user stories, and update the product requirements document.
What my team says about me
"Her drive and deep understanding of our business goals had also propelled the rapid research team to new heights. Her foresight and proactive engagement in strategic discussions and have been crucial in aligning research efforts with the product, engineering and design"
Michelle Leong
Project Manager