#124 - Defining a Research Strategy with Devin Harold of Capital One

#124 - Defining a Research Strategy with Devin Harold of Capital One

Author: User Interviews April 19, 2023 Duration: 55:58

A solid UX research strategy serves as the compass that guides research ops and helps ensure repeatable success. But how do you envision, create, and execute a strategy that helps you achieve your goals in the most effective way possible? 

In this episode of Awkward Silences, Devin Harold, Director of Research at Capital One, unpacks how to craft and refine a winning UXR strategy, including tips to help you make team playbooks, win stakeholder buy-in, and inform your strategy with maturity models.

In this episode, we discuss:

  • The significance of a robust UX research strategy
  • The definition of a good and bad strategy 
  • Essential components of an effective research plan
  • Aligning research with stakeholder needs and expectations
  • Metrics and KPIs to evaluate progress and success

Highlights

  • [00:01:17] Strategy vs delivery, prioritizing projects and allocating resources  
  • [00:10:13] The role of flexibility and adaptability
  • [00:15:38] Gaining stakeholder buy-in and tying research to organizational objectives
  • [00:21:05] Establishing KPIs and metrics to measure progress and success
  • [00:33:46] Periodic reviews and updates to maintain relevance and effectiveness

Sources mentioned in the episode:


About our guest:

Devin Harold is the Director of UX Research at Capital One, where he leads a team dedicated to improving end-to-end experiences and touchpoints for one of the company’s primary business units. With over eleven years of experience in UX design and research, he has a deep understanding of research methodologies, leadership, strategy, frameworks, and interaction design. Devin’s expertise and leadership have been recognized with multiple awards, including the IDEA Award, Verizon Beyond Award, and Verizon Credo Award. 


Awkward Silences is a conversation about the human side of building things. Hosts Erin May and Carol Guest, both VPs at User Interviews, don't just talk about theory-they get into the messy, real-world practice of talking to users and making sense of what they say. Each episode pulls back the curtain on the craft of user research, featuring candid chats with the practitioners who do this work every day. You'll hear stories about navigating tricky interviews, the weight of interpreting qualitative data, and how genuine understanding directly shapes better products and smarter business decisions. This isn't a dry lecture; it's a geeky, relatable dive into the questions and quiet moments that define UX research. The Awkward Silences podcast lives in the intersection of technology and business, focusing on the people and processes that connect them. Listen for practical insights, empathetic strategies, and the occasional shared laugh about the inevitable fumbles that come with trying to understand anyone. It’s for anyone who believes that building effectively starts with listening well.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

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