Gauging interest in a #ResearchOps unconference in London

I’ve been involved in helping organise user research for a number of years now, usually at the periphery as a team lead or delivery manager, occasionally more directly involved in the research and it’s an area I’m increasingly interested in, particularly since a community started forming around #ResearchOps. (See this slide deck from Kate Towsey for an intro to Research Operations)

I know the pain involved in Research Operations, particularly in less mature organisations or doing research at pace or at scale.

I’ve also been an event organiser, since, well, let’s say for a very long time.

I thought it might be good to bring some of the community together in London (where I live) this year. I decided to gauge interest in a not-for-profit unconference — an event format that I’ve used before that I know is low effort (for the organisers) — using a short Typeform survey (now closed), promoted through Twitter and in the recently established Research Ops Slack community. (The go to place for discussing Research Operations online).

I’m pleased to say that 39 people responded in the 10 days the survey was open, which is enough of a critical mass for making this happen.

Our survey said…

• 26 people said they would be willing to run a session at the event — yay!
• 32 people said they’d be willing to help organise the event — including supporting on the day. Also yay!
• Respondents want to take part for a mix of reasons — because they are already doing Research Operations and want to learn how to be more effective; because they know little about it and they want to learn more; because they are a user researcher and they want to do research operations more efficiently; to help fix broken research operations; and to connect with others doing research operations.
• Given this mix of reasons different people wanted to take part in different sessions from consent and GDPR through to ethics and insight analysis; data repositories and working with agile delivery teams. Lots of interesting suggestions here…
• I also asked whether anyone could provide sponsorship — either a free venue or money — several people offered space so I’ll be following up with them to check availability — daytime, evenings, weekends — capacity and other logistical details.
• I also asked whether any of the survey respondents needed support to participate — either money to support e.g. travel — or childcare support (this is something GovCamp offers) — and a few said yes, childcare would be beneficial with one saying travel support would help. (Please message me if you want to sponsor either of these options).

I’ve run smaller unconferences for a few years now and they are of value even when there are say a dozen people but it feels like we should be aiming for something bigger…

Next Steps

As noted above, I’m going to follow up on possible venue options (and dates) next.

I’m also going to message survey respondents who left their contact email addresses and who offered to help organise the event to see how they could be involved.

Thanks to Brigette on the Research Operations Community Slack for advice and support and to everyone who responded to the survey or promoted it.

Message me below or in the Research Operations Community Slack if you’re a member there, if you want to be kept up to date.

Note

Just to note, I’m organising this event in a personal capacity. It’s unconnected with Software Acumen — the conference business I run — or Create / Change — the consultancy I co-own. (Or indeed any clients of either of those organisations)