What are the best user research methods for agile and lean environments?

1 Contextual inquiry

Contextual inquiry is a user research method that involves observing and interviewing users in their natural environment, while they perform tasks related to your product. It helps you understand the context, needs, pain points, and goals of your users, as well as their workflows, behaviors, and preferences. Contextual inquiry is useful for agile and lean environments because it allows you to collect rich and relevant data in a short time, and to validate or invalidate your assumptions quickly. You can conduct contextual inquiry at any stage of your product development cycle, from discovery to evaluation.

2 Guerrilla testing

Guerrilla testing is a user research method that involves testing your product or prototype with random people in public places, such as cafes, libraries, or parks. It helps you get immediate feedback and reactions from your potential users, and to identify any usability issues or improvements. Guerrilla testing is suitable for agile and lean environments because it is fast, cheap, and easy to conduct. You can use guerrilla testing to test your product or prototype at any level of fidelity, from sketches to high-fidelity mockups.

3 Lean UX canvas

Lean UX canvas is a user research tool that helps you define and align your product vision, hypotheses, assumptions, user segments, value propositions, and metrics. It helps you create a shared understanding of your product goals and user needs, and to prioritize and validate your ideas. Lean UX canvas is ideal for agile and lean environments because it is collaborative, iterative, and flexible. You can use lean UX canvas to plan and guide your user research activities, and to communicate your findings and insights.

4 User journey mapping

User journey mapping is a user research method that helps you visualize and document the steps, actions, emotions, and touchpoints of your users as they interact with your product. It helps you identify the opportunities, gaps, and pain points in your user experience, and to design solutions that meet your user needs and expectations. User journey mapping is beneficial for agile and lean environments because it is user-centric, holistic, and actionable. You can use user journey mapping to map your current or desired user journey, and to evaluate and improve your product features and functionality.

5 Kano model

Kano model is a user research method that helps you categorize your product features based on how they affect your user satisfaction. It helps you understand the different types of user needs, such as basic, performance, and delighters, and how they influence your user loyalty and retention. Kano model is helpful for agile and lean environments because it is strategic, data-driven, and prioritizing. You can use Kano model to analyze your user feedback and data, and to decide which features to build, enhance, or eliminate.

6 Card sorting

Card sorting is a user research method that helps you understand how your users group, label, and organize your product information. It helps you create a user-friendly and intuitive information architecture, navigation, and content for your product. Card sorting is effective for agile and lean environments because it is simple, interactive, and adaptable. You can use card sorting to test your existing or proposed information structure, and to optimize your product usability and findability.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?