The User Research Strategist Podcast

🎧 Nikki Anderson (host) with Javier Bargas (UX Research Director, Google)

📅 17 April 2025 | ⏱️ 29 min listen


🧠 Key Concepts

Strategic impact influences what gets built; tactical impact influences how it gets built.


🛠️ Methods & Frameworks

Concept What It Does
Strategic vs Tactical Insights Classifies findings by whether they inform direction (what) or execution (how)
Insight Primers Short, distilled research briefs delivered ahead of planning cycles to guide strategy
Method‑Agnostic Mindset Chooses research methods based on the problem, not on titles like “field study” or “usability test”
Hybrid Insight Approach Embeds strategic questions into tactical sessions (e.g. warm‑up interviews) and vice versa
Seat at the Table Builds trust by solving key problems; secures ongoing involvement in roadmap and strategy meetings

🪙 My 5 pence

This episode flipped the script: Maybe a lot of us tend to pigeonhole methods as “tactical” or “strategic,” rather than seeing insights as the true currency of impact. As you would expect, the webinar proposes that you kick off every research plan by asking, “What problem am I solving?” and only then picking a method.

Theres also a nice idea of Insight Primers—concise, timely briefs that inject research directly into strategy talks. It’s the best way to ensure qualitative findings actually make it onto the roadmap.


📈 Use This When…