You must create a research plan before assembling a team and beginning work on a project. A well-researched plan will guide and help align all stakeholders with the project’s aim, scope, and timeline.
A research plan will give the project team a headstart as the project visibility increases, reducing non-productive time and giving the project manager a chance to work out all the possible kinks in advance.
This document will give the project team an overview of the project and helps rationalize the research process. It’ll also serve as a ready reference for the team, helping them focus on the goal and stay on track.
Wondering what steps a research plan consists of? Let’s take an example of a UX research plan to understand the concept better.
A sound
UX research plan clarifies the project’s purpose and highlights the problem you’re trying to solve. It outlines the project’s objectives and makes it easier for you and other stakeholders to understand the project’s goals clearly.
This will help you choose the appropriate research method and define the user base to make informed decisions.
After you have gathered all these answers, you can establish the project’s timeline. Although it
won’t be possible for you to predict the exact timeline of the project, leverage the data you’ve to come up with an estimated timeline.
The final step would be to present the project in an impactful manner that will ensure it is implemented effectively across the organization.
Explainer videos are an excellent tool to effectively communicate complex topics.
This illustration of the steps involved in creating a research plan should give you a basic idea of where to start.
While creating your project’s research plan, you can take inspiration from this illustration and build upon it to help your project team hit the ground running from the first day of project implementation.
Remember that it’s important to define your goals early, but don’t forget to account for unforeseen challenges to keep your plan adaptable.