With a solid plan, UX/Design leaders can advance their agenda instead of simply managing the onslaught of requests coming their way. To ensure such a plan is thorough, I've developed this tool, drawn from my work supporting heads of design: https://lnkd.in/gCNq-iQW (EDIT: I'm seeing people take the specifics in the image as a direction. The plan in the image is a SAMPLE, not a suggestion for all teams to follow. It's in a hand-written font to suggest that this is just one way it could be filled out. The point is to make your own!) At its heart are these 5 Ps: == 👥 People. Anything to do with team members, roles, practices. People goes first because they are the foundation for any leadership effort. ✅ Programs. The initiatives, the discrete activities the team will engage in to realize that agenda. People is the "Who," and Programs are the "What." 🗓️ Process. This is the "How." It can be adopting or improving methods and approaches (dual-track agile, product discovery, critique), or establishing team norms (how meetings work; requiring cross-functional goal alignment). 📈 Performance. In conducting these Programs and following these Processes, what impact will this team have? How is it measured? 🗣️ Positioning. Originally this was called "Communication," but I needed a P-word. I actually prefer Positioning, because it suggests an outcome for that communication—how is the team positioned within the organization? What are the teams 'talking points'? How are they shared? It's last, because it relies on the outcome of the prior tracks to have a story to tell. And, I make this explicit, because too often design leaders neglect (or even dismiss) this kind of effort, thinking the work should speak for itself. == I hope you find this useful, and am eager to hear how it's applied.
I think Paolo Malabuyo also has a very good 5 Ps framework.
full power to those with the bureaucratic charisma for it, but .. imagine .. still having .. to do a .. double-diamond road show ..
*rubs eyes, checks again* Am I dreaming, or does this framework call out content design as a function design orgs need to prioritize? 🥹😭
I’ve used a similar framework, but one additional “P” goal I’ve found useful is Partnerships. While all the other areas are within our control, our span of influence is limited without partners who can act as multipliers to help advance our UX/design agenda.
I would include lots of outreach and advocate building. I’ve seen so many UX/ design departments focus mostly on their own methods and structure rather than build their internal “customer” base. You have to have a strong set of collaborators, enthusiastic sponsors, and believers to succeed in these times.
This looks awesome Peter Merholz. I am a big fan of short-term achievable goals, especially as a new leader is trying to build relationships. Maybe a heavy focus on the people part first. Sometimes I break the first phase down into a 30-60-90 to focus on downward, lateral and upward relationships. Also love me some roadshows!
I like it! I almost always make a "from here to there" path when I start a new role. Unfortunately many times I have to start with "stop the bleeding" triage of people and process before I can even look at the other stuff. And I've had little success in tech companies with positioning. In other environments it isn't as hard. Hmmmm....
Gosh ! Asvina Brown
Amazing this framework Peter Merholz, thanks for share. I"ll studing here to apply in my rountine
Design Executive. Helping leaders transfrom heritage brands for growth and relvance. Ex Bang & Olufsen, Fiskars Group, Egmont
1wThe one thing I would add is a delivery layer. In my experience, being able to show some real in-market results or at last tangible progress with product early on is a great way to get buy-in and let stakeholder know you know what you are doing. Pick a couple of strategically smart projects, double down and follow them through. They are great talkingpoints for the the stakeholder roadshow.