Before research

Before planning research, I want to know what we might do differently when it is finished. That gives the work somewhere to go.

Imagine a team considering a dashboard because people keep asking for updates. The unanswered question is what those people need to know. They might be checking progress, waiting for permission, or trying to find the person responsible. Each would suggest a different response. Starting with a dashboard test would leave those possibilities unexplored.

Give the question a boundary

Write down the choice, the assumption behind it, and what would make you reconsider. Then look for evidence you already have. Support conversations might help identify where to investigate; watching someone complete the work might explain a difficulty that a ticket only hints at.

Early research can be broader. You may be deciding which problem deserves attention at all. Even then, naming the people and circumstances you want to learn about gives you a useful boundary.

I think “enough” depends on the next commitment. A small, reversible change can tolerate uncertainty that would be unacceptable before replacing a service people rely on. Ask whether the remaining gaps could change the decision, especially if the people most affected have not been heard from.

Asking about a recent experience is a useful place to begin. Leave room for the answer to change your plans.