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    "title" : "Discovery operations guide |Digital.gov",
    "description": "Discovery operations guide",
    "home_page_url" : "/preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/","feed_url" : "/preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/guides/hcd/discovery-operations/index.json","item" : [
    {"kicker" : "HCD Guide Series","title" :"Discovery operations guide","deck" : "Step-by-step guidance on how to conduct discovery research","summary" : "Step-by-step guidance on how to conduct discovery research","date" : "2023-07-24T09:00:00-05:00","date_modified" : "2025-01-27T19:42:55-05:00","primary_image" : { "uid" : "hcd-discovery-operations", "alt" :
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      "filepath" :"guides/hcd/discovery-operations/_index.md",
      "filepathURL" :"https://github.com/GSA/digitalgov.gov/blob/bc-archive-content-3/content/guides/hcd/discovery-operations/_index.md",
      "editpathURL" :"https://github.com/GSA/digitalgov.gov/edit/bc-archive-content-3/content/guides/hcd/discovery-operations/_index.md","url" : "/preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/guides/hcd/discovery-operations/","weight" : "3","content" :"\u003ch2 id=\"what-is-human-centered-design\"\u003eWhat is human-centered design?\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHuman-centered design (HCD) is a qualitative research method that helps groups solve problems and seek solutions that prioritize customer needs over a system’s needs.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHCD involves four phases of sequential work: discovery, design, delivery, and measurement. This guide explains the “how-to” behind a successful discovery cycle. It provides step-by-step instruction on the concepts outlined in the \u003ca href=\"/preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/guides/hcd/discovery-concepts/\"\u003eHCD Discovery Concepts Guide\u003c/a\u003e, including how to:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUnderstand the practical scale of your project\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIdentify the teammates and roles required\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePrepare for and conduct research\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eKeep good records of your data\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSynthesize findings as a team, and \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCommunicate your findings.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYou can review this \u003ca href=\"/preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/guides/hcd/introduction/\"\u003eintroduction to human-centered design (HCD)\u003c/a\u003e to learn more about HCD principles and practices, and review the basics of the HCD approach. If you’re already familiar with HCD, let’s proceed.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 id=\"what-is-discovery\"\u003eWhat is discovery?\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen designers say “discovery”, they’re talking about research. This research can take many forms, but it always includes both primary research with the people who are involved in the team’s subject matter, as well as secondary or desk research, which involves reading white papers and articles on the subject.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThink of HCD discovery as a cycle, instead of a linear process. \u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 id=\"operational-timeline\"\u003eOperational timeline\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe HCD process requires many operational steps, some of which overlap in time. This means that you and your team cannot work individually without coordination or looking to the next step, nor can you try to accomplish one step before starting another, because one of two things frequently happens after a research phase is completed:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe team finds both new research and design opportunities to follow.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe team finds that the problem that they were investigating was slightly off-target, so they need to adjust the research frame to restart discovery.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ol\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNote the concepts, or the “why?” behind the discovery cycle, are explained in the \u003ca href=\"/preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/guides/hcd/discovery-concepts/\"\u003eHCD Discovery Concepts Guide\u003c/a\u003e. We’ll link there as needed throughout this guide, to provide additional context to inform the “why” behind the instructions that follow.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 id=\"discovery-process-overview\"\u003eDiscovery process overview\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe’ll explain how to complete each step in greater detail below, but first begin by framing your project to identify what you will study. Engage your leadership and recruit your team. Gain approval for staffing, travel, and other expenses.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWork through the logistics; keep both a detailed and a bird’s-eye view on the overall project schedule, as well as your team members’ schedules. This can be challenging in the rush of gathering and tracking research, but it’s crucial to keep focused and organized as you recruit participants and conduct research.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eImmediately after research wraps up, synthesis begins. Synthesis can be one of the most mentally challenging and tiring parts of the project, but this is where you will see your research come together in patterns. Keep your momentum going by scheduling the synthesis sessions as closely as possible after the end of the research phase.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFinally, present your discoveries to your stakeholders. This is a crucial piece of the project. If you do not communicate well, then your research, and all your work, could be for naught. Prepare, practice, and follow up on your presentations. \u003cstrong\u003eYour work deserves it.\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n"}
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