Why Every UX Team Needs ResearchOps – Making the Case for Leadership Buy-In

By Philip Burgess - UX Research Leader

As organizations mature in their user experience practices, the demand for research grows. Product teams want more insights, executives want faster answers, and researchers find themselves juggling recruitment, tools, and data management while still trying to conduct meaningful studies.

This is where Research Operations (ResearchOps) comes in. Think of it as the backbone that allows UX research to scale without breaking under the weight of logistical chaos. Yet, many leadership teams are hesitant to invest in ResearchOps—often because they don’t fully understand the value.

Here’s why every UX team needs ResearchOps and how to make the case for leadership buy-in.

The Problem Without ResearchOps

Without a dedicated ResearchOps function, UX researchers spend significant time on administrative tasks:

• Chasing down participants

• Managing incentive payments

• Setting up tools and platforms

• Organizing past insights into slide decks that get lost in inboxes

This inefficiency slows down research and prevents teams from delivering the high-value insights leadership actually cares about.

What ResearchOps Solves

A strong ResearchOps practice provides:

1. Streamlined Recruitment

   • Access to participant panels, screening templates, and efficient scheduling.

   • Reduced time-to-study, allowing researchers to focus on insight generation.

2. Centralized Insights

   • Research repositories (like Dovetail or Notion) that prevent knowledge loss.

   • Teams avoid repeating studies, saving time and money.

3. Tool & Process Management

   • Standardized tool stacks and processes, ensuring consistency across teams.

   • Better vendor relationships and cost savings through consolidated licensing.

4. Governance & Ethics

   • Compliance with privacy laws (GDPR, HIPAA) and standardized consent practices.

   • Builds participant trust and reduces legal risk.

5. Scalability & Democratization

   • Training non-researchers to run lightweight studies responsibly.

   • Freeing senior researchers to focus on strategic, complex initiatives.

Making the Case to Leadership

When pitching ResearchOps to executives, frame the conversation in business outcomes:

• Efficiency: ResearchOps reduces wasted time by automating repetitive tasks.

• Consistency: Standardized processes improve reliability and trust in insights.

• Scalability: Research can keep pace with product roadmaps across teams.

• ROI: Centralized insights reduce redundant studies and demonstrate measurable impact.

• Risk Management: Governance protects the organization legally and ethically.

Instead of talking about “better research processes,” tie ResearchOps directly to cost savings, faster delivery, and reduced risk—all of which resonate strongly with leadership.

The Bottom Line

ResearchOps is no longer a “nice-to-have.” For UX teams aiming to deliver insights at scale, it is a strategic necessity. By investing in ResearchOps, leadership enables researchers to focus on what they do best: generating insights that improve products, delight customers, and drive business outcomes.

If your organization values user experience—and every successful company does—then ResearchOps is the investment that ensures UX research can scale sustainably and effectively.

Philip Burgess | philipburgess.net | phil@philipburgess.net