A review of two books
Global UX: Design and Research in a Connected World
by Whitney Quesenbery and Daniel Szuc
Morgan Kauffman, 2011
and
The Handbook of Global User Research
by Robert Schumacher
Morgan Kauffman, 2009
I haven’t yet had the opportunity to engage in user research outside of the U.S., but I have no doubt that I will in the near future. As technology becomes more pervasive throughout the world and companies increasingly compete for global audiences, many UX practitioners will be called upon to conduct research and design projects involving international users. Fortunately, there are now two excellent books to help us with such endeavors: Global UX: Design and Research in a Connected World by Whitney Quesenbery and Daniel Szuc, and The Handbook of Global User Research, edited by Robert Schumacher.
Global UX is a review of what it means to be a successful UX practitioner in a global context, and is more of a discussion than a detailed how-to guide. Insightful interviews with practitioners from around the world are sprinkled throughout the text.
The first part of the book addresses how an interconnected world impacts UX professionals. One thing I learned from these chapters is that Asian countries and companies are developing stronger connections with each other, which will ultimately influence how and why people do things throughout the world. Next comes a framework for how to think about culture and what culture means for UX. The book concludes with high-level tips on how to manage international UX projects.
If you’re looking for detailed, practical advice on how to conduct global research, definitely take a look at Schumacher’s Handbook of Global User Research. This book discusses considerations for various research methods when used in a global context, explains how to prepare for and conduct global studies, and provides guidance on how to report research findings from these studies.
UX practitioners who have worked in certain countries share their tips on doing research there and describe how to establish key partnerships to support your projects. Let’s say you have a project planned in Denmark. Did you know that Danes often find it less awkward when moderators sit next to research participants as opposed to moderating from a separate room? Or that thinking aloud comes naturally to Danes? Japanese participants, on the other hand, like to take a focused approach when working on tasks and prefer to talk upon task completion.
In the first chapter, Schumacher provides the clearest explanation I’ve ever encountered on the similarities and differences of the UX discipline and those of psychology, anthropology, marketing research, computer science, human factors, and industrial engineering. While this information is not specific to global UX research, I wish I had access to such a thorough overview when I started my UX career! On the topic of marketing and UX research, Schumacher says, “Smart organizations would do well to place user research and marketing research side by side, each with its complementary contributions to the enterprise.” I’ve often wondered if this is the case, but have never seen such a merger occur successfully.
Although there is some redundant content between the two books, they complement each other well and I recommend picking up a copy of each. If you’re a user researcher or designer just starting to explore the landscape of global UX work, I’d start with Quesenbery and Szuc’s Global UX. If you’ll be involved with an international user research project soon, I’d first read Schumacher’s handbook.
Happy reading!
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The sketchnote is titled: Effective Global Teams
- Global companies + global products = global teams.
- “Folks who have gone our of their habitat tend to be the good ones.” – Henning Fischer
- There are many patterns for setting up global teams.
- The most common pattern: Teams organized into offices by function.
- “The team is global. The team is for the product and you work together.” Tomer Sharon, Google.
- Collaboration is a challenge: missing conversations, early starts, late finishes, no 9-5 schedule, long-distance relationships, agile is tough
- Get together at key times in a project
- “Setting a a schedule, so time is built into your day helps make collaboration a priority.”
- Listen carefully and take the time to find a communication style that works for everyone.
- Video works best for meetings rather than workshops.
- The value of global teams is their diversity.
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A review of two books
Global UX: Design and Research in a Connected World
by Whitney Quesenbery and Daniel Szuc
Morgan Kauffman, 2011
and
The Handbook of Global User Research
by Robert Schumacher
Morgan Kauffman, 2009
对 Whitney Quesenbery 和 Daniel Szuc 所著《Global UX》（全球用户体验）以及 Robert Schumacher 所著《The Handbook of Global User Research》（全球用户研究手册）的评论
《Global UX》依据与世界各地 UX 从业者进行的多次深入访谈，对如何成为成功的从业者进行了评述。这本书为如何看待文化和文化对 UX 的意义提供了一个框架。
《The Handbook of Global User Research》就如何进行全球性研究（包括研究方法、准备工作和报告）提供了详细而切实可行的建议。
尽管两本书有些内容重叠，但可以很好地互相补充。
A review of two books
Global UX: Design and Research in a Connected World
by Whitney Quesenbery and Daniel Szuc
Morgan Kauffman, 2011
and
The Handbook of Global User Research
by Robert Schumacher
Morgan Kauffman, 2009
Whitney Quesenbery와 Daniel Szuc의 Global UX 및 Robert Schumacher의 The Handbook of Global User Research에 대한 논평
Global UX는 전세계의 실무자를 상대로 한 인터뷰를 바탕으로 성공적인 UX 실무자가 되는 것의 의미에 대해 검토하고 있습니다. 이것은 문화에 대해 생각하는 방식과 UX에게 문화가 의미하는 것에 대한 기틀이라고 할 수 있습니다.
The Handbook of Global User Research(글로벌 사용자 연구 핸드북)는 연구 방법, 준비 및 보고를 포함한 글로벌 연구를 실시하는 방법에 대해 자세하고 실제적인 조언을 제공합니다.
이 두 가지 책은 중복되는 부분이 있지만 서로를 보완하기도 합니다.
A review of two books
Global UX: Design and Research in a Connected World
by Whitney Quesenbery and Daniel Szuc
Morgan Kauffman, 2011
and
The Handbook of Global User Research
by Robert Schumacher
Morgan Kauffman, 2009
Uma análise de Global UX [Usabilidade Global] de Whitney Quesenbery e Daniel Szuc, e The Handbook of Global User Research [O manual da Pesquisa do Usuário Global] de Robert Schumacher
Global UX é uma análise do que significa ser um praticante de experiência do usuário de sucesso, com base em entrevistas perspicazes com praticantes de todo o mundo. Trata-se de um framework sobre como pensar sobre cultura e o que significa a cultura para a experiência do usuário.
The Handbook of Global User Research oferece conselhos práticos e detalhados sobre como conduzir uma pesquisa global, incluindo métodos de pesquisa, preparação e relatórios.
Embora haja um pouco de conteúdo redundante entre os dois livros, eles se complementam.
O artigo completo está disponível somente em inglês.
A review of two books
Global UX: Design and Research in a Connected World
by Whitney Quesenbery and Daniel Szuc
Morgan Kauffman, 2011
and
The Handbook of Global User Research
by Robert Schumacher
Morgan Kauffman, 2009
Whitney Quesenbery、Daniel Szuc共著の『Global UX』（グローバルUX）の書評とRobert Schumacher著『The Handbook of Global User Research』（グローバル・ユーザー・リサーチのハンドブック）
『Global UX』では、世界中のUX実行者への洞察に満ちたインタビューを通じて、成功したUX実行者になることの意味を評論している。これは、カルチャーをどう考え、またカルチャーがUXにとって何を意味するかについての枠組みである。
『The Handbook of Global User Research』は、調査の方法、その準備と報告を含むグローバルリサーチの方法について、詳細かつ実践的なアドバイスを提供している。
この2冊には重複する内容があるものの、それぞれが互いを補完し合っている。
A review of two books
Global UX: Design and Research in a Connected World
by Whitney Quesenbery and Daniel Szuc
Morgan Kauffman, 2011
and
The Handbook of Global User Research
by Robert Schumacher
Morgan Kauffman, 2009
Una reseña de Global UX de Whitney Quesenbery y Daniel Szuc, y de The Handbook of Global User Research de Robert Schumacher.
Global UX es una reseña de lo que significa ser un profesional de experiencia de usuario exitoso, según las conclusiones de las entrevistas con profesionales de todo el mundo. Es una estructura para saber cómo pensar acerca de la cultura y lo que significa la cultura para la experiencia de usuario.
The Handbook of Global User Research ofrece consejos detallados y prácticos acerca de cómo llevar a cabo una investigación global, incluidos los métodos de investigación, la preparación y la elaboración de informes.
Aunque entre los dos libros hay contenido redundante, se complementan muy bien entre sí.
La versión completa de este artículo está sólo disponible en inglés.
