Other plays to complete
Before starting desktop research, we recommend that you have completed these plays:
With these completed artefacts, you will have a better idea of where you need to focus your research effort.
Define a research area
Start by identifying the general area you want to research. This could be a broad topic or a specific problem. A good starting point would be the problem that was defined in the problem definition play.
If you're undertaking desktop research for a specific project, think about the areas that might be relevant to explore. For example, has there been engagement with the relevant user group recently? Is there any data that would be beneficial to review before recruiting specific user groups for usability testing? Are there any teams I can speak to who are experts in the area?
Desktop research is mostly explorative, so keep an open mind and follow leads to other subjects that might be relevant.
Preliminary Desktop research
Internal and external sources
The sources of secondary research can be categorised as either internal or external.
'Internal sources' refers to information that is generated or collected by the department or agency you work for. This might be project documentation, policies, user survey results, user data reporting, annual reports, and strategies, Internal sources can provide you with insights into how things operate currently, what the existing policy and legislative environment is and uncover any strengths or opportunities. This type of research can be useful in identifying areas for improvement and developing effective strategies to address those areas.
'External sources' are sources of information that are generated outside of the organisation. These can include government reports, legislation, existing data sets, market research studies, academic publications, and industry publications. External sources can provide you with an overview of the market and industry trends, competitive analysis, and user behaviours. This type of research is useful for identifying opportunities, as well as understanding the broader context in which the department operates.
Overall, both internal and external sources of secondary research are important for gaining a comprehensive understanding of the research topic.
Documenting the progress
As you sift through different sources, copy and paste relevant information into the miro template or spreadsheet template provided depending on what tool you prefer. Additionally, document or bookmark web pages for future reference.
Evaluate the information you find to make sure it's reliable and credible. Check the author, source, and date of publication. Look for biases or conflicting information. Use your critical thinking skills to determine whether the information is accurate and trustworthy.
Work with the Miro board or Microsoft Excel document as a guide for notetaking and adding insights as you go. Once you start identifying relevant resources, actively use the Miro board or Microsoft Excel document to help track your research and provide a visual overview of information gaps that your project needs to address.
Tip
When researching, look for reliable resources by checking the date. If it’s more than 5 years old, the research/data may not be relevant. This is because technology, data and user behaviour rapidly evolve over a 5-year period. As an example, consider the changes that COVID-19 has made to accessing our services, with an increased shift to digital channels and self-service.
Guiding principles for desktop research
We have created some guiding principles for desktop research within TMR. These principles are a guide of how to methodically search for and gather relevant insights. The key thing here is to derive from existing resources, not reinvent the wheel.
- Start with relevant research, data and information within your organisation
- Explore other research, data and information outside of your organisation
- Connect with the right people to give richer context
- Map your existing knowledge and identify gaps
Invite your participants
Participants in this session should be made up of the project team and any subject matter experts relevant to the project. This might include a project manager (PM), project officer, designer, business analyst, communications officer, solution architect, or developer. Aim for including a range of people to form a multi-disciplinary team. You’ll want to make sure when you send an invite for the session, that you clearly explain the goal, how long it’ll take, and why people’s participation will be beneficial.
It’s important to give enough notice to ensure participants have free time to come along to the session. Aim to send invitations about 2 weeks in advance.
You can also attach the play for people to look at ahead of time.
Calendar meeting request for desktop research
Subject:
You're invited to help conduct desktop research for [project name]Meeting description:
Dear [Team Name/Participant Name],I hope this email finds you well.
As part of our ongoing work for [Project Name], we are organising a desktop research activity to explore secondary data sources related to our project. This activity will involve gathering valuable content from various sources to enhance our understanding of the topic and be a basis for our work.In this session we plan to uncover relevant information that can contribute to our project's success. Desktop research involves utilising existing resources such as articles, reports, and publications to gather insights and support our decision-making process.
During the session, we will explore a range of secondary data sources to extract key findings and relevant data points. By conducting this research, we aim to complement our existing knowledge and gain a comprehensive understanding of the topic at hand. No specific preparation is required beforehand.
Your expertise and insights are crucial to the success of this desktop research activity. We appreciate your participation and look forward to the valuable contributions you will bring to the table.
At [Project Name], we strive to create an inclusive environment where everyone's perspectives are valued. If there are any specific accommodations or considerations that would make your participation more comfortable, please let us know, and we will make the necessary arrangements.
Thank you for your ongoing support and dedication to [Project Name]. Should you have any questions or require further information, please feel free to reach out to me.
Kind Regards,
[Facilitator Name]