Intervention Overview
To test the hypotheses and answer the overall research question, a hybrid approach that is based on action research methodology but also includes HCD design tools and frameworks was adopted. This methodology can also be seen as an exercise in the application of design thinking as well. The intervention itself comes in the form of the 3 month period spent in Boston at the advertising technology startup Datami. During this time I occupied a role that had elements of product design, intrapraneurship, research and development, and business consultant. Over the course of the three months I traversed the double-diamond design process in its entirety in an attempt to help Datami react to a specific technology.
Action Research Framework
The intervention follows the criteria of action research in the fact that I embedded myself within an existing business as a participant observer and I also aimed to apply a “positive” intervention. The appropriateness of an action research approach in this context was also furthered by my choice to focus my research around a single emerging technology. The Interaction Design Foundation, when speaking about Action Research, says, “No technological development has any value without action, and Action Research is all about action (Kock, 2015).”
An Action Research methodology includes a hypothesis, a technology, a problem area, a research client, and an epistemological approach.
Hypothesis: Experience designers should lead the way in the evaluation and exploration of emerging technologies for existing businesses.
Technology: Blockchain
Problem Area: Emerging technologies need to be constantly evaluated and explored to determine their potential impact in an effort to create new disruptions or stay ahead of other industry disruptors.
Research Client: The advertising technology startup Datami.
Epistemology: Interpretivist/Critical
In conjunction with this Action Research approach I also utilized the double-diamond design process framework. The four stages of the double-diamond (discovery, definition, development, delivery) will also serve as the structure in which the process and activities will be presented, and findings that were uncovered during this industry intervention.
About Datami
Datami is an Advertising Technology company located just outside of Boston, MA but also have an office in India. They specialize in providing solutions that benefit advertisers, mobile operators, and mobile users through the use of first-party verfiable data targeting, sponsored data, and data rewards. The company is made up of roughly 30 employees most of whom are of a technical background.