Collaboration among designers, business and legal experts
Some tips to improve cross-functional collaboration in the digital era.
Written by Sergio Vento.
In the digital age, user experience lies at the heart of every project. The increasing complexity of the digital industry that is occurring in recent years is making product and service design a sophisticated interdisciplinary field that necessitates collaboration among various professionals.
The whole is greater than the sum of its parts
So, the designer is becoming a crucial stakeholder in the process, you can see this simply by how the role is changing over the years and decades (from web master to product designer or UX designer). But a designer still needs to work in partnership with legal experts, business professionals and other roles and this collaboration is critical to the success of design projects. Each group brings unique and complementary expertise that can be combined to create innovative and successful solutions.
- Designers are responsible for creating user experiences that are both useful and enjoyable, while effectively mediating discussions among different stakeholders to achieve optimal solutions;
- Legal experts ensure that products and services comply with laws and regulations (or at least reduce the chances of being sued);
- Business professionals focus on market strategies and achieving corporate objectives.
A joint effort among these three (and more) entities can help overcome common challenges in design projects, such as regulatory compliance, security, and usability. It can also lead to solutions that are both innovative and profitable.
Overcoming communication barriers
Cooperation as we said is essential but sometimes it can also be demanding or create conflicts. One of the main challenges is the diversity of language and approach. To communicate effectively, it’s essential that all parties learn to express themselves clearly and concisely. It is necessary to learn the technical language and how to communicate rationals in a way that can be understood by people of a totally different background. When verbal communication falls short, other forms of communication can be used, such as workshops or activities that help to bring out unspoken thoughts or needs.
Turning conflicts into solutions
A frequent problem is that each competence center has its own interests and goals. This can lead to blocks or make it difficult to orchestrate activities among multiple roles. A practical solution is to involve all stakeholders in the early stages, especially those who could potentially be blockers or whose disapproval could jeopardize the success of the project. In this way you are likely to turn blockers into allies. In this way, the intent is to make people feel part of the design process. Speaking of tools and methodologies, what I found useful for handling these situations (especially for more complex projects) is to use the Bull-eye diagram. It can be used to define stakeholders and understand their needs. Even better choice can be the Stakeholder Analysis,where you can map your stakeholders and move inside a power-interest matrix.
Managing conflict is a key challenge. User needs, laws and regulations, and business strategies can often clash. However, teams capable of effective collaboration can find solutions that satisfy all parties involved.
Three heads are better than one
Another key concept is the different point of view that each member can bring to the design process. Each brain thinks differently, especially if influenced by a different culture, education, and knowledge. This allows us to see the problem from a very different perspective and come up with new solutions or insights that bring value. In the ideation phase, it is crucial to communicate the rationales behind the idea. This will help all stakeholders understand the needs of the users and the business goals. By working together to understand the rationale, we can create more effective solutions.
In practice, it happens when the legal or business team provides specific instructions for a solution. This can be frustrating for designers, as it limits the ability to understand the motivations behind the request. To address this, we have experimented with a communication approach where we request a rationale document alongside the instructions. This allows us to gather information and develop a more holistic solution.
This approach may seem invasive at the beginning, but it can be beneficial in the long run. We can build trust with the legal and business and can lead to more collaborative and innovative solutions.
The future belongs to collaborators
Collaboration between those roles is poised to become even more critical. Emerging trends, such as the use of advanced technologies, will further underscore the necessity of it.
Personally, I expect in the near future that designers are called to have a more than basic understanding of both disciplines as a minimum skill in order to effectively collaborate with business and law professionals.
This knowledge will enable them to communicate more effectively and make more informed decisions. Maybe in the far future, we can expect a way deeper integration of these disciplines.
This article was written by Sergio Vento, Product Designer, and edited by Marta Milasi, UX Content Lead at Telepass. Interested in joining our team? Check out our open roles!
