The common 'So what' issue often encountered at work
Haebom
This doesn't just happen in AI. In research groups or in operations and design teams where the benefits aren’t immediately obvious, results often fail to provide concrete insights or understanding, leading people to react with a disinterested “so what.” This is even more pronounced when there’s no clear product or specific service, or when what’s being offered covers a broad area, or when the team has been around for a long time.
Like, sure, I can see that the numbers and measurements changed and maybe the design is different, but the question remains—“So what?”
Causes of the ‘So what’ problem
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Only offering surface-level answers without deeper analysis
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Uncertainty around what the team actually knows now
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Teams focusing on issues that are beyond what they can realistically solve
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Research teams relying on outdated or stale information
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When the research scope isn’t clear, it’s hard to even figure out what information is essential
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Not enough discussion or reflection within the team
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When there’s no clear goal or direction for research or improvement outcomes
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Trying to oversell the insights
If you’re on the research or design side, this can honestly be pretty frustrating—but sometimes you just have to speak their language. The ‘So what’ problem is actually rooted in a disconnect; to them, our points just don’t land or make sense within their worldview. That’s why things like making the process clear, giving a strong, straightforward message, or just presenting things in numbers can really help get through.
How to solve the ‘So what’ issue
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Strengthen and clearly define the scope of improvements or research
Spell out exactly which decisions will be supported, when, and with what impact
Get a handle on what’s important to your organization and tailor insights accordingly
Get a handle on what’s important to your organization and tailor insights accordingly
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Build shared understanding of the process
Share the process and build relationships with those involved
Give a clear picture of the methods—and the time needed—for research or improvement
Give a clear picture of the methods—and the time needed—for research or improvement
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Build partnerships
Work together in a way that researchers genuinely feel like part of the team
Set up regular team retrospectives and talk through research results together
Set up regular team retrospectives and talk through research results together
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Deepen in-depth research
Make the research or improvement scope clear and actively involve the team
Set aside enough time and use a variety of methods and tools
Set aside enough time and use a variety of methods and tools
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Make insights sharper and more impactful
Use storytelling techniques to summarize research results so they’re actionable
Communicate ideas visually and in various formats
Communicate ideas visually and in various formats
Taking this approach helps make sure research findings deliver real, practical value. When research and design teams work effectively, it sparks collaboration and innovation throughout the organization, leading to wiser decisions and better product development.
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I post articles related to IT 💻, economy 💰, and humanities 🎭.
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haebom@kakao.com
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I post articles related to IT 💻, economy 💰, and humanities 🎭.
If you are curious about my thoughts, perspectives or interests, please subscribe.
haebom@kakao.com