user-research

The user-research skill acts as a methodical research partner within the Agentic Startup framework. It is designed for product managers, UX designers, and engineers who need to bridge the gap between user data and actionable product decisions. By applying rigorous methodologies to raw evidence—such as interview transcripts, observation notes, or usability testing results—the skill extracts thematic patterns and maps them to clear product trajectories. This ensures that features and interface changes are grounded in behavioral reality rather than assumptions or demographic stereotypes. Whether you are in the discovery phase defining a problem or in the iteration phase testing a prototype, this skill maintains the discipline needed to build user-centered products.

• Conducts structured user research including contextual inquiry, usability testing, and deep-dive semi-structured interviews.

• Performs thematic analysis and affinity mapping to synthesize raw qualitative data into structured ResearchInsight objects.

• Generates key project deliverables like behavioral personas, comprehensive journey maps, and emotional touchpoint analysis.

• Prioritizes findings into actionable recommendations with clear impact levels (HIGH, MEDIUM, LOW) to guide engineering and design backlogs.

• Enforces research rigor by distinguishing between observed user behavior and subjective participant opinions.

• Supports multi-stage development workflows by aligning research findings with specific product requirements and technical specs.

• Input: User research goals, interview transcripts, observational notes, or specific usability testing tasks.

• Output: Structured research reports including prioritized insights, persona profiles, journey map frameworks, and strategic design recommendations.

• Best practices: Always define the 'Decision Question' before study execution to ensure alignment with product goals; prioritize behavioral observations to avoid demographic bias; use this skill during the specify phase to ensure the solution design meets actual user needs.