Lean Thinking in UX Research: Maximizing Value, Minimizing Waste

​In this session, Sara Ulius-Sabel (Sr. Staff UX Researcher at ServiceNow) explores how Lean Thinking — a systematic approach originating from Toyota's manufacturing practices — can transform how we approach UX research operations.

​Research teams are under increasing pressure to deliver more value with constrained resources. But what if the real problem isn't doing more with less, but rather eliminating what doesn't add value in the first place? Sara will share how Lean Thinking helped her identify and eliminate waste throughout her career, from UX design and user research at Whirlpool to UX research at ServiceNow.

​We'll explore the seven types of waste in research operations (waiting, defects, over-processing, inventory, motion, overproduction, and transportation) and how to systematically identify and eliminate them. We'll also discuss a timely new dimension: How does AI fit into Lean Thinking? As AI becomes both a producer of research artifacts and a consumer of our inputs, how can we use this shift as a catalyst to fundamentally rethink value and waste?

​Attendees will gain:

• ​A framework for identifying the seven types of waste in their research operations

• ​Practical strategies to minimize waste and maximize value for stakeholders

• ​Understanding of how to apply Lean principles to AI integration in research

• ​Actionable steps to audit and improve their research workflows

​This session is ideal for UX researchers, research ops professionals, and research leaders seeking to operate more efficiently and deliver greater impact.