There is no single formula for how to engage with Kraka. Depending on the
specific task and client organisation, we work with the client to determine
how best to use the resources and accomplish something worthwhile.
There is also no lower or upper bound on the size of a contract; if you need
just a little push forward, requiring only a day of consulting, that's what
we will provide. In the past some contracts have been for short intensive
studies and explorations; others have covered a regular, but low-volume engagement
over several months.
Most IT organizations recognize that knowledge about prospective
use and users is extremely valuable, but they are struggling with how to transform
data into knowledge, how to translate the use data into the language of design
and development.
Kraka has developed processes and mechanisms for handling
this "translation" problem and, leveraging our extensive experience
in both technology and ethnography, we are able to guide our clients though
this difficult process.
Back
to top
We help clients organize "constructive deployment"
of technology prototypes, providing a much stronger product specification.
The basic idea is to place robust technology prototypes in realistic usage
settings for a month or two, while doing a couple of design/development iterations
with changes being informed by observed usage. This approach is integrated
in the UITTL processes.
Back
to top
We provide interim project management while the client need
an experienced ethno-prototypers to get the new activities off the ground
and gain momentum.
We help train less experienced staff within both technology
and ethnography, helping them doing ethno-sensitive design or technology-sensitive
fieldwork.
Back to
top
We usually leave the thought leadership to our clients but
offer a helping hand on providing research backing, either in the form of
compelling prototypes or insights about people and markets. In this process
we also work as sounding boards for the client's own ideators and thinkers,
allowing them to leverage our substantial technology and HCI experience.
Back
to top
We help researchers and developers elevate product concepts
to useful technology transfer proposals. Ideas for innovation are often based
on solid experience in the field of research but typically they are not "ready
for primetime" in terms of plausible usage scenarios and business cases.
One particular intensive format for this activity is the
so-called Innovation Workshop where Kraka will conduct a field study, present
the results to a smaller group of in-house developers, business people and/or
executives, and organize work group activity to facilitate the creative flow.
Back
to top
Do you just need an extra hand for a while? Possibly to
help the company over an interim staffing shortage, or to leverage our experience
in guiding junior staffers. So consider Renting-a-prototyper
or Renting-an-ethnographer
We help you do web site design, Java based programming,
and designing/choosing software architectures for collaborative distributed/web-based
application and hybrid architectures involving portable devices.
We help you design the prototyping activity with the right
level of fidelity needed for the task.
Back
to top
We help you design your user research, applying the most
appropriate study methods, given the goals and the budget.
We help you conduct ethno-style fieldwork and also supplement
with available secondary research.
We help you transform your qualitative use/user data into
actual designs or action items.
These "rent-a-researcher" contracts are usually
based on T&M rather than fixed pricing. Engagements involving programming
/ software development will need to be fairly concentrated to be cost effective.
Engagements involving field studies are often fairly drawn out in calendar
time due to issues of getting access to field sites.
Back
to top