How can you balance different user groups during user acceptance testing?

User acceptance testing (UAT) is a crucial phase in the UX research process, where you validate your design solution with real users before launching it. However, UAT can also be challenging, especially when you have to balance the needs and preferences of different user groups. How can you ensure that your UAT results are representative, reliable, and actionable? Here are some tips to help you plan and conduct UAT with multiple user groups.

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1 Define your user groups

Before you start your UAT, you need to identify who your user groups are and what are their characteristics, goals, and pain points. You can use personas, segments, or other methods to define your user groups, but make sure they are based on actual user research and not assumptions. You also need to determine how many users from each group you need to test with, depending on your sample size, budget, and timeline.

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Alex Seles

Head of Innovation at iTRTech Group - iTRecruiter - Nivvos | ITIL® Ambassador | B.Sc. & M.Sc. in Software Engineering | Author of "O Vendedor Quântico" | PMP® | ITIL® 4 | PSM™ | PSPO™
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Prior to commencing User Acceptance Testing (UAT), delineate user groups, considering their characteristics, objectives, and challenges. Utilize personas, segments, or research-derived methods to ensure accuracy. Determine the requisite number of users per group for testing, factoring in sample size, budget, and timeline constraints.

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2 Recruit and schedule your participants

Once you have your user groups defined, you need to recruit and schedule your participants for the UAT sessions. You can use various methods to find and invite your participants, such as online platforms, referrals, or existing customers. However, you should also consider the diversity and accessibility of your user groups, and try to avoid any bias or exclusion. For example, you may need to provide incentives, translations, or assistive technologies to encourage participation from different user groups.

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Vlad Kanygin

Senior UX Designer @ Luxoft | 6+ years in UX, 11+ in design | Product Designer for enterprise & B2B SaaS | Mentor in Tech
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There are some differences between performing UAT on B2C and Enterprise (B2E) products. Let's go through the main ones: 1) You can simply set up UAT slots and wait until they're filled with participants. You should find a free slot in the calendar of the person you need and adjust your own schedule for this meeting. And be prepared that this person will easily postpone the UAT at the last minute because he/she has more important activities. 2) Some features may affect different groups of B2E stakeholders in different ways. They may be aware that your team has changed the prioritization and their request has gone down in the backlog. As a designer, you should be aware of this and know how to properly communicate such product decisions.

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3 Prepare your test scenarios and tasks

The next step is to prepare your test scenarios and tasks that will guide your UAT sessions. You should design your scenarios and tasks based on the user groups' needs and expectations, as well as the main features and functionalities of your design solution. You should also make sure that your scenarios and tasks are clear, realistic, and relevant for each user group, and that they cover the critical user journeys and use cases.

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4 Conduct and record your UAT sessions

Now you are ready to conduct your UAT sessions with your participants. You can choose to do your UAT sessions remotely or in-person, depending on your resources and preferences. However, you should always follow the best practices of usability testing, such as setting the context, moderating the session, observing the behavior, and collecting feedback. You should also record your UAT sessions, either with video, audio, or notes, so that you can analyze them later.

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5 Analyze and synthesize your UAT data

After you have completed your UAT sessions, you need to analyze and synthesize your UAT data to extract the key findings and insights. You should review your recordings and notes, and look for patterns, themes, and discrepancies across different user groups. You should also quantify and measure your UAT data, such as completion rates, satisfaction scores, or error rates, and compare them among different user groups.

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6 Communicate and act on your UAT results

The final step is to communicate and act on your UAT results with your stakeholders and team members. You should create a UAT report that summarizes your user groups, methods, data, findings, and recommendations. You should also present your UAT report in a clear and engaging way, using visuals, stories, or quotes to illustrate your points. You should also prioritize and implement the changes or improvements that your UAT results suggest, and test them again if needed.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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How can you balance different user groups during user acceptance testing?

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1 Define your user groups

2 Recruit and schedule your participants

3 Prepare your test scenarios and tasks

4 Conduct and record your UAT sessions

5 Analyze and synthesize your UAT data

6 Communicate and act on your UAT results

7 Here’s what else to consider

User Research

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How can you balance different user groups during user acceptance testing?

1

2

3

4

5

6

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1 Define your user groups

2 Recruit and schedule your participants

3 Prepare your test scenarios and tasks

4 Conduct and record your UAT sessions

5 Analyze and synthesize your UAT data

6 Communicate and act on your UAT results

7 Here’s what else to consider

User Research

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