How Microsoft’s Human Insights Library Creates a Living Body of Knowledge

How Microsoft’s Human Insights Library Creates a Living Body of Knowledge

In today's rapidly evolving technological landscape, companies are constantly seeking ways to gain a competitive edge and deliver products and services that truly meet the needs of their customers. One company that has embraced this challenge head-on is Microsoft, with their Human Insights Library. This library serves as a central repository for researchers and product teams to unlock their collective UX power and drive innovation.

To bring this vision to life, two key elements are required: a library that traces connections between individual insights and a culture that supports its use. Microsoft's Human Insights Library, also known as HITS, is precisely that. It is a network of connected evidence and insight that research and data science teams across the company author and curate. Each node within this network represents an individual insight, recommendation, study report, or curated collection of high-level knowledge based on user research.

What sets HITS apart is the connections between these nodes. These connections represent the references that researchers and data scientists have made as they use the system, linking insights and the evidence that supports them. This interconnectedness allows for a deep dive into the reasoning behind each insight and provides a holistic view of the research landscape.

When someone pulls up an insight through a search in HITS, they are not just presented with the insight itself but also with the evidence that supports it. This transparency allows users to evaluate the strength of each insight and trace it back to its original source. By providing this level of visibility, HITS ensures that decisions are based on solid evidence rather than vague assumptions.

However, the creation and maintenance of such a comprehensive knowledge repository come with their own set of challenges. Someone needs to synthesize insights in a way that optimizes for durability and reuse across time. Microsoft has found success in a solution known as "real-time curation." This approach involves integrating curation into the daily research practice and providing tools to support it.

Real-time curation ensures that insights are captured and curated as they are discovered, preventing valuable knowledge from being lost or forgotten. By making it a part of the research process, researchers and data scientists are more likely to contribute to HITS regularly. This, in turn, leads to a living body of knowledge that is constantly evolving and improving.

In addition to the technical aspects of HITS, it is essential to consider the human element. Tom Preston Werner, in his talk at Startup School 2012, highlighted the importance of people, product, and philosophy. These three components play a crucial role in the success of any venture, including the development and implementation of a knowledge library like HITS.