Engagement Models
How research fits into your timeline.
Sprint
2-4 weeks. Focused question, single method, fast answer. Good for usability testing a specific flow, validating a concept before build, running a quick competitive audit. You have a question, you need an answer, and you need it soon.
Program
6-12 weeks. Mixed methods, multiple participant groups, deeper synthesis. Good for product strategy research, customer journey mapping, market entry, foundational research. The kind of work where you need to understand a problem space thoroughly before making big bets.
Embedded
Ongoing. Researcher embedded in your team on a rolling basis. Continuous discovery cadence. Good for product teams without dedicated research, organizations building research capability. The researcher becomes part of the team's rhythm — sprint planning, design reviews, weekly standups.
How to Choose
It depends on the question scope, timeline pressure, and whether this is a one-time need or an ongoing capability gap. If you know exactly what you need to learn, a sprint works. If you're exploring a new space, you need a program. If research should be a continuous input rather than a periodic project, embedded is the way.