Beginning in 2019, the Michigan Institute for Clinical and Health Research (MICHR) launched ideation sessions at the University of Michigan to spur collaborative research activity. Using approaches from design thinking, these “Research Jams” were facilitated by MICHR staff and led participants through a structured process to help them identify research priorities, build community, and strengthen team functioning. As of 2024 MICHR facilitated 18 Research Jams for 338 participants with a high satisfaction rate and a positive impact on fostering shared vision, role and goal clarity and psychological safety. However, we have little information about the long-term impact on teams and potential benefits beyond the quantitative survey feedback. Therefore, MICHR implemented a design research protocol to investigate: (1) factors that helped teams move forward with new ideas and those which hindered them; (2) additional benefits of the Research Jam model; and (3) ways in which the Research Jam process can help mitigate barriers to pursuing new research ideas.

Facilitated by MICHR’s Design Researcher, this exploration focused on empathy, definition, and ideation following the Stanford d.school’s design thinking framework. To begin the empathy steps, the design researcher studied documentation about MICHR’s Research Jams, paying attention to the quantitative outputs from the Jams – attendees, their roles, etc. – and noting qualitative patterns in the discussions and themes from the session. This allowed the Design Researcher to interview 10 Jam attendees who spoke directly on their individual experiences in the Jams and their actions following each session. These interviews were then coded to define themes, which went through various rounds of affinity mapping with other MICHR team members to arrive at core insights. These insights were then shared with MICHR leadership who engaged in ideation activities like simple question response and “Crazy 8s” to identify next steps.

Core insights covered the following areas: (1) the people in the room; (2) individual and team motivations in the Jams; (3) benefits and outcomes from the Jams; (4) factors that impact next steps; and (5) areas for further exploration. This work found that although many barriers to moving forward with new research ideas are systemic, there are opportunities to intervene on the micro or mezzo levels. By intervening where possible, the Jam process can add elements to the sessions that may help mitigate the impact of barriers.

In short, the Jams are widely enjoyed and result in some researchers moving forward with new ideas generated in these sessions. However, there are various barriers that impede the pursuit of new research ideas. This exploratory design research allowed MICHR to start identifying opportunities within the Research Jam model, and through the creation of additional interventions and resources, to support participants after they leave the sessions.