The Royal Navy
The brief
To Assess and Improve
The Royal Navy, the UK's naval warfare force, operates at sea, on land, and in the air. It is tasked with national defence, protecting maritime trade, and safeguarding international military agreements.
Great State had spearheaded the Royal Navy's strategic digital program through various ongoing, award-winning projects. A standout achievement involved leading the overhaul of the digital recruitment platform, which resulted in a 40% increase in applicant registrations.
Central to this digital partnership and program of work was the requirement for real-time monitoring through continuous user testing (adhering to GDS standards) to ensure ongoing improvement and optimisation to Royal Navy Careers.
What we did
Maintaining the Recruitment of Over 5000 Quality Candidates a Year
In 2019, the Royal Navy initiated a comprehensive testing program focused on evaluating the Royal Navy careers platform against three persona groups: Joiners, Non-Joiners, and Reserves. The objective was to assess the extent to which the current content and functionality meet the needs and expectations of these key personas. The aim was to identify any pain points, usability issues, and recommend areas for improvement.
What we did
Iterative contextual inquiries
I conducted twenty-four hour-long sessions from December to January, which included a semi-structured interview, card sorting, and other task-based activities. I conducted the testing iteratively, in stages, allowed me to gather insights from one session and carry them forward to the next.
I carried out testing remotely at different career offices (AFCOs) to evaluate the careers site in a realistic context. In addition to being the main facilitator, I was responsible for recruiting and booking all candidates, coordinating directly with recruitment partners and Royal Navy stakeholders.
The outcome
Reporting Research Findings
I delivered two reports highlighting usability shortfalls and offered evidence-based recommendations and changes.
Reflections
Other projects
Vilda
