.svg)
When organizations talk about implementing new systems for the lab, the conversation often treats “the lab” as a single, monolithic entity. In reality, labs are dynamic environments with multiple people, each with different responsibilities, goals, and frustrations. Furthermore, a system that works well for one person may create friction, or even outright failure, for another.
To implement an informatics system or laboratory information management system (LIMS) that works well for all users, labs need to start by recognizing the different personas that make up a lab. Each has a distinct perspective on what success looks like and what they need from the tools they use.
It’s easy to fall into the trap of designing systems with a one-size-fits-all mindset. But doing so often leads to poor user adoption, inefficient workflows, and even compliance risks. If a system is optimized for one persona — the lab director, for example — but ignores the needs of the technicians who use it daily, labs can expect bottlenecks, undocumented workarounds, and frustration.
Taking a persona-driven approach means designing systems that serve the real users in the lab, meeting their technical requirements, and fitting seamlessly into all the lab’s workflows to reduce friction and increase value.
The following personas are commonly found in labs. Your lab might include some or all of them, depending on your business and sector. In many cases, the needs of various personas overlap. In others, a persona’s needs are unique.
The administrator of the lab informatics system is primarily concerned with keeping the system functional. Focused on system performance, user access control, uptime, and security, the person in this role ensures the lab’s IT infrastructure runs smoothly.
What they need from lab informatics systems:
The clinical lab director is responsible for compliance, quality, and business outcomes. It’s their job to ensure that tests are validated, processes are compliant, and the lab is meeting its performance targets.
What they need from lab informatics systems:
The quality assurance (QA) director ensures standards and compliance are met. Viewing the lab through a regulatory lens, they are responsible for quality management, audits, corrective actions, and continuous improvement.
What they need from lab informatics systems:
Lab technicians and operators are the hands-on users of lab systems. They need to perform their work accurately, efficiently, and without roadblocks, so they value simplicity, speed, and clarity in the systems they use.
What they need from lab informatics systems:
The lab manager’s primary goal is to keep the entire lab running smoothly. To do this, they must juggle staff scheduling, sample throughput, inventory, and instrument uptime.
What they need from lab informatics systems:
Lab directors in a research setting are primarily concerned with scientific productivity and long-term strategy. Unlike a clinical lab director, a research lab director is typically focused on innovation, funding, and publication output.
What they need from lab informatics systems:
A research scientist is responsible for generating high-quality, reproducible data. Their primary focus is on experiment design, data collection, and analysis.
What they need from lab informatics systems:
If your lab is seeking to implement a lab informatics system, we recommend starting by defining personas for all your users. Interview stakeholders from each role, observe their workflows, and ask about their frustrations with current tools. Then, map out your requirements not just by function, but by persona.
Engaging users from each persona type early and often will help your lab ensure that systems are usable and useful for everyone involved. You’ll also find that change management is smoother because users feel heard, and adoption is higher. Furthermore, you’ll be able to avoid costly redesigns and rework, and see a faster return on investment (ROI).
When planning your next informatics system or LIMS implementation, remember that there’s no such thing as a singular “the lab.” There are many voices inside the lab, each with its own goals, challenges, and expectations. Recognizing and designing for these diverse personas is the key to building systems that truly work for everyone.
We can help your lab understand all your user personas and design and implement lab informatics systems that meet their needs. Contact us today.
