--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Visiting users in their workplaces was…" description: "\"“Visiting users in their workplaces was vital—if we’d simply imagined the manager at his desk we would have missed the crucial aspects. Watching people..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17d/giles-colborne-23036_management_visiting-users-in-their-workplaces-was-v_687651.jpg" --- # Visiting users in their workplaces was vital—if we’d… ![“Visiting users in their workplaces was vital—if we’d simply imagined the manager at his desk we would have missed the crucial aspects. Watching people in the real world is quick and you rarely need to pay anyone to do it. Even with minimal planning you can learn a lot. If you can’t get permission…” quote by Giles Colborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17d/giles-colborne-23036_management_visiting-users-in-their-workplaces-was-v_687651.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17d/giles-colborne-23036_management_visiting-users-in-their-workplaces-was-v_687651.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17d/giles-colborne-23036_management_visiting-users-in-their-workplaces-was-v_687651.jpg) > ““Visiting users in their workplaces was vital—if we’d simply imagined the manager at his desk we would have missed the crucial aspects. Watching people in the real world is quick and you rarely need to pay anyone to do it. Even with minimal planning you can learn a lot. If you can’t get permission to do it, then talk to some users about where they are and what’s happening when they use your software.”” [Giles Colborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-colborne/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Observing users in their actual work environments reveals hidden needs that imagined scenarios miss, enabling rapid, low‑cost learning. **In simple terms:** Seeing real users uncovers hidden needs. Key Takeaway Observe users in context. Themes user research empathy design thinking Mood curious practical Type observational advisory When to use this quote - product design - software development - customer support Key Concepts Human‑centered design contextual inquiry Questions to Reflect On - How can you gain insight without direct observation? - What alternative methods can supplement field visits? A Different Perspective If access is denied, insights may be incomplete. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Management](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/management/) [Real world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-world/) ## Related quotes > [Im always looking and watching people and how they behave and wondering how they got where they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-mccartney/im-always-looking-and-watching-people-and-how-they-behave-and/) [Mary McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-mccartney/) > [Actually there's something about watching other people sometimes that can make me feel like, Oh, man, I'm never going to be as good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-ackie/actually-there-s-something-about-watching-other-people-sometimes-that/) [Naomi Ackie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-ackie/) > [I'm not exactly watching my back. Most people, there's a twinkle when they admonish me. And I've watched a lot of footage on YouTube…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bradley/i-m-not-exactly-watching-my-back-most-people-there-s-a-twinkle-when/) [David Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bradley/) > [It's not easy being me. But it sure is funny watching people try!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/it-s-not-easy-being-me-but-it-sure-is-funny-watching-people-try/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [“ How do you know this? Because I'm always watching people. When I watch people I too look through them. I learned that from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-eggers/how-do-you-know-this-because-i-m-always-watching-people-when-i-watch/) [Dave Eggers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-eggers/) > [If I am out partying, I end up watching the people doing yoga on my way home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dino-morea/if-i-am-out-partying-i-end-up-watching-the-people-doing-yoga-on-my/) [Dino Morea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dino-morea/) > [“I like watching other people watching other people.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-like-watching-other-people-watching-other-people/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [You have to watch out because being an athlete and playing at the college level with the opportunity to go the NFL, you're under…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-donald/you-have-to-watch-out-because-being-an-athlete-and-playing-at-the/) [Aaron Donald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-donald/) > [I learned a lot just watching people perform.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hader/i-learned-a-lot-just-watching-people-perform/) [Bill Hader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hader/) > [It's always awkard watching two people flirt for the first time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stassi-schroeder/it-s-always-awkard-watching-two-people-flirt-for-the-first-time/) [Stassi Schroeder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stassi-schroeder/) > [The POLICE used to watch over the people Now they are watching the people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-manson/the-police-used-to-watch-over-the-people-now-they-are-watching-the/) [Charles Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-manson/) > [Voyeurism, watching people go about their daily lives, is universally funny, no matter the culture, no matter the anything, it's just always funny to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-murray/voyeurism-watching-people-go-about-their-daily-lives-is-universally/) [James Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-murray/) > [As an actor, the training I received was that I walk through the world as an observer of life and of people. My job…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-schwimmer/as-an-actor-the-training-i-received-was-that-i-walk-through-the-world/) [David Schwimmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-schwimmer/) > [I tend to be hypercritical of my performances. That's why I hate watching them with people I know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-flint/i-tend-to-be-hypercritical-of-my-performances-that-s-why-i-hate/) [Jill Flint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-flint/) > [I think we love watching people that are flawed because we're all flawed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-garrett/i-think-we-love-watching-people-that-are-flawed-because-we-re-all/) [Brad Garrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-garrett/) ## More by Giles Colborne > [“Simplicity does not mean want or poverty. It does not mean the absence of any decor, or absolute nudity. It only means that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-colborne/simplicity-does-not-mean-want-or-poverty-it-does-not-mean-the-absence/) [Giles Colborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-colborne/) > [“It’s been pointed out that products that start out simple often end up getting so complex they cease to be useful. But if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-colborne/it-s-been-pointed-out-that-products-that-start-out-simple-often-end/) [Giles Colborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-colborne/) > [“Continually adding features to software turns out to be equally unsustainable.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-colborne/continually-adding-features-to-software-turns-out-to-be-equally/) [Giles Colborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-colborne/) > [“At home, at work, and outdoors, you must design for constant interruptions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-colborne/at-home-at-work-and-outdoors-you-must-design-for-constant/) [Giles Colborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-colborne/) > [“Begin with that need—the user’s need to feel in control of some part of his life—then try to dig deeper by asking, “So what?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-colborne/begin-with-that-need-the-user-s-need-to-feel-in-control-of-some-part/) [Giles Colborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-colborne/) > [“Mainstreamers are interested in getting the job done now; experts are interested in customizing their settings first. • Mainstreamers value ease of control; experts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-colborne/mainstreamers-are-interested-in-getting-the-job-done-now-experts-are/) [Giles Colborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-colborne/) > [“Simple user experiences need to work for a novice, or a mainstreamer who’s under pressure.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-colborne/simple-user-experiences-need-to-work-for-a-novice-or-a-mainstreamer/) [Giles Colborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-colborne/) > [“Increasing complexity is unsustainable”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-colborne/increasing-complexity-is-unsustainable/) [Giles Colborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-colborne/) > [“Wizards promise to make things simple by breaking them down into steps. The problem is they take control away from the user. Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-colborne/wizards-promise-to-make-things-simple-by-breaking-them-down-into/) [Giles Colborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-colborne/) > [“The quick and dirty way is to write down a one-line description, in the simplest terms possible, of what I’m creating, along with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-colborne/the-quick-and-dirty-way-is-to-write-down-a-one-line-description-in/) [Giles Colborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-colborne/) > [“The thing to do, then, is to describe what the user does from the beginning to the end of their experience, remembering that it’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-colborne/the-thing-to-do-then-is-to-describe-what-the-user-does-from-the/) [Giles Colborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-colborne/) > [“Your design shouldn’t interfere with this sense of control. It should extend it. Simple experiences make users confident that they’re making good choices. Simple…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-colborne/your-design-shouldn-t-interfere-with-this-sense-of-control-it-should/) [Giles Colborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-colborne/) > [“The better and longer way is to describe the experience I want the users to have. That means describing the users’ world and how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-colborne/the-better-and-longer-way-is-to-describe-the-experience-i-want-the/) [Giles Colborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-colborne/) > [“People love simple, dependable, adaptable products.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-colborne/people-love-simple-dependable-adaptable-products/) [Giles Colborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-colborne/) > [“Repeatedly asking “so what” eventually throws up an emotional need, a rational need, and a solution. It also helps you arrive at a deeper…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-colborne/repeatedly-asking-so-what-eventually-throws-up-an-emotional-need-a/) [Giles Colborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-colborne/) [Explore all 26 Giles Colborne quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-colborne/) ## More Management quotes > [“Only careful political manoeuvring will be able to manage the situation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/davan-yahya-khalil/only-careful-political-manoeuvring-will-be-able-to-manage-the/) Davan Yahya Khalil > [The Derby experience had not been good for me and the way it finished left a very bad taste in my mouth so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-pearson/the-derby-experience-had-not-been-good-for-me-and-the-way-it-finished/) [Nigel Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-pearson/) > [The only regret I have in my career, is my managers wanted a big payday, and I wanted four or five more fights before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-cooney/the-only-regret-i-have-in-my-career-is-my-managers-wanted-a-big/) [Gerry Cooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-cooney/) > [My non-career. My excuse for a career? Honestly, I never think about the word 'career.' I've had managers, the minute they say it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-verlaine/my-non-career-my-excuse-for-a-career-honestly-i-never-think-about-the/) [Tom Verlaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-verlaine/) > [While the people retain their virtue and vigilance, no administration, by any extreme of wickedness or folly, can very seriously injure the government in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/while-the-people-retain-their-virtue-and-vigilance-no-administration/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [“Without time management, you lose control of your life and do what other people tell you to do. You lose control and become a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-miller/without-time-management-you-lose-control-of-your-life-and-do-what/) Thomas Miller > [There are things you can do in training like learn from the manager and talk with team-mates, but it's the game that tests you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-burke/there-are-things-you-can-do-in-training-like-learn-from-the-manager/) [Oliver Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-burke/) > [Corporations invest in sophisticated CRM, or Customer Relationship Management, programs to effectively oversee their relationship with their customers at every point during the buying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-ostrofsky/corporations-invest-in-sophisticated-crm-or-customer-relationship/) [Marc Ostrofsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-ostrofsky/) > [“I had come to Boyne City because I have always been drawn to nature's secrets more than to, say Hollywood's secrets or the secrets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/langdon-cook/i-had-come-to-boyne-city-because-i-have-always-been-drawn-to-nature-s/) Langdon Cook > [I won't be managing the Mets. I am closing the door on managing the Mets and probably everybody else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-torre/i-won-t-be-managing-the-mets-i-am-closing-the-door-on-managing-the/) [Joe Torre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-torre/) > [If you want to serve in a Trump administration, you're going to serve this country, not yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-spicer/if-you-want-to-serve-in-a-trump-administration-you-re-going-to-serve/) [Sean Spicer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-spicer/) > [Football is a team sport. I'm proud of what I achieved in my career, but I also know that I wouldn't have achieved any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-schmeichel/football-is-a-team-sport-i-m-proud-of-what-i-achieved-in-my-career/) [Peter Schmeichel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-schmeichel/) > [If I told my wife I was going to become a manager she'd say 'sign this then. Don't worry it's only a divorce. Au…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ginola/if-i-told-my-wife-i-was-going-to-become-a-manager-she-d-say-sign-this/) [David Ginola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ginola/) > [In Congress, Florida Republicans worked with the Trump administration to secure funding for coastal restoration projects following the devastating impacts of Hurricanes Irma and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-waltz/in-congress-florida-republicans-worked-with-the-trump-administration/) [Michael Waltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-waltz/) > [“Who tricked me into this whole thing and leaves me standing here? Who am I? How did I get into the world? Why was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-ren-kierkegaard/who-tricked-me-into-this-whole-thing-and-leaves-me-standing-here-who/) [Søren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-ren-kierkegaard/) [Browse all 8,379 Management quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/management/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Visiting users in their workplaces was vital—if we’d simply imagined the manager at his desk we would have missed the crucial aspects. Watching people in the real world is quick and you rarely need to pay anyone to do it. Even with minimal planning you can learn a lot. If you can’t get permission to do it, then talk to some users about where they are and what’s happening when they use your software.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Giles Colborne" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-colborne/visiting-users-in-their-workplaces-was-vital-if-we-d-simply-imagined/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Management" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-colborne/visiting-users-in-their-workplaces-was-vital-if-we-d-simply-imagined/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17d/giles-colborne-23036_management_visiting-users-in-their-workplaces-was-v_687651.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17d/giles-colborne-23036_management_visiting-users-in-their-workplaces-was-v_687651.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17d/giles-colborne-23036_management_visiting-users-in-their-workplaces-was-v_687651.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Visiting users in their workplaces was vital—if we’d simply imagined the manager at his desk we would have…” — Giles Colborne", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Giles Colborne", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-colborne/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Visiting users in their workplaces was...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-colborne/visiting-users-in-their-workplaces-was-vital-if-we-d-simply-imagined/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-colborne/visiting-users-in-their-workplaces-was-vital-if-we-d-simply-imagined/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```