Exploring Agility in Research with Elliot Hollamby-Jones

Elliot Hollamby-Jones, a global leader in upstream R&D at Bayer Consumer Health, has a proven track record of driving innovation in physical product development. Drawing on experience from renowned brands like Gymshark and Dyson, Elliot’s career reflects his ability to adapt and refine research processes to meet diverse challenges. In this article, we delve into his insights on achieving agility in research—balancing efficiency, AI integration, and the strategic use of self-serve tools and agency expertise.

Agility in research, Elliot explains, is not just about speed but about tailoring processes to achieve optimal outcomes.

This may involve adjusting workflows to ensure early stages lay the groundwork for faster, more impactful execution later. Effective agility relies on aligning teams and leadership, creating shared objectives, and fostering a culture that embraces efficiency and flexibility.

Adopting agility also means navigating organisational culture. Some businesses quickly align with agile principles, while others require a more deliberate effort to showcase how agility adds value, such as delivering faster and more insightful research outputs.

Balancing DIY Tools and Agency Expertise

• • A key part of agility lies in blending self-serve tools and external agency methods to address different research needs
  • Combining these approaches—such as using DIY tools to supplement agency-led methodologies—creates a flexible, efficient research process
  • Agencies, on the other hand, bring expertise for complex, large-scale projects requiring deeper analysis
  • Self-serve platforms are well-suited for quick-turnaround questions, providing immediate insights

AI in Modern Research

• • AI offers opportunities to streamline administrative tasks and refine concepts but requires gradual adoption to build trust
  • Starting with small-scale experiments allows teams to gauge AI’s effectiveness and gain confidence in its output
  • Transparent and trust-based AI integration is essential to secure stakeholder buy-in and ensure successful implementation

Elliot’s insights showcase a pragmatic approach to agility, one that values collaboration, trust, and strategic flexibility. By thoughtfully combining tools, leveraging AI, and aligning all stakeholders, research teams can achieve impactful results efficiently. Watch the full interview here to explore these ideas further.

If you have any burning questions or would like to discuss anything further, please reach out to [email protected]