Case Study
Scaling Study Ordering Through Guided Product Experiences
Church leaders ordering Bible studies often struggled to determine which materials their group needed. The existing product pages required users to interpret multiple formats, bundles, and participant roles without clear guidance.
Through iterative usability testing and guided ordering prototypes, the research identified a simplified product selection flow that improved clarity, reduced confusion, and supported faster purchasing decisions.
The Challenge
Church leaders purchasing Bible studies for groups struggled to identify required materials across multiple formats and product types.
Research Approach
Iterative usability testing evaluated guided ordering prototypes designed to simplify decision making and clarify product relationships.
Outcome
Validated ordering structures that reduced confusion and improved decision confidence for group leaders.
10
participants per study
validated across 4 studies
3
Prototypes Variations
4
Studies Conducted
At A Glance
Stakeholders
Product
UX Design
Marketing
E-commerce
Timeline
Multiple studies across iterative design cycles
Research Methods
Methods
Unmoderated usability testing
Prototype evaluation
Task-based research
Qualitative feedback analysis
Output
Outputs
Usability insights
Design recommendations
Prototype validation
The Problem
Small group leaders often purchase Bible study materials for an entire group. However, the product pages were designed primarily for individual purchases.
Leaders struggled to determine:
- which materials were required
- which formats participants needed
- which products were optional
- how many copies to purchase
Without clear guidance, users were forced to interpret multiple product options and descriptions before completing an order.
This resulted in slower decision making, confusion about product requirements, and increased reliance on customer support or trial-and-error purchasing.
Guided Ordering Flow
Select Study
Choose Format
Group Size
Recommended Materials
Add Bundle to Cart
Group leaders needed clarity on required materials before they could confidently purchase studies.
The Approach
The research focused on validating guided ordering experiences that could help leaders quickly identify the correct materials for their group.
Multiple prototype variations were tested to evaluate different approaches to presenting product information and guiding purchase decisions.
Participants were asked to complete realistic purchasing scenarios, including selecting study materials for group members or identifying required video and workbook resources.
Testing focused on three key areas:
- clarity of product relationships
- ease of identifying required materials
- confidence in completing the order
Each study informed the next iteration of the guided ordering experience.
What We Shipped
The research produced several actionable outcomes that informed product design decisions.
Guided ordering prototype validation
Multiple prototype variations were tested to determine which structure best supported decision making for group leaders.
Task-based usability insights
Participant feedback identified key moments of confusion when users attempted to determine required materials or navigate between product formats.
Product relationship clarity
Research findings helped clarify how products should be grouped and explained within the ordering experience.
Decision-focused reporting
Results were synthesized into actionable recommendations for designers and product stakeholders to guide the next iteration of the ordering experience.
Results and Impact
Participants completed tasks faster and expressed greater confidence in purchase decisions when guided ordering was used.
Key findings included:
- users valued clear explanations of which materials were required for group participation
- simplified ordering flows reduced cognitive load during product selection
- participants demonstrated greater confidence when the system guided their decisions
The research provided design teams with validated direction for improving the ordering experience for small group leaders.
What Changed Inside the Organization
The research shifted internal conversations around how Bible study products should be presented online.
Instead of treating product pages as individual product listings, the design approach began to consider the broader purchasing context of church leaders ordering materials for groups.
This work helped establish the need for more structured ordering guidance and informed future design exploration around guided purchasing experiences.
Artifacts
Research deliverables included:
- moderated usability testing protocols
- guided ordering prototype flows
- participant insight summaries
- usability findings reports
Some artifacts have been recreated or simplified to remove proprietary product information while preserving the research structure and insights.
If research insights remain trapped in reports, teams struggle to turn findings into decisions.
I help organizations move beyond isolated studies by building systems that connect research insights directly to product decisions.
Next case study:
Building a Persona System to Understand Ministry Leaders