Steve Smith PhD

95 Wodeland Avenue ▪ Guildford ▪ GU2 4LD ▪ England

+44 (0)7779 610004 ▪ steve.smith@codarc.co.uk

Behavioural and Market Research Consultant

Profile

An accomplished research specialist with ten years’ experience studying experience, behaviour and
market trends around new media, technologies, brands, content and services, and of providing
actionable recommendations about strategy, product and service design, marketing and
monetisation.

Excellent track record in all aspects of research project management and methodologies, from
conception and research, through to analysis and dissemination. Extensive experience
collaborating with multiple stakeholders, including senior decision makers and executives, product
and service designers, and research managers at blue chip companies, government departments
and academic institutions worldwide. Skilled at working across all social economic groups.

Fascinated by culture, consumer lifestyles, technologies and media. Passionate about uncovering
new behaviours, new ideas and new research methods.

Core competencies

 Research project and team management  SPSS, statistical analysis, Excel and
 All aspects of online and offline PowerPoint proficient
quantitative and qualitative behaviour and  Research dissemination via workshops,
experience research participation design, and presentations
 Project scoping and proposal writing  Proficient at HTML web design,
 Observational research and ethnography photography and video
 Structured and unstructured interviewing  Multi-tasking, whilst consistently meeting
 Sampling, questionnaire design, and deadlines
testing  Good interpersonal skills, and practised at
 User scenario design negotiation and persuading others
 Market analysis, evaluation and  First rate business acumen and at
forecasting developing client relationships.
 Strong analytical skills, with emphasis  Excellent at both working in a team and
upon turning findings into working solo
recommendations  Works beyond expectations and within
budget

Professional experience

Coda Research Consultancy (www.codarc.co.uk) Sep 2008 to present

Research Director and Co-Founder

 Oversees all aspects of the business, from budgeting and business development, through to
research and dissemination.
 Writes research proposals, undertakes literature reviews, conducts qualitative and
quantitative research, analyses data, assesses market trends, constructs market forecasts,
presents, participates in collaborative design workshops, and makes recommendations.
 Methods include online and offline ethnography and quantitative research, structured and
unstructured interviewing, observing, diaries, and video
 Outputs include recommendations around product and service design, marketing and
monetisation
 Recent projects include video-on-demand, mobile video, smartphones, Wi-Fi enabled
handsets, tablet computers, netbooks, mobile internet and mobile broadband.
 Territories studied include worldwide, UK, China, US, Philippines and Italy.

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 Dr Steve Smith ▪ +44(0)7779 610004 ▪ steve.smith@codarc.co.uk

 Clients include Universal, Microsoft, HP, Samsung, Qualcomm, JP Morgan, the Federal
Communications Commission, and Fujitsu.

Social Futures Observatory (www.socialfuturesobservatory.co.uk) Jan 2008 to Sep 2008

Group Research Director

 Responsibilities included managing all qualitative and quantitative online and offline user
experience and market research projects undertaken by the company.
 Managed five researchers, and undertook day to day company operations, budgeting, setting
company and research strategies, researching, writing proposals, presenting, and making
recommendations.
 In-depth research projects undertaken included behaviour around devices in the home (such
as televisions, DVRs, games, and computers), mobile devices (such as laptops and mobile
handsets), and social networking.
 Clients included Orange, Vodafone, T-Mobile, BBC, ITV, Sky, and Civil Service.

BBC Oct 2005 to Jan 2008

Research Consultant and Senior Researcher

 Managed high profile research projects that investigated behaviour around video content,
platforms and internet on-demand services, in order to provide recommendations about long
and short form programming and brands and cross platform commissioning.
 Devised methods to understand cross platform content consumptions; commissioned,
undertook and presented research to multiple stakeholders at the BBC; managed senior client
and agency relationships; and worked to drive value to channel brands.
 Employed online quantitative (including omnibus research), and qualitative research methods.

INCITE, University of Surrey (www.studioincite.com) Oct 2001 to Oct 2005

Researcher and Associate Lecturer (whilst studying for my PhD [see below])
 Managed and delivered mainly ethnographic and other qualitative research projects around
new technologies in collaboration with Intel, Sapient. and UK government departments
 Projects included studies of branding and new technologies, mobile handsets and urban
mobility, brands and online communities, and digital music.
 Taught and assessed courses around new technologies, new media, and youth culture.
 PA on the DTI and University of Surrey sponsored Digital Music Mission to West Coast USA.

St Mary’s University College (www.smuc.ac.uk) Oct 2001 – Oct 2003:

Visiting Lecturer
 Designed and taught courses in quantitative research methods.
 Responsibilities included teaching statistics and SPSS, tutoring, marking and examining.

University of Sussex (www.sussex.ac.uk)

Research Assistant Sep 1996 to Dec 1999

 Trained professionals and students in information databases, statistics, SPSS, Microsoft Word
and Excel.
 Undertook course administration and supported the Director of Training.

Ericsson

IT Contractor Jun 1999 to Sep 1999

 Managed a small team and directed supply chain management for Ericsson’s Y2K project.
 Responsibilities included assessing user requirements and stock control.

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 Dr Steve Smith ▪ +44(0)7779 610004 ▪ steve.smith@codarc.co.uk

Lloyd’s of London

Reinsurance Credit Controller 1994 to 1996

 Managed a small team, designed and maintained the syndicates’ accounts database, analyzed
reinsurance accounts, and supplied regular briefings to the Directors

Qualifications

Dec 2005: PhD (University of Surrey, UK) “Toward a Sociology of Branding: The Case of the
Digital Camera”. A multi-sited study (online and offline communities, users, retail and product and
brand designers) that sought to understand the roles given to brands in the social construction of a
new technology, and which developed ‘brand’ as a methodology for researching technologies.
Aug 2001: MSc Social Research Methods (University of Surrey, UK).
Aug 1999: BA (Hons) Sociology (First Class) (University of Sussex, UK).

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