Project Summary

The competitive landscape of Coding Bootcamps lends itself to extreme variances in how each school conveys its outcomes to users. This variance in messaging makes it complex for users to differentiate and compare their various school options. Tech Elevator sought to understand what these differences are and tasked me with “researching how top competitors position themselves on outcomes messaging”. Accordingly, I created a rigorous system in order to standardize and score each bootcamp comparatively. Once I established this system and researched accordingly, I presented my findings to the organization’s Executive Team with key recommendations for next steps.

Defining the Criteria for Measurement

When creating the rubric for standard measurement of competitors, I focused on key factors that most all bootcamps use. These consisted of location of outcomes numbers on site, how outcomes get verified, when the most recent verification happened, etc. After evaluation, I narrowed the criteria down to points of evaluation that were easy to measure across brands.

Criterion for Evaluation

1. Student Outcomes Numbers Posted on Homepage

2. Ungated Outcomes Reports Available on site

3. Third Party Audit of Outcomes

4. Outcomes Numbers present on Program Offering Pages (i.e. courses)

5. Outcomes Numbers present on "About Us" equivalent page

6. Outcomes on main CTA page/action

7. Last year of published outcomes

8. Ease of finding outcome auditor information.

9. Language used to describe outcomes (success rate vs. placement rate)

10. Transparency of percentage (Clearly explains how the number is a) collected b) calculated)

Thorough Documentation of Research

After establishing the rubric for comparison, I built out a Miro Board to document all of my findings. Here, I created a table with all relevant links and documentation for reference by any viewers of the board. Additionally, I built out a frame within the Miro Board where I downloaded all collateral pieces pertaining to outcomes reports from every brand I researched and expanded each document for easy reference.

Summary Document & Recommendations to Leadership

Once my research was complete, I put together a summary document for Tech Elevator’s Executive Team to use for actionable next steps for the company. This 10 page comprehensive document contains:

1. Summary of the Research Project

2. Competitors Analyzed

3. Comparison Criterion and Rubric

4. Graph or Results

5. Key Recommendations for Next-Steps in actionable phases

6. Appendix with links to each competitor’s resources and callout points.