Reflection – Learning Launch

Challenge & Selection:

I have been assigned to lead a digital product team which is tasked to create the  groundbreaking innovative product based on the ideas by the ideation generation  exercise for the company which is in retail sector and has over 30 brands.  Objective of this ambitious project is to identify potential customer, target them,  expand the user base for the company and thus increase revenue by 20%.  Company has done huge investment in this initiative hence there was high  pressure to do things right. Since there is vast competition in this dynamic space  hence whoever hit the nail fast and in the right spot will be in advantage to take  maximum benefit. Among many challenges, one of the most prominent challenge  was to align various stakeholders from different departments, gather the specific  points, agree on the scope, specs, specific nuances of each of the 30 brands  and  proceed with the execution to have the flexibility and customization capability.  This is a complex and time-consuming task itself for each of the phase.     Since there are various ideas been in place, and in the lack of much historical  data, our core project team felt ‘Learning Launch’ would be ideal to choose the  best idea, test the hypothesis with subset of brands may be 2 to 3 so as we can  experiment and learn. This will allow us to meet the main objective – shorten the  timeline instead of waiting for a perfect tool which satisfy all the 30 brands need.  Inspired by the IBM story, the way they adapted learning launch, our purpose is  also to learn and then improve, hence this specific tool is selected.     Application:

Well we have our say and started the Learning Launch process, in our quest to  shorten the launch, we started the process by first identify which is the best idea  amongst the various ideas, search for the facts keeping subset of customers in  mind, create the Hypothesis with ample quality and quantity of data. We started  first by selecting best suited ideas and start narrowing down by having group  discussions, to establish the facts, most importantly searching of confirming and  disconfirming facts without any bias. I know it is easier said then done but to

achieve this, we really had to work hard. First, to get the composition of core  team right which is to have the right amount of representation from various  business/functional areas to have the varied viewpoints which are not biased or  influenced to one section or business group. We struggled to get the right mix and  initially had to deal a lot until we started to get on common understanding that  not all ideas are good but we need to determine what would click at that point in  time with support of facts, data and assumptions. Now key was assumptions, we  came up with assumptions either in support or against the idea. We started with a  Hypothesis, worked an assumption in areas pertaining to: Value creation,  Execution, Dependability and Scalability. Further we prioritize the key  assumptions. Post which we have worked to design the test for the key  assumptions and finally perform the tests. Based on the small subset we either  get the confirming data or disconfirming data. Based on this outcome our cycle  would start again. As part of Learning launch, we captured the “Key Assumptions”  data in excel, categorizing with “Who”, “How”, “Timeframe”, “Cost” to  systematically go about each assumption.

Insight & Approach:

What we have achieved using the Design Thinking tool- Learning launch is  fascinating. I started to admire and appreciate when we have gone through the  process, that it is a mindset which matters most. We can only achieve the desired  result if we approach any situation with an open Mindset. I learned that mindset  helped avoid mistakes and keep us focused using objective data and analysis. we  also see how Mindset harness process and assumptions. Basically, forming a small  team also helped to stay on course and generated specific, meaningful and  actionable insights. Another key point is involvement, which also confers a sense  of ownership, rather than feeling coerced into accepting someone else's answer, I  get to be part of the journey. I am exhilarated by the sense of being part of  something truly significant in the making. With these insights gained, we were  able to make the project execution cycle shorten, launch the tool to 3 shortlisted  brands instead of 30 brands. Due to this process, we learned immensely and  improvised the tool in subsequent release following the same process.

I would definitely prefer and go with Learning launch tool as this has helped us  uncover so much potential points, powerful insights and take the similar approach  adopted as in previous design thinking tool. This process helped to pursue the  strategic opportunities, stay focused on the action and more importantly on the  question. We tend to learn steadily and slowly, especially enjoyed the phase of  uncertainty where we didn’t have the clear-cut answers and had to strive for the  right answers. This ends up producing a much better understanding of the  problem and the challenges that we were trying to solve. I learned to work to  search for higher ground and not for common ground. I also use this technique  due to the gains realized from diversity of perspectives and experience that brings  with it, which is potential for real innovation, at the same time it provides  potential for tremendous conflict in groups. I will go with this tool as this allows to  settle and emphasize on optimization rather on satisfying or agree on least bad  solution. It has helped increase the speed of learning, removed barriers. It helped  in enforcement for close engagements, and quick alignment. Biggest of all, I will  use this approach as it serves a better collaboration tool. Another key aspect I will  try is to leave space for others to contribute which I learned is very effective way.

