Learning Launch tool

Challenge:

We are a business which needs new business ideas. Previously using the mind mapping

tool the team has generated numerous ideas. Now the project needs a way to test those ideas

and act on a few strong ones. At this point it is unclear what idea testing tool should we use, we

want to test ideas scientifically in order for them to be valid.

Selection:

Because the challenge requires scientific method we need to act with experiments in order

to know which ideas work best in the real world. The goal of these experiments is to test

hypothesis (assumptions, guesses etc.). In order to do all of that I chose the Learning Launch

tool which tests key customer, execution and defensibility assumptions.

Application:

Learning Launch process: First we take an idea from the list of ideas generated in mind

mapping. We try to apply that idea to a specific person or group of people that has a specific

need hoping that the idea meets that need and that it is better than the competition in the market.

All of this process prioritizes the customer, execution and defensibility “must be trues”. Using

data is essential in order to determine whether key assumptions are true or not. In the data we

search both for confirming and disconfirming facts on our assumptions/ideas. In order to

achieve best results we need to use multi-functional teams (they have various experience) and

a sceptic in the team. If the assumptions are more likely to be true then we continue to a second

learning launch. If the assumptions are more likely to be false then we change the idea and

move on. That is how we test ideas.

Insight:

This approach to testing ideas really worked well for this project. Because the assumption

testing is based on scientific method it is reliable – we use data to confirm whether assumptions

are true or not. So we strongly believe in our ideas once they pass the Learning Launch tool

test. Another thing that helps in this project is consulting with multi-functional teams which has

various and different experience. This helped with conformation bias. Lastly because we know

which ideas are false we know when should we pivot – that saves us a lot of time and energy.

Approach:

Confirmation bias: Next time I should be aware of confirmation bias – looking for

information that confirms my assumption.

Group think: While testing the ideas in multi-functional teams we encountered an issue –

someone spoke up about the idea being good or bad and everyone else agreed. That is called

group think. In order to change this kind of behavior next time we need everyone to write their

judgement on the idea on paper and reveal it on the same time – this way we know that the

judgement is really coming from the individual and not a colleague.

