Tony Flores | Assignment on Reflection – Learning Launch

Design Thinking for Innovation | Coursera | 5th July2020

Reflection – Learning Launch for a BA Standardization Program

Challenge  I am one of the many practice manager for business analysis team of more than 70+ BAs which is spread  across multiple locations in India. The teams’ average industry experience varies from 2-10 yrs., which  makes the team a very diverse. When we deploy these BA onto various projects assignments, our  objective is to ensure they are adhering to certain standard way of working. However over time more and  more customized solution where being delivered. We tried to address this problem in many ways and had  failed. Due to COVID situation the pressure for better output and efficiency was compelling and hence it  was decided to relaunch practice wide standardization program which will aim to upskill all BA to approach  certain type of projects assignments in a consistent, uniform manner, thus ensuring overall efficiency by  improving predictability of the output and reduce business risk by promoting reusability of solution. It was  also decided that this standardization exercise should producing quick results and should not turn into  another never ending, vision-less program. I was given this ownership to run this program based on the  temperament I had demonstrated in the past on similar topic.

Selection  As the need was to get quick results, I wanted to try something rapid and test it immediately to see the  initial results. Therefore I decided to start this as a pilot program for 1 quarter and monitor results more  closely, emphasis was on incremental but consistent results. If the pilot program was successful, I wanted  to make this into an annual running program with continuous improvement.

After fixing the timeframe for pilot, various approaches were discussed with management in order to drive  the Standardization program but the scope of this program seemed too broad and deep. Hence it was  agreed to also keep the goal smaller and more realistic which is to start creating awareness about need  for standardization within this diverse BA group and identify quick wins. I used various techniques of  Design thinking to understand the problem (i.e. practice’s current situation) better, something I could do  in background with few select members.

When it came to delivering of this BA standardization program, I again proposed design thinking as the  foundation methodology for identify candidates for BA standardization across projects and created 5 step  process. Now, the next big task was for me to explain this methodology to our practice, oversee its  execution and conclude if it yields the anticipated results or not. I wanted to be either proven correct or  wrong, but without wasting too much time so that I can rethink on the methodology. Hence the use of  the “Learning Launch” technique was crucial.

Tony Flores | Assignment on Reflection – Learning Launch

Design Thinking for Innovation | Coursera | 5th July2020

Application  I identified a smaller core group for the initial kick-off of this program in order to gather initial feedback,  suggestion before scheduling a practice wide kick-off for the upcoming week. The practice-wide kick-off  went well and I got very good response from the BA group; 1st quick win was that most of the BAs  acknowledged that there is indeed lack of consistent approach and this is hurting our business. 2nd quick  win was that the methodology was also understood and accepted along with initial targets of tangible  output spanning across 1st quarter. Entire emphasis was for BAs to try this methodology and produce low  fidelity prototypes of standard artifacts, templates, accelerators which will improve the overall output of  our group on various projects. I also defined a short term scope of these deliverables as we did not want  to spend too much time creating a perfect output, but to develop this in an agile way; produce quick  results and mature them in iterations.

The whole practice was now divided into sub groups based on their domain. This is when the ideation  workshops started and the standardization candidates starting coming in; which were documented in  ideation catalog. In the same ideation workshops we managed to conclude which deliverables, processes,  reference solutions etc. can be prototyped. 2 weeks cycle time was decided for prototyping and testing  the results by simulating project like situation within practice. This helped in proving that the methodology  works and also the process is easily repeatable with a potential of generating similar results.

Insights & Approach  Although certain groups had better success as compared to other groups, the overall concept of  prototyping and idea and evaluating it was something which was common across all groups. I did more  Q&A sessions with other groups as they were struggling to generate proper ideas for standardized,  reusable solution. Also, I realized that we needed innovation as much as standardization as each customer  is different and so are their needs. A 100% standardized and reusable solution was not pragmatic. Which  is where the individual BAs had to understand customer needs and make the required calibration to the  standard output. It was also observed that the group with positive and growth mindset performed better  than the other which was more of fixed mindset. In many ways the successful group had further  improvised the propose methodology and tested it within their group for better results.

We are 1 month in the quarter and we have already tested the methodology, have got various initial set  of tangible deliverables, templates, reference solutions and the rest of the ideas in the ideation catalog  also look equally promising, which the group is confident to deliver and with similar characteristics. Hence  by applying the learning launch technique we did test our approach, saw quick results (both positive and  negative) and also realized on what was missing, mainly the emphasis on growth mindset. I will be doing  a monthly checkpoint meeting where all these observations will be shared and hoping to have the next 2  months produce even better results.


Tony Flores | Assignment on Reflection – Learning Launch Design Thinking for Innovation | Coursera | 5th July2020 Reflection – Learning Launch for a BA Standardization Program Challenge I am one of the many practice manager for business analysis team of more than 70 + BAs which is spread across multiple locations in India . The teams ’ average industry experience varies from 2 - 10 yrs . , which makes the team a very diverse . When we deploy these BA onto various projects assignments , our objective is to ensure they are adhering to certain standard way of working . However over time more and more customized solution where being delivered . We tried to address this problem in many ways and had failed . Due to COVID situation the pressure for better output and efficiency was compelling and hence it was decided to relaunch practice wide standardization program which will aim to upskill all BA to approach certain type of projects assignments in a consistent , uniform manner , thus ensuring overall efficiency by improving predictability of the output and reduce business risk by promoting reusability of solution . It was also decided that this standardization exercise should producing quick results and should not turn into another never ending , vision - less program . I was given this ownership to run this program based on the temperament I had demonstrated in the past on similar topic . Selection As the need was to get quick results , I wanted to try something rapid and test it immediately to see the initial results . Therefore I decided to start this as a pilot program for 1 quarter and monitor results more closely , emphasis was on incremental but consistent results . If the pilot program was successful , I wanted to make this into an annual running program with continuous improvement . After fixing the timeframe for pilot , various approaches were discussed with management in order to drive the Standardization program but the scope of this program seemed too broad and deep . Hence it was agreed to also keep the goal smaller and more realistic which is to start creating awareness about need for standardization within this diverse BA group and identify quick wins . I used various techniques of Design thinking to understand the problem ( i.e. practice ’s current situation ) better , something I could do in background with few select members . When it came to delivering of this BA standardization program , I again proposed design thinking as the foundation methodology for identify candidates for BA standardization across projects and created 5 step process . Now , the next big task was for me to explain this methodology to our practice , oversee its execution and conclude if it yields the anticipated results or not . I wanted to be either proven correct or wrong , but without wasting too much time so that I can rethink on the methodology . Hence the use of the “ Learning Launch ” technique was crucial . Tony Flores | Assignment on Reflection – Learning Launch Design Thinking for Innovation | Coursera | 5th July2020 Application I identified a smaller core group for the initial kick - off of this program in order to gather initial feedback , suggestion before scheduling a practice wide kick - off for the upcoming week . The practice - wide kick - off went well and I got very good response from the BA group ; 1st quick win was that most of the BAs acknowledged that there is indeed lack of consistent approach and this is hurting our business . 2nd quick win was that the methodology was also understood and accepted along with initial targets of tangible output spanning across 1st quarter . Entire emphasis was for BAs to try this methodology and produce low fidelity prototypes of standard artifacts , templates , accelerators which will improve the overall output of our group on various projects . I also defined a short term scope of these deliverables as we did not want to spend too much time creating a perfect output , but to develop this in an agile way ; produce quick results and mature them in iterations . The whole practice was now divided into sub groups based on their domain . This is when the ideation workshops started and the standardization candidates starting coming in ; which were documented in ideation catalog . In the same ideation workshops we managed to conclude which deliverables , processes , reference solutions etc . can be prototyped . 2 weeks cycle time was decided for prototyping and testing the results by simulating project like situation within practice . This helped in proving that the methodology works and also the process is easily repeatable with a potential of generating similar results . Insights & Approach Although certain groups had better success as compared to other groups , the overall concept of prototyping and idea and evaluating it was something which was common across all groups . I did more Q&A sessions with other groups as they were struggling to generate proper ideas for standardized , reusable solution . Also , I realized that we needed innovation as much as standardization as each customer is different and so are their needs . A 100 % standardized and reusable solution was not pragmatic . Which is where the individual BAs had to understand customer needs and make the required calibration to the standard output . It was also observed that the group with positive and growth mindset performed better than the other which was more of fixed mindset . In many ways the successful group had further improvised the propose methodology and tested it within their group for better results . We are 1 month in the quarter and we have already tested the methodology , have got various initial set of tangible deliverables , templates , reference solutions and the rest of the ideas in the ideation catalog also look equally promising , which the group is confident to deliver and with similar characteristics . Hence by applying the learning launch technique we did test our approach , saw quick results ( both positive and negative ) and also realized on what was missing , mainly the emphasis on growth mindset . I will be doing a monthly checkpoint meeting where all these observations will be shared and hoping to have the next 2 months produce even better results .