Challenge

I am a member of my organization’s HR department and my challenge is to maintain the  payroll system running and functioning with minimum error. The project scope includes the  payroll-HR department of eight employees, as well as the other HR department and IT  department, with whom we work closely. The project is limited to internal resources (i.e.,  compensation). The project should timeline is weekly and the solution should include an  even distribution of working hours amongst the team members. We focus on trying to  uncover what our team members, and other Department and IT department, consider to be  ineffective or problematic with regard to the workflow.

Selection

Our team has already gone through several design thinking activities/tools, so we are ready  to try the learning launch tool. Broadly speaking, the learning launch is an experiment  meant to quickly test an idea and prototype.

Application

For our first learning launch, we focused on the structure/execution of our payroll  tasks. In  particular, we wanted to see if we could structure our tasks, projects, and processes to  adapt the methods of time boxed, daily, specific meetings, reviews, etc. In an effort to  become more agile. This tested our assumption that the structure and execution were the  main causes of our workflow challenge. Our team went through a two-day training with a  Scrum project management coach. Next, we went through five workshops to structure our  tasks and processes in a more agile way. These two sessions occurred within in a three-week  timeframe. We expected to produce a document with a clear description of our new, more  agile processes/workflow.

For our second learning launch, we focused on gaining clarity about our tasks and priorities.  This tested our assumption that our prioritization of tasks was the main cause of our  workflow challenge. Our team completed an anonymous survey. Additionally, five key  stakeholders from the HR dept. and IT department also completed an anonymous survey.  The surveys included questions about our new, proposed process, understanding the  process and the prioritization of tasks, and feelings about the change, and were conducted  within a one-week timeframe.

Insight

By applying the learning launch tool, our team identified our assumptions and designed  launches to test these assumptions. Additionally, we thought through anticipated results,  expecting to find that a more agile approach would improve our workflow, and that both  our team and stakeholders would be fairly open to the new prioritization of tasks and  process. Our actual results were slightly different from what we anticipated: while our team  was open to the prioritization of tasks and process, stakeholders in the HR dept and IT dept  expressed some concerns. Moving forward, our team will review this insight and  incorporate it into future launch designs. The ongoing incorporation of insight is particularly

important at this stage, as launches come before a full rollout in the design thinking  timeline.

Approach

Given that our team has already gone through several design thinking activities/tools and  are at this stage in the timeline, the learning launch is the appropriate tool. As previously  mentioned, our team needs to review the insight gained from our first two launches and  incorporate this insight into future launch designs. Future launch designs should reflect  insight gained, progress made, and come closer to a compelling solution ready for full  rollout


Challenge I am a member of my organization ’s HR department and my challenge is to maintain the payroll system running and functioning with minimum error . The project scope includes the payroll - HR department of eight employees , as well as the other HR department and IT department , with whom we work closely . The project is limited to internal resources ( i.e. , compensation ) . The project should timeline is weekly and the solution should include an even distribution of working hours amongst the team members . We focus on trying to uncover what our team members , and other Department and IT department , consider to be ineffective or problematic with regard to the workflow . Selection Our team has already gone through several design thinking activities / tools , so we are ready to try the learning launch tool . Broadly speaking , the learning launch is an experiment meant to quickly test an idea and prototype . Application For our first learning launch , we focused on the structure / execution of our payroll tasks . In particular , we wanted to see if we could structure our tasks , projects , and processes to adapt the methods of time boxed , daily , specific meetings , reviews , etc . In an effort to become more agile . This tested our assumption that the structure and execution were the main causes of our workflow challenge . Our team went through a two - day training with a Scrum project management coach . Next , we went through five workshops to structure our tasks and processes in a more agile way . These two sessions occurred within in a three - week timeframe . We expected to produce a document with a clear description of our new , more agile processes / workflow . For our second learning launch , we focused on gaining clarity about our tasks and priorities . This tested our assumption that our prioritization of tasks was the main cause of our workflow challenge . Our team completed an anonymous survey . Additionally , five key stakeholders from the HR dept . and IT department also completed an anonymous survey . The surveys included questions about our new , proposed process , understanding the process and the prioritization of tasks , and feelings about the change , and were conducted within a one - week timeframe . Insight By applying the learning launch tool , our team identified our assumptions and designed launches to test these assumptions . Additionally , we thought through anticipated results , expecting to find that a more agile approach would improve our workflow , and that both our team and stakeholders would be fairly open to the new prioritization of tasks and process . Our actual results were slightly different from what we anticipated : while our team was open to the prioritization of tasks and process , stakeholders in the HR dept and IT dept expressed some concerns . Moving forward , our team will review this insight and incorporate it into future launch designs . The ongoing incorporation of insight is particularly important at this stage , as launches come before a full rollout in the design thinking timeline . Approach Given that our team has already gone through several design thinking activities / tools and are at this stage in the timeline , the learning launch is the appropriate tool . As previously mentioned , our team needs to review the insight gained from our first two launches and incorporate this insight into future launch designs . Future launch designs should reflect insight gained , progress made , and come closer to a compelling solution ready for full rollout