Challenge: Planners Visit  Primary Tool for Design Thinking: Learning Launch    Kindly note:  1) Background and details have been given, to help the peers and others, to understand  better, the domain/industry.  2) Its important, that the challenge is explained both in the context and at a specific  level.  3) While one of the four design thinking tools presented in the course has to be selected,  there may be an overlap, but the primary tool is mentioned here, for the purpose of this  assignment.    Thank you for your time and to review this case.    Background:  � I am one of the Founder Members of the Council of Financial Planners, Bengaluru,  India.   � Currently, I am the President, supported well, by a talented, diversified group of  Professionals.  � The services are on a Pro-bono basis.  � This is, a not-for profit, organisation comprising of CFP Certificants &  Professionals in Financial Service space.  � Our mission is, to harness the strengths, experience and diversity of recognised  Certified Professionals in Personal Finance, to achieve Financial Literacy.  � Who are the stakeholders? Financial Consumer in the center, the regulator, the  intermediary ( a self employed independent professional and /or an institution)    Challenge:  Managing, a not for profit organisation, by itself, is a challenging task.   But thankfully, due to a set of individuals who are committed to our mission, we are able  to fulfil our objectives and use this, for Continuing Professional Education and to make it  relevant and meaningful, to all Professionals associated with it.    Now coming to the specifics of the challenge.  Every year, as part of our Knowledge Management Event, we have an annual convention.  To be creative and relevant to the times, its theme based, reflecting the macro  environments.    Being, a not for profit, we get this subsidised by the Asset Management Companies and  other Principals, sponsoring part of it.  This also helps us, to manage the expenses incurred for the Venue, Travel, and logistics in  addition to, subsidising the cost of the event to registered participants.

We strive to be innovative and ensure, a theme chosen reflects the concerns and  challenges being faced in the industry.  The expected outcome is make the participants fully charged with the perspectives  gathered and to progress further in their profession.    Specific Challenge: Planners Visit  Primary tool used to make it a success: Learning Launch  � This is a one day event, followed with second day a workshop and culminating on  third day, with a Convention.  � The collaboration for this was with FPA ( Financial Planning Academy )  � What is, generally followed elsewhere, in other countries in Canada, US, Malaysia,  Singapore, is the delegates are given a list, profile, niche area of the practice of the  chosen CFP Professionals. Based on that, the Planners Visit is organised.  � A group of participants visit the offices of these professionals, based on their  interest to interact with the Key People and have learning’s from them.    We were attempting this for the first time in India.    What did we do?    We formed a small team. Creative and open minded, to tinker  around with the format  and make it a fun for learning exercise.    When we try, to map the journey, in terms of user experience and issues from the Indian  context, we identified the following:  1) To visit a planner at his/her office, is time consuming and can be avoided, due to traffic  woes and issues.  2) Office Infrastructure and Parking an issue.  3) Being Self Employed Independent Professionals, not many are equipped to handle the  Delegates.  4) India is too diverse with professionals practising in different cities which are distant.  5) Travel, logistics can be a nightmare if not handled properly  6) Being a not for profit, we dont have a bandwidth to manage due to constraints in  resources.    Formation of an Idea - Learning Launch    1) What if the Planners not just from Bengaluru, but across the Cities of India, specially  Mumbai, New Delhi, Chennai and other places were invited to a common place, the venue  itself?

2) What if they were given a breif and asked to share the success stories and the  learning’s?  3) What if they were chosen based on the niche area of the practice or specialisations?    This addressed some of the key issues raised from our context?  From the delegates point of consideration the following was then identified.  � From the participant’s point of view, how do we help them to choose which  planner?  � How do we ensure, that they don’t get a feel or a regret, which they missed out  learning from another professional?    As a Learning Launch what did we decide to do?  1) Select 12 Planners preferably distinct from one another in terms of type of practice.  2) Delegates were randomly allocated one of two Conference rooms.  3) 6 Planners per room made their presentations in the respective rooms.  4) We assembled all in the later part of the evening in Single Room.  5) Participants and Planners shared their own experiences and learning with the other  groups.  6) Well coordinated by a team of Volunteers.    This was a huge success and acceptance and as a result of this, they have adopted this  method/format in other places across.    Insights:  1) If, there is clarity in purpose and the expected outcomes, the ideas flow.  2) Localise, to make it more meaningful and relevant.  3) Focus on priorities.  4) Question assumptions.  5) Seek contrarian views, this helps to get better perspectives.      Approach:  1) Seek proactively the expectations and areas of professional help required from  prospective delegates.  2) Seek planners who would value add their experience to other fellow professionals.  3) Create an ambience or comfort zones where there can be more one to one interactions.  4) Bring the Young /Upcoming and the Older Professionals’ to have different  perspectives/Learning!


Challenge : Planners Visit Primary Tool for Design Thinking : Learning Launch Kindly note : 1 ) Background and details have been given , to help the peers and others , to understand better , the domain / industry . 2 ) Its important , that the challenge is explained both in the context and at a specific level . 3 ) While one of the four design thinking tools presented in the course has to be selected , there may be an overlap , but the primary tool is mentioned here , for the purpose of this assignment . Thank you for your time and to review this case . Background : � I am one of the Founder Members of the Council of Financial Planners , Bengaluru , India . � Currently , I am the President , supported well , by a talented , diversified group of Professionals . � The services are on a Pro - bono basis . � This is , a not - for profit , organisation comprising of CFP Certificants & Professionals in Financial Service space . � Our mission is , to harness the strengths , experience and diversity of recognised Certified Professionals in Personal Finance , to achieve Financial Literacy . � Who are the stakeholders ? Financial Consumer in the center , the regulator , the intermediary ( a self employed independent professional and /or an institution ) Challenge : Managing , a not for profit organisation , by itself , is a challenging task . But thankfully , due to a set of individuals who are committed to our mission , we are able to fulfil our objectives and use this , for Continuing Professional Education and to make it relevant and meaningful , to all Professionals associated with it . Now coming to the specifics of the challenge . Every year , as part of our Knowledge Management Event , we have an annual convention . To be creative and relevant to the times , its theme based , reflecting the macro environments . Being , a not for profit , we get this subsidised by the Asset Management Companies and other Principals , sponsoring part of it . This also helps us , to manage the expenses incurred for the Venue , Travel , and logistics in addition to , subsidising the cost of the event to registered participants . We strive to be innovative and ensure , a theme chosen reflects the concerns and challenges being faced in the industry . The expected outcome is make the participants fully charged with the perspectives gathered and to progress further in their profession . Specific Challenge : Planners Visit Primary tool used to make it a success : Learning Launch � This is a one day event , followed with second day a workshop and culminating on third day , with a Convention . � The collaboration for this was with FPA ( Financial Planning Academy ) � What is , generally followed elsewhere , in other countries in Canada , US , Malaysia , Singapore , is the delegates are given a list , profile , niche area of the practice of the chosen CFP Professionals . Based on that , the Planners Visit is organised . � A group of participants visit the offices of these professionals , based on their interest to interact with the Key People and have learning ’s from them . We were attempting this for the first time in India . What did we do ? We formed a small team . Creative and open minded , to tinker around with the format and make it a fun for learning exercise . When we try , to map the journey , in terms of user experience and issues from the Indian context , we identified the following : 1 ) To visit a planner at his / her office , is time consuming and can be avoided , due to traffic woes and issues . 2 ) Office Infrastructure and Parking an issue . 3 ) Being Self Employed Independent Professionals , not many are equipped to handle the Delegates . 4 ) India is too diverse with professionals practising in different cities which are distant . 5 ) Travel , logistics can be a nightmare if not handled properly 6 ) Being a not for profit , we do nt have a bandwidth to manage due to constraints in resources . Formation of an Idea - Learning Launch 1 ) What if the Planners not just from Bengaluru , but across the Cities of India , specially Mumbai , New Delhi , Chennai and other places were invited to a common place , the venue itself ? 2 ) What if they were given a breif and asked to share the success stories and the learning ’s ? 3 ) What if they were chosen based on the niche area of the practice or specialisations ? This addressed some of the key issues raised from our context ? From the delegates point of consideration the following was then identified . � From the participant ’s point of view , how do we help them to choose which planner ? � How do we ensure , that they do n’t get a feel or a regret , which they missed out learning from another professional ? As a Learning Launch what did we decide to do ? 1 ) Select 12 Planners preferably distinct from one another in terms of type of practice . 2 ) Delegates were randomly allocated one of two Conference rooms . 3 ) 6 Planners per room made their presentations in the respective rooms . 4 ) We assembled all in the later part of the evening in Single Room . 5 ) Participants and Planners shared their own experiences and learning with the other groups . 6 ) Well coordinated by a team of Volunteers . This was a huge success and acceptance and as a result of this , they have adopted this method / format in other places across . Insights : 1 ) If , there is clarity in purpose and the expected outcomes , the ideas flow . 2 ) Localise , to make it more meaningful and relevant . 3 ) Focus on priorities . 4 ) Question assumptions . 5 ) Seek contrarian views , this helps to get better perspectives . Approach : 1 ) Seek proactively the expectations and areas of professional help required from prospective delegates . 2 ) Seek planners who would value add their experience to other fellow professionals . 3 ) Create an ambience or comfort zones where there can be more one to one interactions . 4 ) Bring the Young /Upcoming and the Older Professionals ’ to have different perspectives / Learning !