Reflection – Learning Launch

Challenge

I am a student in one of the largest and diverse universities of our country. Due to the diversity in  the college both in terms of knowledge, people and skill there are over 100+ clubs and over 150+  teams working in the campus in different projects, fields and areas. I, being a part of one such  team, aims to solve a major challenge of abundance of information flow on a daily basis that is  generated by these teams and clubs. Due to the presence of such large amounts of information, it  becomes almost impossible for a student who might be a potential participant to keep a track of  information relevant to him/her. Hence the challenge was to establish a platform where all the  news and updated from all the clubs and teams can be published and the relevant audience can be  notified. The scope of the project included the whole campus including all the clubs and teams  from different departments. The project focuses on acting as a platform for information  streamlining and broadcasting.

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

The first learning launch was done collaboration with just two teams. We studied in depth what  are the different types of information that is often broadcasted, what is it’s structure, does it  involve images or videos or some other graphics and what are the methods employed by the  teams. We then developed a basic framework structure for different types of information and  tried to inculcate some sample information into them. We tested our structures and then executed  the first learning launch with the 2 teams. Next, we explored other opportunities which can be  captured to streamline information flow in the university. We then identified more user cases  such as official news from the college which was of high importance that it reaches the students  in a timely manner. For our second learning launch we focused on a wider section of teams and  clubs and started the university news portal inculcating just one of the departments. The response  verified and tested our assumptions and design. We then conducted an anonymous survey with  all the stakeholders and asked them how they felt about the new system in place. The response  from the same showed that people were now more aware of happenings in the campus, the teams  and clubs were getting more participants in their activities and there was a lesser capital being  wasted in brute marketing which was an approach followed by the clubs and teams prior to our  proposed system.

Insight

By applying the learning launch tool, our team verified our design and assumptions. Additionally  we also identified more stakeholders and other departments. Some major learnings were obtained  from the recent learning launch i.e. exploring opportunities outside the college such as the  market in the vicinity of the college who wishes to reach the right audience. The various startups  aimed at students. Due to the inclusivity of various others stakeholders, 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.


Reflection – Learning Launch Challenge I am a student in one of the largest and diverse universities of our country . Due to the diversity in the college both in terms of knowledge , people and skill there are over 100 + clubs and over 150 + teams working in the campus in different projects , fields and areas . I , being a part of one such team , aims to solve a major challenge of abundance of information flow on a daily basis that is generated by these teams and clubs . Due to the presence of such large amounts of information , it becomes almost impossible for a student who might be a potential participant to keep a track of information relevant to him / her . Hence the challenge was to establish a platform where all the news and updated from all the clubs and teams can be published and the relevant audience can be notified . The scope of the project included the whole campus including all the clubs and teams from different departments . The project focuses on acting as a platform for information streamlining and broadcasting . 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 The first learning launch was done collaboration with just two teams . We studied in depth what are the different types of information that is often broadcasted , what is it ’s structure , does it involve images or videos or some other graphics and what are the methods employed by the teams . We then developed a basic framework structure for different types of information and tried to inculcate some sample information into them . We tested our structures and then executed the first learning launch with the 2 teams . Next , we explored other opportunities which can be captured to streamline information flow in the university . We then identified more user cases such as official news from the college which was of high importance that it reaches the students in a timely manner . For our second learning launch we focused on a wider section of teams and clubs and started the university news portal inculcating just one of the departments . The response verified and tested our assumptions and design . We then conducted an anonymous survey with all the stakeholders and asked them how they felt about the new system in place . The response from the same showed that people were now more aware of happenings in the campus , the teams and clubs were getting more participants in their activities and there was a lesser capital being wasted in brute marketing which was an approach followed by the clubs and teams prior to our proposed system . Insight By applying the learning launch tool , our team verified our design and assumptions . Additionally we also identified more stakeholders and other departments . Some major learnings were obtained from the recent learning launch i.e. exploring opportunities outside the college such as the market in the vicinity of the college who wishes to reach the right audience . The various startups aimed at students . Due to the inclusivity of various others stakeholders , 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 .