Reflection  –  Learning  Launch

Learning  Launch  is  the  Design  Thinking  tool  that  has  most  resonated  with  me  from  Patrizia’s   teachings.  The  idea  that  we  should  embrace  failure  and  learn  from  it  is  a  hard  concept  for  me  to   adopt.  In  a  world  where  successes  are  celebrated,  it’s  difficult  to  step  back  and  look  at  what  can   be  gained  from  trying  and  failing.      Because  Learning  Launches  are  quick  and  dirty—and  on  a  small  scale—this  provides  comfort   to  me  that  small  failures  can  lead  to  big  successes.

Challenge   A  recent  challenge  for  me  has  been  trying  to  implement  a  new  program  management  software   to  another  division  of  our  company.  Our  team  has  been  using  this  program  management   software  with  one  division  of  our  company  (mostly  successfully)  for  years.  We  are  trying  to   implement  this  same  software  with  our  team  of  Event  Planners.  The  work  that  our  Event   Planners  do  is  inherently  different  than  the  other  division  because  timelines  might  be  quicker,   budgets  might  be  smaller  and  clients  might  be  more  demanding.  This  is  on  top  of  the  specific   struggles  of  event  planning  based  on  destination  challenges  (safety,  weather,  customs,   disease),  travel  parameters,  and  the  event  planners  constantly  traveling  all  over  the  world  so   they  aren’t  in  the  office  to  learn  new  processes.     The  Management  Team  from  my  department  has  required  that  the  new  program  management   software  be  implemented  with  the  Event  Planners  by  the  new  fiscal  year.  The  Management   Team  of  the  Event  Planners  is  fickle  with  support  for  the  use  of  the  new  software.     Application   To  overcome  assumptions  from  my  team  and  learn  what  real  life  challenges  could  be  created   with  the  implementation  of  the  new  program  management  software,  we  needed  to  try  it  out  on  a   small  scale.  The  first  group  to  try  using  the  software  was  a  group  of  top  Event  Planners.  This   group  are  the  Event  Planners  who  adopt  new  processes  well  and  work  well  with  other  teams.      Insight   We  learned  that  some  of  our  assumptions  about  where  the  Event  Planners  would  struggle  were   unfounded—their  struggles  were  more  with  using  the  software  while  traveling  and  using  it  with   phones  rather  than  laptops.  This  helped  my  team  learn  that  the  Event  Planners  weren’t   necessarily  following  processes  in  the  way  that  we  assumed  or  desired—there  were  core   challenges  with  our  shared  process  and  the  technology  we  use  that  needed  to  be  fixed  before   implementing  the  new  software.     In  hindsight,  our  initial  Learning  Launch  should  have  included  a  group  of  Event  Planners  who   struggle  more  with  adopting  new  processes  (not  just  top  Event  Planners)  and  the  supervisors   who  we  needed  to  get  on  board  with  the  process  for  positive  implementation  throughout  the   team.

Overall,  the  Learning  Launch  was  a  great  way  to  learn  about  the  needs  of  the  Event  Planners   through  a  small  scale  launch  in  preparation  to  successfully  use  the  software  with  the  entire   team.


Reflection – Learning Launch Learning Launch is the Design Thinking tool that has most resonated with me from Patrizia ’s teachings . The idea that we should embrace failure and learn from it is a hard concept for me to adopt . In a world where successes are celebrated , it ’s difficult to step back and look at what can be gained from trying and failing . Because Learning Launches are quick and dirty — and on a small scale — this provides comfort to me that small failures can lead to big successes . Challenge A recent challenge for me has been trying to implement a new program management software to another division of our company . Our team has been using this program management software with one division of our company ( mostly successfully ) for years . We are trying to implement this same software with our team of Event Planners . The work that our Event Planners do is inherently different than the other division because timelines might be quicker , budgets might be smaller and clients might be more demanding . This is on top of the specific struggles of event planning based on destination challenges ( safety , weather , customs , disease ) , travel parameters , and the event planners constantly traveling all over the world so they are n’t in the office to learn new processes . The Management Team from my department has required that the new program management software be implemented with the Event Planners by the new fiscal year . The Management Team of the Event Planners is fickle with support for the use of the new software . Application To overcome assumptions from my team and learn what real life challenges could be created with the implementation of the new program management software , we needed to try it out on a small scale . The first group to try using the software was a group of top Event Planners . This group are the Event Planners who adopt new processes well and work well with other teams . Insight We learned that some of our assumptions about where the Event Planners would struggle were unfounded — their struggles were more with using the software while traveling and using it with phones rather than laptops . This helped my team learn that the Event Planners were n’t necessarily following processes in the way that we assumed or desired — there were core challenges with our shared process and the technology we use that needed to be fixed before implementing the new software . In hindsight , our initial Learning Launch should have included a group of Event Planners who struggle more with adopting new processes ( not just top Event Planners ) and the supervisors who we needed to get on board with the process for positive implementation throughout the team . Overall , the Learning Launch was a great way to learn about the needs of the Event Planners through a small scale launch in preparation to successfully use the software with the entire team .