Learning Lunch

 Challenge:

I am a civil structural engineer, working in a design-build subcontractor company for more  than 10 years, which become quite boring, so I decided to make new challenge by shifting  my career bath into a new horizon. As a recent trend in the market, for digitalization and  using high techniques, I decided to focus more on the digital transformation processes  and tools.

As a beginner, and in order to expand my repertoire in this field, I participated in many  forums specialized in this topic. Furthermore, I took many courses in the digital  transformation and innovation, up to a level enough to create self-confidence that I can  lead the digital transformation journey in any business I am in.

By reaching that limit, there were 2 options in front of me: either to leave my company,  and create my own consultation start-up, specialized in providing smart solutions and  digital transformation plans for companies, or to stay in my company, but to exploit the  time after working hours, by study the market and providing consultations and digital  transformation plans on small scale.

 Selection:

After I took this course, I decided to apply the learning lunch tool in my case; to go for the  2nd option, which will be the less risky and easier option, also will let me to make small  experiments and prototypes, in order to test the market, and get the required feedback,  before going to the more advanced step and having my own start-up.

 Application:

Based on the knowledge I gained from the courses I studied, and my follow up for the  market needs, I started my first trial. I used some social media and websites, such as  LinkedIn, to build a business network, concentrating on the architectural and interior  design field – as a first trial for targeted customers – as this field has a great potential and  wide range of applications for the high techniques in the market, I contacted the CEO’s  and directors of many companies and presented my services as I can provide consultation  on the smart services and digital transformation plans tailored for each business needs,  and including all of the applicable techniques can be adopted, with detailed procedures.  Then the applications were further extended for other fields, such as construction  material suppliers (tiles, floorings, paints, etc..), furniture and curtains, etc...    Each one of the contacts and the following submitted digital transformation plans was  considered as a separate prototype or experiment, in order to get the response and  feedback from the market on the overall assumptions and trials and to know if the market  is ready or welling for such transformation. Most of the replies were positive.

 Insight:

By applying the learning lunch tool, I gained a deep insight on the market response for  adopting the new and high techniques, which spanning from enthusiasm for some, to fear  and negligence for a few others.

For me, there was enough number of contacted businesses showed great interesting for  the plan, and in the overall digital transformation process, as a new approach can be  considered as a game changer in the market and will give considerable positive impact  over the competitors.    The responses and feedbacks for the experiments gave me the required indications about  the correctness of my primary assumptions, also gave me the direction to which field  should I concentrate and deepen my next efforts, and the most important; how much I  can expect as a revenue and how much the various businesses can pay and invest in the  digital transformation process.

 Approach:

Reaching the previous findings and feedbacks, I can realize that the learning lunch was the  most appropriate tool in my case, since I have now the enough motive and knowledge to  expand the efforts and to start my own business, where I start with concentrating on one  of the tested fields that showed the most positive reply on accepting the digital  transformation, and then can apply the learning lunch again whenever we need to expand  our business on new fields.


Learning Lunch  Challenge : I am a civil structural engineer , working in a design - build subcontractor company for more than 10 years , which become quite boring , so I decided to make new challenge by shifting my career bath into a new horizon . As a recent trend in the market , for digitalization and using high techniques , I decided to focus more on the digital transformation processes and tools . As a beginner , and in order to expand my repertoire in this field , I participated in many forums specialized in this topic . Furthermore , I took many courses in the digital transformation and innovation , up to a level enough to create self - confidence that I can lead the digital transformation journey in any business I am in . By reaching that limit , there were 2 options in front of me : either to leave my company , and create my own consultation start - up , specialized in providing smart solutions and digital transformation plans for companies , or to stay in my company , but to exploit the time after working hours , by study the market and providing consultations and digital transformation plans on small scale .  Selection : After I took this course , I decided to apply the learning lunch tool in my case ; to go for the 2nd option , which will be the less risky and easier option , also will let me to make small experiments and prototypes , in order to test the market , and get the required feedback , before going to the more advanced step and having my own start - up .  Application : Based on the knowledge I gained from the courses I studied , and my follow up for the market needs , I started my first trial . I used some social media and websites , such as LinkedIn , to build a business network , concentrating on the architectural and interior design field – as a first trial for targeted customers – as this field has a great potential and wide range of applications for the high techniques in the market , I contacted the CEO ’s and directors of many companies and presented my services as I can provide consultation on the smart services and digital transformation plans tailored for each business needs , and including all of the applicable techniques can be adopted , with detailed procedures . Then the applications were further extended for other fields , such as construction material suppliers ( tiles , floorings , paints , etc .. ) , furniture and curtains , etc ... Each one of the contacts and the following submitted digital transformation plans was considered as a separate prototype or experiment , in order to get the response and feedback from the market on the overall assumptions and trials and to know if the market is ready or welling for such transformation . Most of the replies were positive .  Insight : By applying the learning lunch tool , I gained a deep insight on the market response for adopting the new and high techniques , which spanning from enthusiasm for some , to fear and negligence for a few others . For me , there was enough number of contacted businesses showed great interesting for the plan , and in the overall digital transformation process , as a new approach can be considered as a game changer in the market and will give considerable positive impact over the competitors . The responses and feedbacks for the experiments gave me the required indications about the correctness of my primary assumptions , also gave me the direction to which field should I concentrate and deepen my next efforts , and the most important ; how much I can expect as a revenue and how much the various businesses can pay and invest in the digital transformation process .  Approach : Reaching the previous findings and feedbacks , I can realize that the learning lunch was the most appropriate tool in my case , since I have now the enough motive and knowledge to expand the efforts and to start my own business , where I start with concentrating on one of the tested fields that showed the most positive reply on accepting the digital transformation , and then can apply the learning lunch again whenever we need to expand our business on new fields .