6 principles to work differently // test and shape
TRANSCRIPT
Repeatedly learning and refining to improve solutionsTEST and SHAPE
6 principles to WORKdifferentlyWORKdifferently Copyright © 2015 gravitytank.com
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Test and Shape
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How do you select a paint color for a wall?
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No solution starts out perfect
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It’s easier to start small
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Why don’t we approach work like our walls?
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Organizations don’t encourage “experimentation”
We want to get it perfect
We’re trying to maintain competitive advantage
Short on resources
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But, the stakes get higher the longer we wait
JUSTIFY THE INVESTMENT
The need to reconcile the resource investments increases pressure and clouds judgement.
GO/NO GO DECISIONS
If we wait until it’s “finished” we don’t have the time or openness for adjustments.
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Creating something new is easier when we
learn along the way IDENTIFY UNKNOWNS
We are better able to identify unknowns and develop solid answers to questions when we engage others
ADDRESS ASSUMPTIONS
Predicting people’s behavior is hard, and often leads to inaccurate assumptions or missed opportunities
BUILD CONVICTION
Learning about how new ideas resonate helps build conviction and momentum for an idea
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Successful businesses try out many solutions before
they get it right
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Test + ShapeUse feedback to iterate
and improve ideasShare ideas to gather
feedback and understand assumptions
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Test and Shape is about learning and improving, NOT validating
ACT QUICKLY AND OFTEN
Actively seeking opportunities to practice and try out a skill or idea leads to natural experimentation and improvement.
FROM ‘FAILURE’ TO LEARNING
Pixar made a cultural shift to reimagine ‘failure’ and focus on the growth that comes with candid feedback
It’s a mindset for how to approach the ongoing development and refinement of ideas versus waiting until the end to either fail or succeed.
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Use feedback and information to inform development
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Test early, test often
Sharing idea with co-workers
Sharing a draft of a pitch deck Isolated
experiment on 1 hypothesis
Simulated trials for feedback
Conduct many ‘experiments’ along the way, continually learning throughout development
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Lightweight tests are most effective
Be creative! Keep the production level as low as possible for what you need to learn.
When the fidelity level increases people have a hard time giving constructive feedback.
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…without trying on
…without seeing it in person
Women will rent a dress for a single occasion
Identify your questions and concerns as early as possible. Set out to learn something specific. Each test should focus on a limited number of hypothesis or variables.
A clear and targeted purpose is required
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Great execution
Great concept
Poor concept
Poor execution
Understand aspects of the solution independentlyWe often lump idea and execution together and view a solution as “complete,” which limits our ability to understand what is resonating and can lead to missed opportunities.
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What about the idea resonates?What do people like about the idea? What isn’t appealing? What “buts” or “onlys” do people have? How do people project using it?
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Be open
What is confusing about how it works? What frustrates people? What do people figure out naturally?
What is working in the execution?
Screen Images from kickstarter.com
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and letting go of old ones
Be open to new ideas…
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View an example of one Test & Shape method
Backseat Vending: A Micro Pilot https://vimeo.com/128627088
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For method cards, video tutorials and other resources:
gravitytank.com/workdifferently@gravitytankinc #workdifferently