Module 3: Prototyping, Testing & Experimentation
Gain Internal Support
Why should you use this method?
- To get your company's support if you have an innovative idea for a customer problem, but someone in the organization is blocking you
- To fight resistance within your organization
- To increase confidence in the idea and support the case
- To learn more about your hypothesis and adapt the idea
It is important to conduct the experiments in any case. Skipping the experiments is not an option! Don't wait for management to realize how great your idea is but take action to show them. And if your solution fails, you still gather valuable data for your organization. Experimentation is never a waste of time.
How can you apply this method?
1. Listen to your customers during every interaction
What are people's conversations? What are the reactions to your product/service? What are they doing when they're not using the product/service? Take notes and pay attention to emerging pain points.
2. Sketch out your idea
For example by using tools like the idea napkin, and if possible, connect it to your organization's goals.
3. Present the idea to your manager
Also include the supporting data from your observation.
How to collect more data if there is continue resistance even after solid observations?
1. Use actual customer data
Conduct experiments that will generate actual data to move innovation from the realm of the imagination to the realm of reality.
2. Prototype the idea
Use prototyping to create the data you need to make the case for your idea.
3. Quick and cheap 2h experiments
By conducting quick and cheap experiments, you get data faster, and hence it is easier to get support.
4. Present your idea
Go back to your management with the collected data and ask for support to continue the project. Be aware of your language "I told you so" might raise resistance, while "I gathered more data" allows for a neutral start of the conversation.