1Erin Liman | Innovation is Social | @liman

credit:  Jim  Bouldin

Mad Scientist Lab

Experiments Speed Learning

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Build

Measure

Learn

Lab Goals

• Identify assumptions to test

• Decide which assumption to test FIRST

• Brainstorm the fastest way to (in)validate this assumption

• Design 1-2 experiments to run over the next 2 weeks

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5 STEPS

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Share “as-is” and “to-be” stories

Collect and prioritize assumptions

Brainstorm experiments with a Mad Scientist

Select the “best” experiment

Present your experiment, enlist help

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Stories Guide Product Development

Compelling stories are about change

Figure out the current story

Tell anew story

Stories enable us to step into another person’s shoes

Questions to Answer

1. Who has this problem?2.What’s the pain?3.How severe is this pain relative to others?

Story: Re-thinking the MRI for Kids

Transforming Terror into Delight

Examine Anxiety Points

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SEPARATIONWILL MY PARENTS LEAVE ME?

PAINIS THIS GOING TO HURT?

THE DOCTORSPEED AND EFFICIENCY IS OFTEN SEEN AS DISLIKE

THE UNKNOWNKIDS OFTEN ASSUME THE WORST

Transforming Terror into Delight

“As is”

“To be”

Figure out the current story

Tell anew story

Experiment Protocol:

1. Choose a team to collaborate with.2. Decide which team talks !rst. This is team “A.”

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Team A performs a skit to share the problem with Team B

Team B listens deeply and notes assumptions (one thought per Post-It)

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Team B performs a skit to share the problem with Team A

Team A listens deeply and notes assumptions (one thought per Post-It)

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Tell the New Story1. Establish characters and relationships2. Show the the character’s objective3. Set the scene (where)

TIPS: Show how she overcomes the challenge Show outcome, with main character as the hero NOT the productPerson changes as an outcome of the experience

Brainstorm a skit to show how you’ll reduce or eliminate the pain

Team A performs a skit to share the solution ideawith Team B

Team B listens deeply and notes assumptions (one thought per Post-It)

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Team B performs a skit to share the solution ideawith Team A

Team A listens deeply and notes assumptions (one thought per Post-It)

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Rank assumptionsOrder assumptions from most to least important

Most

Least

Design experiments to test your top 1-2 assumptions

Plan: what to test. It should be a piece of your bigger idea.

1. What we believe is (un)true... (assumptions, guesses)

2. What we want to learn (prove / disprove)

Elect Mad ScientistsOne member of each team rotates to the team on the right to suggest wild ideas

Stoke

Brainstorm Experiments

Little bets. Build on the ideas of others with a “Yes, and...,” Be as visual as possible. Encourage wild ideas. One conversation at a time. Headline! Defer judgment. Stay on topic.

Brainstorm ways to test an assumption in the smallest way possible.

3. How might we prove / disprove... (Little bets)

Come up with at least 6 wild ideas for experiments:

What will you commit to?

We, <team name> commit to learning... (something to prove or disprove)What we need to learn !rst is...To do this, the experiment we will run is...We’ll measure success/failure by...The help we need is...<Name> will post results on myproject.is by <speci!c day, THIS month>

Add it to your calendar now!

Team Sharing / Enlisting Co-conspirators

We, <team name> commit to learning... (something to prove or disprove)What we need to learn !rst is...To do this, the experiment we will run is...We’ll measure success/failure by...The help we need is...<Name> will post results on myproject.is by <speci!c day, THIS month>

I like...

I wish...

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Erin LimanInnovation Accelerator, Team WhispererInnovation is Social, LLC

twitter: @liman

blog: innovationissocial.comlinkedin.com/erinlimanabout.me/erinliman

Thank You!