Development
Vision = reality
Experimental Framework
The mantra behind this Way of Working is to discover new boundaries. In order to constantly improve a process, there needs to be a framework to ideate, experiment and document better ways of working. The experimental framework provides that.
Within a project and across multiple projects, there are too many moving parts for a single person to be across. Instead, the experimental framework encourages that everyone participates in process improvements. If the results of an experiment are positive and approved by the appropriate stakeholders, it becomes a part of this Way of Working. To ensure the best possible fit, it is recommended that you make your own adaptations to this Way of Working using the experimental framework.
Broadly speaking, the experimental framework is comprised of five steps.
Identify area of improvement
The first stage of an experiment is to identify the need to conduct one, and then clearly explain what the problem is. Useful questions which can assist in this process are:
- Where did the problem occur?
- When did the problem occur?
- What process did the problem involve?
- How is the problem measured?
- How much is the problem costing?
Analyse current methods
To find the best solution, the cause of the problem must first be identified. The root cause can be found through analysing the historical data and speaking with people this problem has affected.
Start by documenting the current methods and the issues that arise. It’s important to document constantly and thoroughly as you progress through an experiment.
Generate ideas or improvements
The next step is to identify potential solutions. Brainstorming is an important part of this step, as it helps conceive of a range of solutions. For each idea, establish how it will help solve the problem and any potential pros and cons.
Develop an Implementation Plan
After a range of solutions have been identified, choose the most promising one to experiment with. The next step is to create a strategy to implement the solution. The following points should be answered in the Implementation Plan:
- Who is in charge of the experiment?
- Who is involved in the experiment?
- What is the duration of the experiment?
- How are we implementing the experiment?
- How to track or measure the experiment (in money, time, customer satisfaction, or another critical metric)?
Evaluate the experiment
Once the Implementation Plan has ended, the findings of the experiment are discussed amongst the stakeholders. They will then determine whether the experiment achieved the measurable goals and if it could be considered a success. If the method failed, it should be identified why and whether a new experiment should be conducted.
If the experiment succeeded, then the strategy should be proposed to management, who alongside the experiment stakeholders, will determine if the strategy is both beneficial and applicable across the project or the company as a whole. If the method is approved, it becomes a part of the Way of Working.