Design Thinking Action Lab Lecturer: Leticia Britos Cavagnaro: Ph.D., Deputy Director of the National Center for Engineering Pathways to Innovation (Epicenter), Stanford University

1. @OmarEAvila
NovoEd plaform, Stanford University
Assignment 4: Prototype & Test
Design Thinking Action Lab

2. Your goal for this week’s assignment is to take ideas you generated as
solutions for the challenge out of your head and make them tangible to
get feedback from stakeholders.
Step 1 - Create TWO different prototypes.
Step 2 - Test the prototypes with people.
Step 3 - Write a reflection.

3. Problem statement:
One’s life is not lineal, it is organic. The business
world is changing faster than what educational
system does.
How can we get a continuous, flexible & personalized
education to cover the business demand but also
empower the talent of the people?

4. Let´s call it “Friday´s after work at work”.
Every Friday, at the end of my working journey (the last working hour), me and other
employees (regardless hierarchy) are invited (not a mandatory) to go to the office café to
have free drinks & some snacks in an informal sharing session.
While the people are coming, I ask for a drink and chat with some employees. After 10
minutes, the session starts: We all are standing up forming a circle, to preserve the
informality of the event.
In the following 30 minutes (maximum), any of those who wants, have 2 minutes to
share something with the rest: Project I am working on (state, evolution, success,
obstacles), books or articles I liked, passions, projects I have in mind and I need some
insights, collaboration or feedback, and so on. As I don’t know how many will come, I
don’t frame around a topic nor state how to determine who is going to speak.
After listening to the speakers (max 15 speeches x 2 minutes), it´s time for networking
and deep conversation on something that captured my attention.
Prototype for the solution “Informal sharing sessions with
employees”

5. As some may not attend the session because they are busy, or out of the office, we
record the speeches part.
For those who can’t attend physically the event, and want to join us, it´s possible
through a conference call.
The goal is to get updated with new knowledge and learning, strength collaboration &
team building and also connect with other colleagues that share common passion &
interests.
To promote this event among all employees, I’ll put a poster / notice information in
the café & I’ll talk with human resources & communication department to have their
Ok to send an email to all the employees and get the HR authorization to cover the
drinks & snacks cost.
Prototype for the solution “Informal sharing sessions with
employees”

6. + What worked
What could
be improved
? Questions ! Ideas
Easy to understand & visualize
the solution.
She likes that attend or participate is
not a mandatory
Interesting idea to record the event &
follow up the event by audio call
Get the HR & bosses authorization for
working 1h less on Friday
Chronometer the 2 minutes speeches
IT staff & technology: Record the
event & participate through audio call
Why on Fridays? Less meetings, wrap
up of the week, welcome the weekend
Why just 15 speeches as maximum?
To get the maximum concentration from
the audience
How to manage if the space is
overcrowded? Search for a new space

7. This is another solution for continuous learning, which is more sophisticated than the
previous one.
As one can be inspired at any time, I got the company authorization to put at least
one blackboard in the office (working rooms, café, toilet and so on) with this claim:
“¿What are you thinking on?”
At any time, and in any easy way, I can share my ideas & thoughts to transform the
world, share my passions, worries, projects in mind, hobbies, ask for help, ask for an
expert / advice on something, find collaborator, ask or propose ways to improve the
work, propose or ask for course, and so on.
To share my thoughts, I can use the blackboards, the windows or the walls as a
space. I can use post it, write in walls & windows with pens that do not damage them,
share photos, or physical objects (prototypes I made). Of course that all the materials
needed are provided for free.
Everybody is invited to participate, collaborate, share & learn: Employee, employer,
visitors (students, kids, family & friends), partners, clients, suppliers and so on.
The goal is to share & learn at anytime, anywhere and from everybody.
Prototype for the solution “Share ideas, knowledge and thoughts
in post it, at any time & place in the office, with free access to
everybody

8. + What worked
What could
be improved
? Questions ! Ideas
No idea is lost
¡You can write in windows & walls!
Engagement, collaboration & network
of connections between the people
Very low cost, but big impact
Implement step by step. Need open
minded organizations & people´s
culture
Confidentiality
The ideas are anonymous or not? The
participant decide depending on the topic,
his interests and so on
What about confidentiality? Depending
on the topic there is free access to
everybody, or just for employees or a
particular department

9. @OmarEAvila
NovoEd plaform, Stanford University
Assignment 4: Prototype & Test
Design Thinking Action Lab

10. @OmarEAvila
NovoEd plaform, Stanford University
Assignment 4: Prototype & Test
Design Thinking Action Lab