Project 1

Project-1 (Fail fast): A team project (25% weightage)

The project titled "Fail fast" involves 3 iterations of the idea to demo loop. Please note that how you arrive at the results is more important than the results themselves. So please mention the steps taken to arrive at the results (challenge, ideas, solutions, prototypes, etc) and the results. For each of the steps below (1(a), 1(b),… etc.), please provide evidence that you carried it out.

File size limit: max 15 pages, 12 pt font, PDF document.

Step-1 (a): Selection of a challenge theme 

a. Every team member to contribute one challenge theme. This is similar to the class exercise where the following challenge themes were contributed: French politics, 8 am class, hosting guests, eating spicy food, overeating, money, going to gym, etc.

b. Among these options, the team selects one challenge area. Please consider the interests of as many team members as possible. If you choose an area where one team member is an expert, and others don’t have interest, it eventually affects the quality of the work. Please consider the chance of prototyping as a criterion. 

Step-1 (b): Interviewing based on the selected theme

a. For the challenge area selected in step-1, each team member is to interview at least one person outside the team. Please don't try to sell any solution yet. Just try to understand what it means to him/her. 

b. As a team, identify 3 issues (dark spots), and 3 things working well already (bright spots) based on these interviews. 

Step-2: Metaphoring framing: (Team exercise)

a. Identify your focus area among the dark and bright spots 

b. Identify a metaphor relevant to your focus

c. Frame a challenge statement with a metaphor and an attribute (eye care delivery as efficient as McDonald's - attribute is efficient, metaphor is McDonald's, making camera as accessible as a pencil - attribute: accessible, metaphor: pencil)

d. For the challenge statement mentioned in step 2(d), identify the crux - what you consider as the most difficult part of the challenge. Why is it the crux? Why do you feel the crux is potentially addressable?

Step-3: Generation of ideas (solutions) to the proposed challenge: (Team exercise)

a. Use the metaphor to generate a few ideas. For example, Tesla metaphor can be used to generate ideas such as: high-tech scooter, luxury brand, over-the-air software upgrade, etc. (min 3)

b. Use Systematic Inventive Thinking (SIT) to generate ideas (min 3) (Use techniques like subtraction, division, etc. mentioned in class 6)

c. Use internal bright spot approach to generate ideas (min 3)

d. Identify a wild idea. It could be one of the ideas mentioned in 3 (a, b, c). Or it could be new. Mention the reason that makes it a wild idea. (min 3)

Step-4: Selection of solutions

a. Use the cost-impact matrix and plot ideas from step 3 on the matrix (Please see this example.) Please mention your assumptions.

b. Select 2 ideas –  at least one idea should involve an emergent technology 

Let's denote the 2 selected ideas, soln-1, and soln-2, solving the challenge framed in step 2. 

Step-5: Prototypes

a. Before-and-after storyboard (2, one for each solution, soln-1 and soln-2)

b. Looks like prototypes (2, one for each solution, soln-1 and soln-2)

c. Design of 1-day low-cost works-like prototype (2, one for each solution, soln-1 and soln-2)  

For each of the works-like prototypes, mention:

1. Objective

2. Resources needed and how to procure/access them

3. Cost of the resources (estimate is ok)

4. Duration of the experiment

5. Success criterion

d. Testing result of at least one 1-day works-like prototype (think of Dunzo's WhatsApp experiment, or spice-strips and flavour pills testing) 

Step-6: Testing: Feedback on prototypes from potential customers

Step-7: Refinement Based on the feedback, refine the challenge and/or solution and test again. Mention the new assumptions and do at least three tests.