16 Course Module 3a: Production – Engineering a concept into reality for adoption
Example of Systems Thinking Plan Do, Study, Act Exercise (22)
In this skill students are introduced to the Deming methodology of using Plan, Do, Study, Act (PDSA) as a process for discovery and reducing risk and uncertainty to commercialize a concept. This makes it possible to dream up and build big ideas without having to know exactly how to do them in the beginning. Each prototyping event is an experiential memory retention learning exercise that builds on deductive reasoning from a previous cycle throughout the sequential stages of thinking.
There are two types of prototypes: Concept and Functional. A simple explanation:
- Concept: An idea expressed through written description that may also involve visuals or art
- Functional: A physical – mechanical device
The Challenge
You are to give a 1-hour presentation about your choice of subject to an audience of 300 people.
This will require you to develop prototypes to prepare for a speech prior to the presentation.
| Cycle | Answer: Do not use the word “I”. Write in concise short sentences 12 to 18 words. |
|---|---|
| Name of your presentation. (no more than four words) | |
| What is the headline for your presentation? (no more than 4 to 8 words) | |
| Define what you want to accomplish with your talk (educate, sell, inspire, activate, etc.) | |
| In a few short sentences… what is your presentation about? | |
| Identify a death threat, something that would cause you to fail. As you move through the cycles your intent is to resolve the death threat. | |
| PDSA Cycle 1: Describe a prototype of your presentation that you could build in less than a day. | |
| Feedback: Assuming you have one more day to work on your presentation, how could you get feedback? From whom would you seek advice? Feedback is similar to a prototyping cycle of your idea. | |
| PDSA Cycle 2: Assuming you learned something from the feedback. What would you do to apply any learning from your first cycle? Describe a prototype that you could build or update. | |
| Feedback: Assuming you have three more days to work on your presentation, how could you get feedback? From whom would you seek advice? | |
| PDSA Cycle 3: Assuming you learned something from the feedback, what would you do to apply what you learned? Did you resolve the death threat identified at the start of the exercise?
Since this is the final stage… what would you do to prepare and get ready for your speech? This is the conclusion of the process. |
