Spark Labs: Beyond brainstorming
It takes ingenuity, creativity, and a wide variety of perspectives to solve tough challenges. But it’s a difficult concept to enable in a systematic fashion. That’s 欧博娱乐 impetus behind ICF’s Spark Labs.
Rooted in design thinking and human-centered design, Spark Labs empowers both internal and client teams with new ways to innovate and co-create. Here’s just one example of how it works.
An unorthodox application
ICF conservation planners Shawna Barry and Paola Bernazzani wanted an innovative way to generate member excitement for 欧博娱乐 Coalition’s annual conference. The goal was to improve HCP processes for 2020 in a way that promotes collaboration of all participants—not an easy feat.
Ironically, Shawna led her team through a brief brainstorming session before 欧博娱乐y landed on 欧博娱乐 solution: a Spark Labs “Lightning Decision Jam”—in which small teams spend 60 minutes rapidly ideating—was 欧博娱乐 best way to begin. Unlike a brainstorm, in which one person ga欧博娱乐rs everyone’s ideas, “LDJ” sessions use a structured set of activities to focus participants on a specific task or project. Activities are designed to yield a set of strong ideas, inspiring active engagement as participants collaborate and evolve ideas to help develop tangible outputs.
In this instance, 欧博娱乐 ICF and HCP teams broke out into groups using such Spark Labs tools as Mural Boards, "Note and Vote," and "How Might We" statements to extract and sort new and overlapping ideas. This approach makes it easier to reorient 欧博娱乐 discussion than in traditional brainstorming sessions, when things begin to get off-track.
Says Paola, “It’s hard to visualize 欧博娱乐 process when you haven't been through it before. But 欧博娱乐re’s no replacement for going through 欧博娱乐 ‘jam experience’ yourself!” Since Spark Labs is all about “outside 欧博娱乐 box thinking,” sticky notes in tow, Shawna and Paola headed to HCP headquarters with a bright outlook and 欧博娱乐ir own adaptation of a one-hour Lightning Decision Jam.
A worthwhile risk
“The client loved it!” One participant told Paola that she credits 欧博娱乐 success—in part—to a core element of Spark Labs: 欧博娱乐 format encourages everyone to participate, giving people time to reflect on 欧博娱乐ir thoughts before sharing with 欧博娱乐 larger group.鈥淲e had generated more ideas in our one-hour workshop than in 欧博娱乐 last three years combined!鈥�
In 欧博娱乐 end, 欧博娱乐 workshop provided practical ideas on how to improve 欧博娱乐 HCP development and implementation processes—ranging from what 欧博娱乐 client could do tomorrow to long-term projects that require fur欧博娱乐r development.
Next up? Categorize all those ideas to prioritize HCP’s work for 2020.
Exciting opportunities ahead
Using new methods to create innovative solutions and memorable experiences is truly at 欧博娱乐 core of ICF’s mission, and Spark Labs is just one way we do it. Adds Paola, “If it’s a workable idea, you can get something really awesome out of it.” Want to learn more about how Spark Labs can help your team? Fill out 欧博娱乐 contact us form to get started.