Problem: Innovation projects can drag on without focus, delaying useful results.

Solution: Use a 5-day sprint to quickly brainstorm, test, and refine ideas with a clear structure, helping teams make fast progress and gather user feedback.

Intro:

This section breaks down the essential tools, defined roles, and daily actions that drive a successful innovation sprint—from assembling the right team and setting up a focused workspace to rigorous testing and reflection.

Tools:

• Pre-Sprint Preparation
• Set the Stage: Assemble a diverse team including a Decider, Facilitator, and key experts across functions.
• Time & Space: Schedule a full five days and secure a dedicated workspace with two large whiteboards and supplies.
• No Devices Rule: Enforce a device-free room, allowing team members to step out if they need to check phones or laptops.
• Decider and Facilitator Functions
• Decider
• The Decider is a key decision-maker with the authority to guide the sprint’s direction. This role is typically filled by a leader, such as a CEO, product manager, or department head. Here’s what the Decider does:
• Sets the Vision: Brings a clear understanding of the problem and the desired outcome, providing the team with context and priorities.
• Final Decision-Making: While the team collectively brainstorms and votes on ideas, the Decider has the final say on crucial choices. This is especially important on Wednesday, when decisions on which solutions to prototype are made.
• Aligns the Sprint with Organization Goals: Ensures the sprint's objectives align with the organization’s broader goals and priorities.
• Engagement: Ideally, the Decider participates fully in the sprint. If full participation isn’t possible, the Decider should be present for key moments, like setting goals on Monday, deciding on solutions on Wednesday, and observing user tests on Friday.
• Facilitator
• The Facilitator is the sprint's “logistics guru,” managing the process and keeping the team on track. The Facilitator role can be filled by anyone with strong organizational and leadership skills, often someone neutral to the project who can remain unbiased. Here’s what the Facilitator does:
• Manages Time and Flow: Keeps the sprint on schedule by setting time limits for each activity and using tools like a timer to ensure everyone stays focused.
• Guides Discussions: Helps the team navigate structured discussions, summarizing points, steering conversations, and ensuring each voice is heard.
• Promotes Engagement: Encourages participation from all team members, ensuring no one dominates and everyone contributes ideas.
• Maintains Momentum: Stops the team from getting bogged down by debates or distractions, helping them move forward with clarity and purpose.
• Manages Logistics: Ensures the sprint room is set up with supplies, whiteboards, and clear schedules, and keeps everyone aware of the day’s agenda.
• Monday: Define the Problem and Goals
• Start at the End: Agree on a long-term goal and determine what success looks like for the project. Working Backwards
• Map the Challenge: Create a simple map of the problem, visualizing key interactions or user journey steps.
• Ask the Experts: Gather insights from internal experts to understand different aspects of the challenge.
• Target Focus: Choose a specific, ambitious part of the problem to solve within the sprint week.
• Tuesday: Develop Solutions
• Review Past Ideas: Look for inspiration and existing solutions to avoid reinventing the wheel.
• Sketch Solutions: Each team member individually sketches a detailed solution based on the Monday target, ensuring everyone’s voice is heard without groupthink.
• Wednesday: Decide on the Best Solutions
• Review Sketches: Discuss and analyze each solution sketch in a structured format.
• Vote and Select: Use a voting process to identify the strongest solutions. The Decider has the final say in what goes forward.
• Storyboard: Map out a step-by-step storyboard, planning the user experience for the prototype to be built on Thursday.
• Thursday: Build the Prototype
• Assign Tasks: Divide responsibilities, with each person focusing on creating part of the prototype.
• Prototype: Build a realistic façade of the solution that looks and feels real but doesn’t need to function entirely.
• Friday: Test and Learn
• User Testing: Conduct interviews with real users to observe reactions to the prototype.
• Analyze Results: Look for patterns in the feedback to understand what worked, what didn’t, and next steps for the team.
• Post-Sprint
• Reflect on the outcomes, determine immediate action steps, and decide whether further iteration is needed based on the feedback gathered.