by rgregorio | Feb 25, 2019 | Uncategorized
In a previous post, we talked about how to get started with ITK. In this post we’re taking it to the next level and sharing some Tool Chains for your consideration.
The concept of a tool chain is pretty straightforward. It involves using a series of tools in sequence, where the outputs of one is the input of the next. The image to the right shows a few examples of what a tool chain might look like.
If your project is brand new and you’re not sure where to start, try the I Need An Idea chain. It begins with a System Map to understand the environment and players, followed by the Lotus Blossom for some ideation. It wraps up with Stormdraining to remove options that might not be feasible or a right fit for the system you mapped out.
Have you tried any of the tool chains? Did you use another tool chain that worked well for you? Do the categories help you navigate through the toolkit to identify the right tool for you? As always, we’d love to hear from you! Drop us a note at ITK@mitre.org!
by Kaylee White | Feb 11, 2019 | Uncategorized
Several tools in the Innovation Toolkit invite users to sketch (i.e. Mind Mapping, Prototyping, System Mapping, Storyboarding, etc.), and that can be a little intimidating for some people. While I feel pretty comfortable throwing squiggles and shapes on a page or whiteboard, we often hear comments like, “I can’t even draw a stick figure,” or “I’m no artist.” If this is you, I encourage you to sketch anyway. Here’s why:
Sketching helps the brain process thoughts in ways that talking and writing can’t. The point of sketching for innovation is not to end up with a classy stick figure or an impressively round-ish circle, but to represent the process of thought and externalize ideas. It inherently embodies qualities that are important for the innovation process. It is naturally iterative, reminds us that failure is ok (thank you erasers!), and requires us to think critically.
Remember, thoughts are messy and sketching can be too! In my opinion, the scrappier the sketch, the better. Get a minimum viable sketch out and if it represents a good idea, refine it later. You just don’t know how good an idea is until you get it out, so give yourself permission to scribble, scrawl, and squiggle and you may find yourself looking at a good idea.
Post by Kaylee White, sketch by non-artist Dan Ward
by jessicay | Jan 28, 2019 | celebrating failure, Uncategorized |
No one likes to fail, but it happens to everyone at some point and it’s almost never fun. Dealing with failure is something that I have personally struggled with throughout my life. Early on, my parents instilled a drive to succeed in all of my academic endeavors. I was anxious every time my report card came out. Anything less than an A would be considered a failure and garner disappointment from my parents. Perhaps unintentionally, that created a deep fear of failure that manifested in various ways later in my life. I would be paralyzed when trying to write anything. Externally this would look like procrastination when in fact I was afraid of failing to create something less than perfect. Even when I could get started I would stay up all night tweaking and editing. This fear would even follow me into my martial arts practice. I would be fine when practicing with fellow students and instructors, but the moment I had to perform alone that fear of failure would creep up again. It took me a long time to realize that failure is not only just a part of life, but a necessary one.
Team Toolkit encourages people to think differently and to approach problem solving in new ways. This involves a certain level of risk. The new thing we try might work out fantastically or it might not. We could not encourage people to take risks and be bold with any integrity if we were not also willing to do so individually and as a team. So we make it a point to go after things that seem out of reach and try to also do things in novel ways.
In an early quest for funding, we had to suit up and present our Innovation Toolkit concept to a panel of judges. A lot was riding on this. We had done our initial ground work without any funding, but now that we were ready to move from concept to product we needed some cash. We worked hard on that presentation and it felt like the future of the project was riding on it. However, the judges did not select our project. We failed.
At that point, something really cool happened. Aileen, in her infinite wisdom, decided to mark the milestone and celebrate our first significant failure by bringing in our first Failure Cake. On this cake, in bold red icing, were the words “Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop.” It was delicious in so many ways.
This started our tradition of Failure Cakes. Now whenever we try to do something new and different, whenever we take a risk, we look at it as another opportunity to get cake. We celebrate our successes too, of course, but a successful proposal usually means more work and we don’t always have time for cake. Our failure cakes, on the other hand, are a bit more memorable. Maybe it’s because we need them more.
Our small team can’t usually eat an entire Failure Cake, so we share them with everyone in our hallway. And yes, we tell people why we are having cake, which allows us to talk about and reflect on the situation. This usually causes a bit of confusion, because most people are not familiar with the Failure Cake concept. However, sharing our failure is a way to let people know what we have been up to, to lead by example by celebrating failure, and hopefully to inspire and encourage others to be bold and try new things. Why? Because the worst that could happen is cake.
We’d love to hear how you encourage boldness or celebrate failure. And we’d really love to see photos of your failure cakes!
Post by Jessica Yu
by rgregorio | Aug 3, 2018 | Uncategorized
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Snackwave messenger bag wolf you probably haven’t heard of them chia. Art party pitchfork ut, leggings semiotics adipisicing etsy veniam selfies. Ramps photo booth chicharrones pork belly. Ullamco consequat austin marfa, 90’s mixtape vexillologist woke affogato neutra typewriter la croix. Tbh pitchfork aute, etsy raclette ugh cray wolf locavore sint tattooed pickled banh mi twee.
by rgregorio | Jun 11, 2018 | Uncategorized |
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