CHAPTER 9 - PROTOCOL 7

Innovation Pilot

TIME75 minutes to design; 30-60 day pilot

OWNERPilot sponsor with participating leaders and facilitator

ARTIFACTPilot charter + evidence-based scale decision

SUCCESS CRITERIA

The pilot tests one clear design hypothesis.
Participants, scope, support, application, evidence, and safeguards are defined.
Feedback examines experience, learning, practice, and early impact.
A predetermined decision point prevents automatic scaling.

IMPLEMENTATION STEPS

Frame the hypothesis

Define the problem, proposed learning design, expected practice change, and assumptions to test.

Design the smallest useful pilot

Select participants, duration, learning modes, application, support, comparison or baseline, and evidence.

Run and learn visibly

Gather rapid feedback and application evidence, document adaptations, and protect the pilot from premature judgment.

Make the scale decision

Review evidence and decide to adapt, repeat, expand, pause, or stop with a documented rationale.

WORKING ORGANIZER

Run the protocol.

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01Frame the hypothesisDefine the problem, proposed learning design, expected practice change, and assumptions to test.If we change this part of development, what do we expect leaders to do differently?02Design the smallest useful pilotSelect participants, duration, learning modes, application, support, comparison or baseline, and evidence.What is the smallest coherent test that can produce credible learning?03Run and learn visiblyGather rapid feedback and application evidence, document adaptations, and protect the pilot from premature judgment.What are participants experiencing, applying, and helping us understand?04Make the scale decisionReview evidence and decide to adapt, repeat, expand, pause, or stop with a documented rationale.What did the pilot teach, and what is the most responsible next move?

Evidence to bring backReturn date

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REFLECTION PROMPTS

What evidence would persuade us not to scale?
Did the pilot test the design or the goodwill of unusually motivated participants?
What conditions must exist elsewhere for the result to transfer?

EQUITY GUARDRAILS

Participation, evaluation use, privacy, and data ownership must be clear.
Do not shift uncompensated design or implementation labor onto pilot participants.
Study differential access and impact before scaling.