Industry Discovery Lab

Q: Why an Industry Discovery Lab approach in the classroom?

A: Within many organizations, a culture of collaboration is emerging as the preferred and most effective environment for managing the myriad of challenges facing businesses today. Research has indicated that a culture of collaboration is ideal for developing skills and abilities and improving workplace development, in addition to being more cost effective.

The typical sequence for instruction is to:

  • Develop a construct of “classroom collaboration”
  • Pose a challenge that promotes curiosity, inquiry, and reflection

• Industry/Faculty set up the Business Critical Incidents with the class.

• Students start with a problem planning sheet to design the problem investigation

• Industry/Faculty review their plan and once approved, students can be given a set of small group assignments

• Students collect their data, analyze it, and draw conclusions; they prepare a report and make a presentation and share it with their fellow students

ROLE OF THE FACULTY:

Faculty will work closely with the class throughout the entire process to ensure they understand the industry organization’s needs and create a solution that aligns to the business objectives. The goal is to create transformational and unique experiences for students and the business that helps drive change long after a program is over.

  • The team must function like a real team, rather than a team in name only
  • It must have compelling direction for its work
  • It must have an enabling structure that facilitates teamwork
  • The team must operate within a supportive classroom environment
  • The team needs to have solid teamwork coaching

ROLE OF THE INDUSTRY PARTNER:

Representatives from diverse facets of the global trade, supply chain, ecommerce and logistics industries from small to medium to large businesses is encouraged. Private industry partners will provide the framework for discussion and insights to create a fully integrated and immersive experience for the students.

  • Provide critical incidents or recurring themes, trends or issues worthy of exploration
  • Provide an opportunity for students to experience a “day in the life” of an individual working within the field by exploring real issues
  • Instill the right mindset in students to prepare them to gain entry as potential future workforce candidates

SAMPLE DISCOVERY CHALLENGE:

Organization/Critical Incident: American manufacturer is losing market share in an industry that is losing business to overseas competitors. In order to remain strong in a highly competitive, now global arena, they need to innovate their product lines and streamline their “go to market strategy.”

Goal: To differentiate their products/product line and develop a strong culture of innovation and strategy within the organization that continues to evolve as new challenges arise.

Solution: Design a program focused on innovation, strategy and a realignment of leadership’s thinking to position them as an industry thought leader and innovator. Analyze the company product line in order to differentiate from the competitor’s brands, by keeping the “rising stars” of the new products while phasing out legacy brands in order to build a foundation for further innovation and growth.

GLOSSARY OF TERMS:

Market Share

Go To Market Strategy

Differentiate Products

Innovation

Realignment

Product Line

Legacy Brands

Organizational Change

CLASSROOM SESSIONS: ANALYSIS TO ACTION

INDUSTRY & STUDENTSFACULTY & STUDENTS:

Industry Analysis& Strategy Effective Teams

Competitive AdvantageCapture Your Takeaways

Strategic Financial Decision-Making Capture Your Takeaways

Scaling Organizational Change Group Discussions

Action PlanningReflection Time/Coaching