My Class Assignment for the Design Lab

1. Prototype and Test
Hari Iyer

2. Problem Statement
The First time Job seeker
Needs a Way to
Cross the Threshold from Student Life to Work Life
Because
He feels uncertain of himself

3. Top three Ideas :
• My favourite idea
– Organizations introduces a flexible induction program
which allows new employees adequate time to adjust. This
induction could be a combination of organizational work in
an academic setting.
• Most disruptive
– Go backpacking across Europe to experience the feel of
real world.
• The most practical idea
– Organization puts the new inexperienced employee
through a rotation program across various departments
before he is assigned his regular job.

4. Idea chosen for two prototypes
Organizations introduces a flexible induction
program which allows new employees
adequate time to adjust. This induction could
be a combination of organizational work in an
academic setting.

5. Prototype I
Work while you learn…
- Work Setting
- Learning Curriculum
- Mentor panel
- Review mechanisms
- Buddy system
- Technology support
- Parental Involvement
- Feedback systems
- Flexible timelines

6. Essential Elements Prototype I
• The orientation is one of learning so it
becomes an extension of the college.
• The learning is from projects which
integrates theory and practice.
• There is a panel of mentors similar to the
Academic advisors who help you with
adjustments and work practise related issues.
• There are weekly reviews to see if the
process is helping the new entrant integrate

7. Essential Elements Prototype I contd…
• The new entrant has a buddy who is his co-
entrant this would help them to jointly deal
with any ambiguity.
• Technology becomes a part of the integration
where individuals can blog and be a part of a
larger community across various divisions of
the organization.
• Parents are invited to be a part of integration
to support the youngsters feel good.

8. Essential Elements Prototype I contd…
• Constant feedback is sought from the
youngsters and real time changes are
incorporated.
• The individual is given adequate time to
decide when he would be moving into a
regular role.

9. Prototype II
Learn while you work….
Group setting
Technology intensive
Departmental rotation
Coaching intervention
Assessment Mechanism
Seniors as buddies.
Flexible time option for moving into regular
work.

10. Essential Elements Prototype II
• Organize as team for all activities
• Make all learning process technology
intensive. Using group learning of online
courses.
• Let each individual in the team work in
different departments and the group
integrates their learning. There is periodic
rotation of individuals to other
departments.

11. Essential Elements Prototype II contd…
• Each individual has a coach which could be a
senior executive of the company.
• The learning assessment is done periodically
on two parameters. 1 integration with the the
organization and 2 Confidence ingetting to the
job.
• Each group has a last year fresher as a
buddy who would be able to empathize with
the individuals and also help them cope with
the organizational pressures.

12. Essential Elements Prototype II contd…
• Give the enough time for them to
decide when they want to move on to the
job.. Make this a group decision.

13. Testing of the Prototype
Both the prototypes were tested with 2 sets of
individuals.
1. The college student making the transition.
2. The HR manger who manages the induction for a
progressive organization
3. Individually to both of them I explained in detail
both the prototypes one after the other.
4. I asked them what according to them would work
or not work.
5. I have captured their comments in the slides
which follows…

14. Testing with a Student
Prototype I Prototype II
• It is like an extension to
my college so feel
comfortable.
• The mentor is a great
idea but hope they are
more active than our
Academic advisors.
• Why involve parents, I
would be embarrassed.
• Blogging is a good way to
learn from each other
• What does enough time
for decision to move to
regular job mean ??
• Working as a team is better
as there are others who
would be complementing.
• Working in variouys
departments and sharing the
learning is a great idea so
that I know of the whole
organization simulteanously.
• Can it possible for the
buddy to be an Alumni of
our College.
• Do you think all of us
would be ready to move on
to regular job together??

15. Testing with a Student ( contd)
Prototype I Prototype II
• The buddy system is
good but how would it
work if both of us are
novices, can we have
the last year entrant as
a buddy
• Like the regular
review process but wht
will the review be
based on. Hope this is
not a test or
assignment.
• Working as a team is
better as there are
others who would be
complementing. It would
be great if all of us
belonged to the same
College.
• Working in various
departments and sharing
the learning is a great
idea so that I know of
the whole organization
simultaneously.

16. Testing with a HR manager
Prototype I Prototype II
• This requires a mind
set change in the
organization. You
should incorporate
that in your design.
• Organization needs to
sanction resources for
this kind of activities.
I am not sure if
these is feasible..
• The group based
activites is good fgor
the individuals as they
learn to work as a
team.
• The job rotation
across the various
departments is an old
practice and this has
proven sucessful.

17. Final say by the HR manager
• Both the options seems good but with
attrition running high with the new joinees
I doubt the organization would like to
invest in this long socialization process.
• I suggest that you design the final solution
as mix of both prototypes.

18. Thank you…