Busting Out of the Cubicle:Your Creative Self At Work

M.J. D’EliaRobin Bergart

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/acrlac13programevaluation

M.J.Learning & Curriculum Support

Instructor(Entrepreneurship)

Twitter: @mjdelia

University of Guelph

Innovation boot camp

innovationbootcamp.wordpress.com

goals• Demystify innovation• Introduce four mindsets• Meet new people• Have fun

RobinUser ExperienceLibrarian

four mindsets• Collaborator• Anthropologist• Cross-Pollinator• Experimenter

collaboratornetwork

1

collaborator (hallmarks)

• Coax people out of their silos• Cultivate a broad network• Form multi-disciplinary teams

1

collaborator (example)

1

explain this!activity

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explain this! (set up)

• Find a partner–Partner “A” and Partner “B”

• Grab one bag of Lego per pair

1

explain this! (Partner A)

• Select 15-20 pieces• Build an interesting structure

–Do not mix the sets or trade pieces• Time: 3 minutes

1

explain this! (Partner A)

• Explain your structure–Use a topic from the next slide

• Time: 2 minutes

1

list “A” (explain this!)

• Publishing• Nutrition• The circus• Hollywood• Moon excavation

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explain this! (Partner B)

• Select 15-20 pieces• Build an interesting structure

–Do not mix the sets or trade pieces• Time: 3 minutes

1

explain this! (Partner B)

• Explain your structure–Use a topic from the next slide

• Time: 2 minutes

1

list “B” (explain this!)

• Military• The ocean• Comics• Mexican food• Thunder

1

explain this! (debrief)

• Lego Serious Play• Mind stretch

• Signaling something different

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collaborator (application)

• Build teams with tasks• Work with the willing• Listen and learn• Be more playful

1

anthropologistobserve

2

anthropologist (hallmarks)

• Observe in the field• Pose questions• Challenge common wisdom

2

anthropologist (example)

2

visual deckactivity

2

visual deck (materials)

• Image deck• Lined sticky note• Something to write with

2

visual deck (instructions)

• Jot down 10 observations–What jumps out?–How are students using the space?–How are they interacting?

• Time: 4 minutes

2

visual deck (instructions)

• Find a partner and compare notes–What did you notice?

• What do your observations tell you about this library?

• Time: 4 minutes

2

visual deck (debrief)

• Observation vs. Interpretation• Observe then question

• Noticing leads to new ideas

2

anthropologist (application)

• Take time to observe• Get outside of your library• Ask questions (and then ask more)

2

cross-pollinatorconnect

3

cross-pollinator (hallmarks)

• Explore widely• Connect disparate ideas to create

something new• Make wild associations

3

cross-pollinator (example)

3

life is like...activity

3

life is like... (materials)

• White envelope• Something to write with

3

life is like... (instructions)

• Get in groups of 2 or 3• Grab a worksheet (inside envelope)

3

life is like... (instructions)

• Librarians are like __________• Discuss the three questions• Record your thoughts

3

life is like... (options)

• Lifeguards• Detectives• Auto mechanics• Lawyers• Dentists• Chefs

• Safari guides• Ski instructors• Waiters• Plumbers• Farmers• Pilots

3

life is like... (questions)

• What comes to mind when you think of __________?

• What would the profession look like if we acted more like _______?

• What would the patron experience look like?

3

life is like... (debrief)

• Generative analogies• Look for new possibilities

• Connect seemingly disparate ideas

3

cross-pollinator (application)

• Use metaphors and analogies• Read widely and explore new things• Talk to strangers

3

experimenteriterate

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experimenter (hallmarks)

• Make ideas tangible• Test and retest scenarios/products• Embrace failure• Prototype, prototype, prototype

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experimenter (example)

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three triesactivity

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three tries! (set up)

• Find a partner–Partner “A” and Partner “B”

• Grab one bag of Lego per pair

4

three tries (instructions)

• Grab a partner• Three successive builds

–Build #1: Partner A–Build #2: Partner B–Build #3: Both partners

4

three tries (scenario: partner A)

ACME Sleds manufactures high quality sleds and toboggans. You are the lead designer for their 2013 Super Sled Racer.

4

three tries (challenge #1: partner A)

• Build the 2013 Super Sled Racer–Use the Lego mini-fig (the Lego dude)–Use the black platform

• Time: 3 minutes

4

three tries (challenge #1: partner A)

• Explain the features of your sled• Time: 1 minute

4

good newsgreat reviews

4

bad newsaccidents

three tries (challenge #2: partner B)

• Build a winter-related product–Do NOT use the black platform

• Time: 3 minutes

4

three tries (challenge #2: partner B)

• Explain your winter-related product• Time: 1 minute

4

good newsrecord sales

4

bad newswinter blues

three tries (challenge #3: both)

• Build anything you can sell–Use any part of your inventory–You CAN use the black platform again

• Time: 3 minutes

4

three tries (challenge #3: both)

• Explain your new invention• Time: 2 minutes

4

three tries (debrief)

• Use your constraints• Prototype, prototype, prototype

• Tell the story

4

experimenter (application)

• Try stuff, fail, tweak and try again• Stay within acceptable loss• Build to learn; learn to build

4

bring it homecase study

collaborator• Networked with other reference

librarians• Establishing a community of

practice for reference

anthropologist• Student observation• Interviews & walkabouts• UX testing (signage, jargon, etc.)

cross-pollinator• Customer service research

–Zappos, Starbucks, Southwest, etc.• Site visits

–Passport office, retail, public libraries

experiment• Built our “lemonade stand”

–Inexpensive, flexible• Gathered user feedback• Next iteration ready for the Fall

bring it homeculture

culture of innovation• Ask why (and why not?)• Improve your capacity to notice• Explore the adjacent possible• Frame your problems for possibility• Learn by doing

Busting Out of the CubicleYour Creative Self at Work

M.J. D’Eliamdelia@uoguelph.caTwitter: @mjdelia

Robin Bergartrbergart@uoguelph.ca

ALA 2013: Chicago

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/acrlac13programevaluation

Busting Out of the CubicleYour Creative Self at Work

M.J. D’Elia & Robin BergartUniversity of Guelph

ALA 2013

Image: The Noun Project, Jakub Ukrup (cc) http://thenounproject.com/noun/rubiks-cube/#icon-No4929