WHY THIS WEEK?

The world changes every day. Exploring it can be an exciting learning experience—one that may even surprise you!

Many executives spend most of their time dealing with internal issues and never look at what's happening beyond the organization. Don't be one of them!

The biggest opportunities can be found at the intersection of global challenges [problems that need to be solved), exponential technologies [which can solve those problems], and business models [which monetize and grow your organization).

This week's assignment sets the foundation for the Edge Stream. It helps you gain a strategic overview of the world's greatest challenges along with the most important technologies that may disrupt your industry, either now or in the future. How is your industry already being reshaped? By looking “outside the building” you will gain an understanding of nontraditional and disruptive business models coming into use.

WHY THIS WEEK?

You have at your fingertips the opportunity to invent the future and make the world a better place.

Exponential technologies allow us to generate an abundance of anything. At the same time, there are countless global challenges that need to be addressed. In fact, the biggest business opportunities are usually related to the biggest problems the world faces.

As Thomas Edison said, “To have a great idea, have a lot of them.” So, this week you will generate as many ExO Edge Initiative ideas as possible in order to ensure success.

Imagine the next generation of Exponential Organizations leading a variety of industries and making the world a better place, all by leveraging exponential technologies and implementing disruptive business models.

This week's assignment allows you to unleash your creativity. It's time to dive into the future and define the most disruptive ideas for your industry and organization. Let those billion-dollar ideas flow! Starting with an expansive list of ideas will provide both inspiration and a wealth of options as you move forward.

WHY THIS WEEK?

Experimentation is crucial to any innovative project.

Steve Blank got it right when he said, “No business plan survives first contact with customers.” Any innovative business plan is just a set of hypotheses, so instead of immediately executing them, you must first evaluate them. Innovative business plans start by defining the problem you want to solve and then move on to the solution you intend to build for that problem. So, the first set of hypotheses to evaluate are the problem/solution pairs defined last week. This is what is called the Problem/Solution Fit.

This week, you will focus on running experiments to evaluate your hypotheses—the ExO equivalent of Steve Blank's “Get out of the building!”—which will allow you to gain experience using the Experimentation attribute.

Based on what you learn, your team will select the four most promising ideas to develop further in the coming weeks.

WHY THIS WEEK?

Up until now, you have been working on several ExO Edge Initiatives in order to explore as many opportunities as possible. It's now time to begin selecting the best ones based on the experiments you ran and what you learned from them.

Take into account that next week you will present your best ideas to a panel that will include ExO Disruptors [people from outside the organization who have experience either in your industry or with innovation in general] for feedback on the work you've done so far.

This week's primary assignment is to work on the presentations for the upcoming Disruption Session, which entails a five-minute pitch for each of the four initiatives. You will present your project to your company's leadership team, the other members of the ExO Sprint, and a select panel of ExO Disruptors, who will provide feedback.

MTP

Every ExO Edge Initiative must open with an MTP presentation.

Note that you may have several ExO Edge Initiatives sharing the same MTP. If so, explain the MTP first, followed by each of the ExO Edge Initiatives.

In general, use just one slide to introduce the MTP.

Problem/Solution

Introduce the problem before the solution.

Dnce the problem has been outlined, introduce the solution in an innovative way. A sample use case can be an effective way to illustrate your solution.

Use one slide for both the problem and the solution, or a different slide for each.

ExO Attributes

Since you are building new ExDs, you must show how you plan to reach abundance [using the SCALE attributes] and how you will manage it [using the IDEAS attributes].

You may also want to present the ExO Canvas and explain something about each of the ExO attributes as they are applied to the ExO Edge Initiative.

Business Model

You need to show not only how you will create value for users [although this may already be clear from the previous sections], but also how you plan to retain this value.

Include the Business Model Canvas on one slide or (perhaps even better] use a couple of slides to explain the foundation of the business model.

WHY THIS WEEK?

It's time to disrupt the industry before someone else beats you to it!

This week's assignment provides an opportunity to present your most promising ExO initiatives to a group of disruptors, who will then provide feedback on how to improve them.

Remember: Failure is part of the process. If some ExO initiatives are rejected post-presentation, don't take it personally. It's better to fail fast and cheap now than to fail later after having invested a lot of time and money.

Based on the feedback you receive, you may end up killing some of your ExO Edge Initiatives. On the flipside, you may well create new ones that will complement your portfolio. Always keep your eyes and ears open for new opportunities!

WHY THIS WEEK?

It's time to take your ExO initiatives to the next level!

This week's assignment is to formally define the assumptions underlying your ideas and prepare to test them further.

If you don't already have one, start by defining your ExO Edge Initiative business model so that you can build something that both generates value and retains it.

Next on the agenda is to begin building a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) that will facilitate learning more about your value proposition.

Are you worried you won't be able to accomplish all this in only one week? You can!

WHY THIS WEEK?

It's time for the truth!

Over the past week, you have been building prototypes of your MVPs, which will allow you to learn more about and improve your ExO Edge Initiatives.

This week's assignment provides experience exercising the Experimentation attribute at a deeper level by engaging early adopters with a concept they can respond to. The goal is to sell your MVPs to early adopters in order to validate that your value proposition for the market is the right one.

The experiment of building your MVP and selling to early adopters will help you evaluate the hypotheses related to the value proposition and the business model. This is what is called the product/market fit. In addition, you will also evaluate the hypotheses as they relate to the ExO attributes, which are key to building a truly Exponential Organization.

Getting your first client is one of the most exciting milestones for any new organization. Let's do it!

TEMPLATE to identify and evaluate key hypotheses

WHY THIS WEEK?

Last week you should have learned a great deal about your business model and the ExO attributes by testing your MVPs with real clients. This week, you will continue to develop your MVPs by running experiments.

At some point during the week when you have enough data, it will be time to face reality and make the necessary changes to your ExO Edge Initiatives to maximize your opportunities for success.

Modify or even pivot your ExO Edge Initiatives to ensure they are well positioned for success.

WHY THIS WEEK?

Time to prepare for the final presentation!

Next week you will present your best ideas to the leadership team. The goal is to elicit additional feedback and, most important, secure the funding needed to further develop the chosen ExO Edge Initiatives.

This week's assignment is to have your team assemble the components of your ExO Edge Initiative and create a comprehensive presentation showcasing the amazing work you've done throughout the ExO Sprint.

MTP

It's imperative to start each ExO Edge Initiative presentation with an MTP.

Note that you may have several ExO Edge Initiatives sharing the same MTP. If so, explain the MTP first, followed by each of the initiatives.

In general, use just one slide to introduce each MTP.

Problem/Solution

Introduce the problem before the solution.

Onee the problem has been outlined, introduce the solution in an innovative way.

Present both the problem and the solution, either together or separately, using a single slide or set of slides.

Case Study

When communicating new ideas, it's helpful to use storytelling techniques.

One option is to invent a story and illustrate it with pictures and diagrams that explain the problem and how your solution solves it.

We recommend using case studies if you are presenting six or fewer initiatives. Count on five minutes to present each initiative.

Business Model

Be prepared to show not only how you will create value for users [this may already be clear from previous sections], but also how you plan to retain this value.

Show the Business Model Canvas on one slide or use a couple of slides to outline your business model's foundation.

ExO Attributes

Since you are building new ExOs, you must show how you plan to reach abundance [using the SCALE attributes] and how you will manage that abundance [using the IDEAS attributes].

You may also want to present the ExO Canvas and explain something about each of the key ExO attributes as they are applied to the ExO Edge Initiative.

Scaling Stages

Using an exponential curve, show how the ExO Edge Initiative will, over time, have a global impact.

Include key points that address short-, mid-, and long-term outlooks.

Maintain an exponential mindset!

Key Milestones

Outline important milestones for the next few months.

Describe long-term milestones, applying exponential thinking and summarizing how you plan to achieve your MTP.

Budget

Estimate the budget needed to achieve the short-term milestones previously defined.

WHY THIS WEEK?

The big day is here!

This week you will present your ExO Edge Initiatives to the company's leadership team and selected advisors, who will then make a final decision about which initiatives to fund and develop.

The selection process is not the end—far from it, in fact. The development of your ExO Edge Initiatives marks the beginning of an industry revolution!