April 23

Hi IIP Partners

The last couple of weeks in IIP have involved a shift from the deep dive phase of the projects into a new phase focused on ideation and the generation of possible responses to the challenge. This has included a unit on complexity and reframing, where students have exploring potential intervention strategies based around building resilience for organisations experiencing disruption, facilitating transformation through strategic "nudges", and seeing what insights they can gain by "reframing" their challenge to consider it from different perspectives. The students also identified some great examples of rapid adaptation that that they've observed within their partner organisations, within the industry sector they're working in, and around their own lives more broadly. You can see some of the examples the students compiled here: https://padlet.com/electros/adaptation

On the topic of rapid adaptation, we've also seen some amazing pivots from students and partners as the COVID-19 pandemic has flipped some projects on their heads and created new priorities. One great example is the Mission Australia team who were asked to change course and help out with a pressing need for Mission Australia Housing to better connect with tenants during this isolation period. The students responded by producing a phone call script and a check-in flyer to identify immediate needs that has been dropped in tenants' mailboxes as well as being accessible online.

Check out the Mission Australia case study on the Resource Hub here.

Going forward, the students will continue their focus on intervention strategies next week, looking in particular at testing and refining their ideas through "safe-to-fail experiments".  They'll also be planning a mid-project check-in with you by 8 May. This check-in is an opportunity for you to hear about the various methods they've been applying to your challenge and the insights they've gained, as well as agreeing on a pathway forward together. We recommend that you involve both the regular contact and executive sponsor in this check-in if possible - or at least keep the executive sponsor in the loop about the outcomes if they can't join in at the time. Each team's tutor will also reach out to you after the check-in to see how things have been going and complete the triangle of communication between partner, students and tutor.

Alex

Acknowledgement of Country

UTS acknowledges the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the Boorooberongal people of the Dharug Nation, the Bidiagal people and the Gamaygal people, upon whose ancestral lands our university stands. We would also like to pay respect to the Elders both past and present, acknowledging them as the traditional custodians of knowledge for these lands.