The 3-4-5 Method™
The 3-4-5 Method™ is a team-based experiential innovation process grounded in design thinking principles constructed especially for professional service providers based on their temperament, training, work preferences and innovation needs. It makes clear the “how,” “who” and “what” so that creativity, collaboration, and innovation come easier than they otherwise might. As mentioned above, the Method is not only about creating solutions. It is also designed to help train the skills on the Skills Delta (including self-awareness, empathy, adaptability, cultural competency, creative problem finding and solving, business planning, communication, and collaboration). This thereby leads to the development of inclusive leaders who know how to provide client-centric full service client service that is focused on the client’s experience.
The 3-4-5 Method (TM): Described
At its core, The 3-4-5 Method is designed for multi-diversity teaming around a discrete challenge or opportunity. It can be used for one team hacking on one challenge or multiple teams hacking on multiple challenges. And the “challenges” can be problems needing to be solved, innovations wanting to be created, opportunities yet to be leveraged, or any other project i.e., revamping the current talent retention program.
The Method’s name is descriptive. The 3 stands for a process that always (no matter how long) occurs in 3 phases which are a 1) KickOff; 2) multidisciplinary teaming to develop a project; and, 3) ConPosium (pitch presentations to experts to receive feedback). The 4 stands “for” the period of time that the team sets at the outset for the innovation journeys and for the number 4 as in 4 months or less. (Perhaps it should be named the 3-for-5 Method). Although the method has been tested and proved successful in various increments of time (4 months, 3 months, one intense week, 3 days, and 48 hours), the 4 stands for the maximum number of months any innovation journey should exist before it reaches a ConPosium. Does this mean that a project will be fully baked by then? No, but it does mean that a decision about its viability and a business case and marketing plan justifying further development should be prepared and assessed by this time. Figure XX below depicts the phases. Just as the phases can be done during different time periods, they can be done either in-person or virtually. So the method, although it has structure, has baked-in flexibility.
The 5 stands for the 5 steps that each team must go through to move from an opportunity or challenge to a solution that has the possibility of viability. Although the steps are iterative, as explained in more detail, they provide a sequential trajectory for the team to measure its progression.
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