Why This Stage Matters

After all the research, empathy, mapping, and planning, it’s time to act. The Launch phase is where your team moves from ideas to implementation — testing, learning, and improving in real time.

Before you launch, revisit your Design phase deliverables: your action plan, roles, and measures of success. Confirm that everyone knows their part and that you have the resources to start small but strong.

As you prepare to launch, be sure to:

• Identify your pilot site(s): Which department(s) or units will participate?
• Define clear goals: What change are you testing, and how will you know it’s working?
• Confirm leadership support: Do your sponsors understand and endorse your next steps?
• Communicate your timeline: Make sure participants know when and how things begin.
• Assign accountability: Who will monitor progress and troubleshoot challenges?

Once your pilot is underway, share what you’re learning — both successes and struggles. Transparency builds trust and momentum across campus.

Create space for your discovery team, pilot participants, and campus partners to reflect together. Host a brief share-out session or showcase (like the ones modeled in the Virtual Institute) where you can present your top barriers, “How Might We” question, and pilot outcomes.

Invite feedback from peers and leadership, and capture quotes and visuals to include in your next iteration or report. Every launch — successful or not — becomes a valuable learning opportunity for what comes next.