Bring a Challenge to a Lab

Bring a difficult challenge into the ASG Lab ecosystem before deciding what the solution should be.

Your Pathway

1. Describe → 2. Find the Labs → 3. See the System → 4. Hear Perspectives → 5. Reframe → 6. Choose What to Explore

1. Describe

Describe what is happening without prescribing the solution.

Capture:

• What is happening?

• Who experiences it?

• Why does it matter?

• What has already been tried?

• What remains uncertain?

You're done when: Someone unfamiliar with the situation can understand the challenge without being told what the intervention should be.

2. Find the Labs

Ask which ASG Lab ecosystems see different dimensions of the problem.

A challenge may belong to several Labs. Do not force it into one organizational category.

ScaleUp Lab usually becomes relevant later, when a sufficiently developed or tested response already exists.

3. See the System

Explore:

• institutions

• stakeholders

• incentives

• relationships

• policies

• resources

• histories

• power

• existing initiatives

4. Hear Perspectives

Find people who experience or interpret the challenge differently.

A problem may look very different to a mayor, farmer, researcher, investor, frontline worker, business, or community member.

5. Reframe

Ask:

What else might be happening here?

Develop several plausible interpretations before converging.

6. Choose What to Explore

Start a Social Lab Project →

Start Research →

Start a Design Project →

Start a Fellowship →

Start a Project →

Design an Experiment →

If a proven response already exists:

Explore ScaleUp Lab →