3EO Organizational Experiment Canvas

#The problem this canvas solves

Organizational transformation is risky and complex. Big-bang changes often fail because assumptions aren't tested. The Experiment Canvas enables a scientific approach to org design: identify specific needs from the 3EO Map, design targeted experiments with clear hypotheses, run them in controlled contexts, and capture learnings before scaling. This reduces risk and accelerates learning about what works in your specific context.

#When to use it

The Organizational Experiment Canvas provides a structured approach to testing new organizational designs and practices. It connects experiments to specific needs identified in the 3EO Map, defines hypotheses through artifacts, and captures learnings for scaling.

Use this canvas when piloting new organizational mechanisms, testing design principles from the Strategy Setting Canvas, or validating assumptions about how the organization should operate.

#The canvas

The canvas in the updated Boundaryless brand (full resolution — click to zoom). A print-ready PDF and editable SVG are also available on request.

#Canvas structure

#Experiment Description

Provide a brief summary of the challenges the experiment will address and the solutions it will enable validation of

#Time Frame

Duration of the experiment

#Experiment Components

Look at the 3EO MAP to identify needs associated to some of its layers/key processes and the organizational artifacts able to address them as experimental hypotheses

#Execution

Successes — List how the experiment successfully created value

Lessons Learnt — Reflect on frictions, barriers and what to learn from them

#Scaling

To Be Scaled — The solutions to scale in the broader organization

Broader Needs — List structural needs for the broader transformation

#How to use it

Design experiments tied to 3EO Map needs, execute with clear hypotheses, and capture learnings.

#Steps

1. Design — Describe the challenge and connect to 3EO Map layers
2. Components — For each need, define an artifact and hypothesis to test
3. Timeframe — Set experiment duration
4. Execution — Run experiment and document successes and learnings
5. Scaling — Identify what to scale and broader needs revealed

#Tips

• Keep experiments focused on 1-3 needs
• Make hypotheses falsifiable
• Document failures as carefully as successes
• Connect learnings back to strategy

#Connections with other canvases

#Feeds into

• The 3EO Map — Successful experiments update the organizational map

#Informed by

• The 3EO Map — Map identifies needs for experimentation
• Strategy Setting Canvas — Design principles guide experiment hypotheses

#Where it's used

This canvas is documented in the 3EO Toolkit guide. It isn't yet wired into a modern technique or pipeline.

#Related reading

• Building Ecosystem Organizations — Discusses experimental approach to organizational transformation

#Resources

• Guide reference: 3EO Toolkit User Guide - Experiment Canvas chapter
• License: Creative Commons Attribution - Share Alike 4.0 International
• Version: 1.0

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Part of 3EO Toolkit · v1.0