Just-In-Time Learning

Just-in-time learning refers to acquiring knowledge, skills, or insights precisely when they are needed to address a specific challenge or make a decision. It is an adaptable and efficient approach that supports the iterative and fast-paced nature of both Design Thinking and Growth Hacking, ensuring teams have the information they need to innovate and grow effectively.

In Design Thinking:

• Addressing Knowledge Gaps: Just-in-time learning is valuable during the Empathise and Define stages, where teams may need to quickly deepen their understanding of a user demographic, industry, or technical domain to inform their problem-solving process.
• Enhancing Ideation and Prototyping: By accessing relevant knowledge or tools during the Ideate and Prototype stages, teams can explore and test ideas with greater confidence and accuracy.
• Fostering Adaptability: This approach ensures that teams remain flexible, acquiring knowledge in response to real-time needs and evolving challenges, enabling them to iterate effectively.

In Growth Hacking:

• Learning on the Go: Growth hackers use just-in-time learning to quickly acquire the skills or data needed to execute or optimise experiments, such as mastering a new analytics tool or understanding a newly emerging marketing channel.
• Speeding Up Execution: By learning only what is necessary at the moment, growth teams can focus on implementing and iterating strategies without wasting time on irrelevant or premature learning.
• Data-Driven Insights: Just-in-time learning is often informed by metrics or user behaviour, ensuring that knowledge acquisition is directly tied to actionable insights and outcomes.

Examples of Application:

• In Design Thinking: A team designing a smart home device learning about accessibility guidelines just before prototyping, ensuring the product meets the needs of users with disabilities.
• In Growth Hacking: A marketer quickly researching the best practices for creating TikTok ads to capitalise on a trending opportunity for a product launch.

Just-in-time learning is a practical and efficient strategy in both Design Thinking and Growth Hacking, enabling teams to remain agile and focused on solving the most pressing challenges. By learning as needed, teams can adapt quickly, implement informed solutions, and maximise the impact of their efforts.