What the hell is a Model Office?
2 min readFeb 2, 2019
A Model Office knits together the people, process, and technology components of a new proposed solution. It iteratively tests it against real scenarios within a simulated work environment to evaluate the usefulness and effectiveness of that solution.
The Model Office engages the key people involved in the solution early in the development process — allowing for feedback as the solution is being developed. It is also a great way to obtain buy-in from all necessary parties, as it allows you to demonstrate the benefits of the solution early in the development process.
A Model Office:
- Unearths and tests assumptions baked into a solution to ensure it delivers the desired customer experience
- Validates that the new solution satisfies functional goals and meets performance and quality targets
- Facilitates early knowledge transfer to business teams — reducing the severity of the learning curve for staff who will use the solution
- Enables the gathering of feedback from a wider audience and adjusts the solution to meet identified needs and mitigate project risk
- Enables early identification of gaps in process, people, and technology
- Facilitates iterative design for the optimal way to fill potential gaps
- Encourages buy-in and develops champions for the new solution — easing the transition through delivery.
