Barclays · 2017–2019 · Head of Creative Technology and Innovation

Making room for experiments

Test the idea before committing to the build.

The challenge

Long release cycles meant opportunities could move on before features reached customers. The business needed a way to test feasibility and customer needs earlier.

What I did

My team built working prototypes in two-week sprints. We explored emerging technology and tested ideas with customers, including experiments in mobile cheque scanning. Workshops and demonstrations brought senior stakeholders into the process.

What changed

Leadership could make investment decisions using evidence. Experiments that did not reach production still provided learning and removed risk before a much larger investment.