1. Project
Who I Collaborated With
Ruth, a brilliant senior associate
Associate, I was to report to the Senior Associate (Project Lead)
My Role
Product design
Experiment design
Created presentations
Managed experimental results
Collaborated in meetings
My Responsibilities
What phase of the project are we in?
2. Objectives
Problem Space
Researching, developing, and pilot testing custom student financing options.
A credit company partnered with a university in Nairobi in order to provide scholarships and support for piloting a variety of student financing options.
Intended Outcomes
Create personalized loans that meet students' unique needs and ability to pay back.
3.Work
Phase 3 Process Outline
Constraints
In order to launch the pilot experiment to incoming students, we had to pause the project and wait until the new semester.
This was during covid-19 so it was difficult to predict if a similar amount of students would enroll that year and if it would affect our sample size.
Product Design + Workshop
After selecting and collaborating with a third-party financer we created financial options specific to the student segment needs
In addition, we held a co-design workshop with students to finalize the products. I have included one of the three segments with their finalized product:
The Dependent Student Product:
Phase 1&2 Summarries
I have added finding summaries for Phases 1&2 to better understand our work for phase 3.
Pilot Testing
We decided to pilot test the products by having incoming students participate in an experimental design focused on understanding segment differences, whether segments select the products meant for them, their attitudes toward the products, how well they understand what the products provide, and what attributes they prefer the most about the products.
Pilot testing products on 300-400 current and upcoming students
Methodology
Experimental Design Key Objectives
The experiment’s key objectives were to measure key attribute preferences, comprehension, product uptake and attitudes & perceptions.
Sample Questions & Activities
I have added examples of questions and activities for each key objective from the experiment:
Attitudes and perception (Risk, Trust, Reducing Bias)
Example 1
Example 2
2. Key Attribute Preference
Example 1
3. Comprehension
Example 1
4. Product Uptake
Example 1
4. Final Outcome
In order to pilot test in the new school semester, the project was paused at this stage for several months.
5. Reflections
Future Considerations + What I would do differently
1. Research industry and terms
I had no previous experience with the financial industry, thus, I put time aside to learn about common and uncommon financial options for students. This way I could have a deeper understanding of the context and better prepare myself for meetings.