From Ambiguity to Action: Using Design Sprints to Move Work Forward in Higher Education

Cross-functional work in higher education often stalls when competing priorities, unclear decision-making, and too much discussion prevent teams from making progress. This hands-on half-day workshop introduces a practical design sprint approach that helps participants frame problems, generate solutions, and move work forward with greater clarity, collaboration, and momentum. Grounded in a real higher education implementation focused on improving the new faculty experience, the session shares key lessons learned about how sprint structures can reduce decision fatigue, strengthen engagement, and create progress where traditional approaches often fall short. Participants will engage in a guided mini-sprint and leave with a practical structure they can adapt to their own institutional challenges.