# OPS03-BP05 Experimentation is encouraged
<a name="ops_org_culture_team_enc_experiment"></a>

 Experimentation accelerates learning and keeps team members interested and engaged. An undesired result is a successful experiment that has identified a path that will not lead to success. Team members are not punished for successful experiments with undesired results. Experimentation is required for innovation to happen and turn ideas into outcomes. 

 **Level of risk exposed if this best practice is not established:** Medium 

## Implementation guidance
<a name="implementation-guidance"></a>
+  Experimentation is encouraged: Encourage experimentation to support learning and innovation. 
  +  Experiment with a variety of technologies: Encourage experimentation with technologies that may have applicability now or in the future to the achievement of your business outcomes. This knowledge may inform future innovation. 
  +  Experiment with a goal in mind: Encourage experimentation with specific goals for team members to reach for, or with technologies that may have applicability in the near future. This knowledge may inform your innovation. 
  +  Provide structured time to experiment: Dedicate specific times when team members can be free of their normal responsibilities, so that they can focus on their experiments. 
  +  Provide the resources to support experimentation: Fund the resources required to conduct experiments (for example, software, or cloud resources). 
  +  Acknowledge success: Recognize the value yielded by experimentation. Understand that experiments with undesired outcomes are successful and have identified a path that will not lead to success. Team members are not punished for undesired outcomes from experiments.