Male Contraceptive Initiative (MCI)

Approach

MCI engaged noodle research + strategy to provide strategic ideation support focused on organizational design and team alignment as internal staff roles evolved. The goal was to develop a blueprint for operationalizing findings to direct future alignment efforts. The approach was a 4-phase engagement (Framing, Empathizing, Translating, Reporting). The core methodology involved collaboratively designing and facilitating a full-day, in-person workshop with MCI staff, supplemented by virtual sessions.

The workshop incorporated several collaborative activities, including Values Mapping (connecting personal drives to organizational principles), Role Mapping (articulating individual contributions and identifying overlaps/gaps), Journey Mapping (charting past triumphs and future milestones), and Ambiguity Mapping (defining agreements for managing structured vs. adaptive work).

Outcome & Impact

The project delivered a synthesized blueprint, directly addressing the need for greater role clarity and operational alignment. The workshop provided critical clarity on the distinct and interconnected responsibilities of the core leadership team (Executive Director, Chief Research Officer, Associate Director, etc.). It successfully reinforced the team's shared values and sense of collective vision. Specific opportunities identified to advance MCI's mission included:

  • Formalizing Roles and Accountability

  • Cultivating Internal Innovation and People Investment.

  • Navigating Ambiguity with Structure

  • Enhancing Knowledge Management and Ecosystem Engagement

  • Operationalizing Efficiency

The key impact was providing concrete tools and an implementation roadmap to ensure ongoing efficiency and cohesion, including the MCI Chart (a simplified responsibility matrix) and a dynamic Journey Map charting near-term and long-term strategic milestones.