The soft launch starts with selecting the right 'customers' to participate in the soft launch. You need to create the right mindset with staff, "once this starts do your job or fulfill your role as we planned" (Positions Description, Standard Operating Procedure, etc if any exist).

You don't test practice, only the game. You must stress test the offer and the support functions to identify failure points prior to the hard launch.

Topics: Profile of Participants: friendly, demanding, honest, low risk, look like real customers - is their storyboard similar to the beta? Preparing the Staff: everybody is to act as if it is real, including supervisors and managers. We can't learn if we don't act normal. The Event must be as real as possible. Don't test a practice! Execute according to plan or there is nothing to evaluate. The Debrief with the participants. Give them an opportunity to comment anonymously and then discuss the comments.