run a pilot program

Meaning

This phrase means to conduct a small-scale, short-term experiment or trial to test the feasibility, time, cost, and potential risks of a full-scale project. It helps businesses identify problems before launching something widely.

Examples

• We plan to run a pilot program in three stores before launching the product nationwide.

  We plan to run a pilot program in three stores before launching the product nationwide.

• The HR department is running a pilot program for the new four-day workweek schedule.

  The HR department is running a pilot program for the new four-day workweek schedule.

• Running a pilot program allowed us to catch several critical software bugs early on.

  Running a pilot program allowed us to catch several critical software bugs early on.

• They decided to run a pilot program with a small group of users to gather feedback.

  They decided to run a pilot program with a small group of users to gather feedback.

• The success of the pilot program convinced the executives to fund the entire project.

  The success of the pilot program convinced the executives to fund the entire project.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ We will make a pilot program next month.

  ✓ We will run a pilot program next month.

  In business contexts, we 'run', 'conduct', or 'launch' a program or project, rather than 'making' it.

• ✗ They are running a pilot study program.

  ✓ They are running a pilot program.

  Combining 'pilot study' and 'pilot program' into 'pilot study program' is redundant. Use one or the other.

Related Expressions

Practice

• Before we roll out the software to all 500 employees, we should ___ with a small team.

  💡 Do a small-scale trial.

  Show answer

  run a pilot program

• The company decided to ___ to see if customers liked the new subscription model.

  💡 Test a new concept on a small group.

  Show answer

  run a pilot program