Design thinking-Visualization tool

Challenge:

My challenge was finding a way for a group of several background stakeholders (different areas  of expertise, different cultures, different positions…) to achieve a common ground in defining  the problems in their institution before jumping into solutions and resolutions that might not  be able to solve their actual problem. The main issue in this institution was the lack of  connectivity between the stakeholders who part of them is assuming a definitive solution to the  problem. They had very important data but they were not able to see above those numbers not  o put their common thoughts in a one big pot.

Selection:

I have used the visualization tool to get to a level of understanding of the problem among a  stakeholder of the XYZ company who have completely different backgrounds and field of  expertise. This tool help identifying and then defining possible solutions to the problem. I used  this approach using a stick man with a red cap- that was our superhero during the meeting- which added some humor to the whole scenario and helped in breaking the ice between all the  non-cooperative individuals who were on board.

Our superhero was trying to find a solution to this problem and he always requested clues from  the stakeholders to help them solve the problem which made stakeholders learn from each  other in the process of defining the scope, boundaries, key elements, and relationships  between elements to consider when identifying pain points and opportunities for  improvements or solutions. Different groups were asked to use different ways of expressing  themselves. Using patterns, colors and more.

Application:

I divided the stakeholders into groups of 5 participants each representing a different  background and area of interest. Each group got a big card board and a stickman figure  (wearing a cap, of course) and lots of sticky notes (bubble shaped to add the stickman’s  thoughts and feelings). They needed to answer multiple questions:

1) How do you define your organization?

2) What would you add to this cardboard to reflect all the problems that this stickman (which is  you) is facing?

3) What are the key insights that defines the relationships between the entities in your problem  space?

I give them approximately 20 minutes to discuss the questions and finish with the cardboards.  Then I have each group report out on their answers. As each group reports out, I recorded the  common insights of each group. Additional insights were recorded as well.

After the session, I created a whole new poster gathering all the information from all the  groups with all their reflections about this problem. And proposed changes that were agreed on  by the group.

Insight & Approach   While the graphic – especially the revised graphic that incorporates their  feedback – is important for reinforcing their understanding of the problem they are working to  solve; the more valuable aspect of the activity is the shared insights and shared learning that  occurs while they are working to define their problem space.

My superhero stickman gave the group of stakeholders a focal point for discussion that allows  them to share their perspectives and develop insights to uncover the causes of the problem and  not thinking about the solution before defining the problem. While working together, they  discovered that they are missing this channel that helps them identify their common grounds  and thoughts. They started to collaborate and they quickly identified the key elements of the  problem which helped them in adding all this information to their traditional data and be able  to obtain new values and variables that conducted them up to a preliminary agreed-upon  solution. This visualization activity should be the starting point for a series of design thinking  activities which will help the group of stakeholders in an XYZ company figure out a way  cooperating, without stress and anger, and identify problems and get to a solution.

