Display

Challenge : The first tool I used was the tool of Visualization,  or Visual Thinking, to achieve a shared understanding of a  problem space among a diverse group of stakeholders before  attempting to identify and define possible solutions to the  problema .

Selection : I use this approach often with our customers, who  are government agencies working to apply technology  innovations to modernize their mission or the delivery of their  services to their customer, which may be U.S. citizens,  businesses, and non-citizens.

Application : I start the process by creating a straw man  graphic of the problem domain. To develop the straw man  graphic, I will draw from any existing material available to  understand the environment. The existing material may be  operational or procedural documents, training materials,  marketing materials, GAO or other auditing reports.

Insight & Approach : What I have learned from conducting  this exercise with several groups is that 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 problema space.

