Case Reflection – Visualization

Challenge & Selection

The to begin with device I utilized was the instrument of Visualization, or Visual  Considering, to attain a shared understanding of a issue space among a different  gather of partners some time recently endeavoring to distinguish and define possible  arrangements to the issue. I utilize this approach frequently with our clients, who are  government agencies working to apply innovation developments to modernize their  mission or the conveyance of their services to their client, which may be U.S. citizens,  businesses, and non-citizens. I have utilized the technique of employing a straw man  visualization of a issue space with a set of questions or prompts for discussion to  permit a diverse group of partners to memorize from each other within the prepare  of defining the scope, boundaries, key components, and connections between  components to consider when identifying pain focuses and openings for  advancements or solutions.

Application

I start the method by creating a straw man graphic of the matter domain. To develop  the straw mangraphic, i will be able to draw from any existing material available to  know the environment. the prevailing material could also be operational or  procedural documents, training materials, marketing materials, GAO or other  auditing reports. If materials don't seem to be available, then I conduct informal  interviews with one-three of the stakeholders who function my details of contact on  the initiative. If appropriate to true, i will be able to borrow the concept to “front- stage/back-stage” from previous research, and discussed in David Gray’s book, “The  Connected Company”. The front-stage/back-stage approach helps to bolster the  notion that each service – even an enclosed service – has customers with whom the  service provider interacts and internal processes that enable the organization to  supply the service. The template I often start with also contains a column on the left  to spot Partners and Value Chain Providers and a column on the correct to spot  Oversight Organizations, like Congress, GAO, labor unions, advocacy groups, and  other entities that will add constraints to how the organization operates. The straw  man graphic is straightforward, using simple shapes and icons available in Visio or on  the Internet. If the front-stage/back-stage view doesn’t work, then i will be able to  create a special kind of visual, either supported a high-level process flow with swim  lanes for various stakeholders, or another format. For the activity, i'll divide the  stakeholders into groups of 5-6 participants each representing a different  organization or area of interest. Each group receives a poster-size copy of the straw  man graphic that they'll pen directly, or use sticky notes to form comments. I give  them two-three questions to answer, such as:

1) What key elements are missing from the graphic?

2) What would you change about the graphic to form it more accurately reflect your  problem space?

3) What key insights do you have about the relationships between the entities in your  problem space?

I give them approximately 20 minutes to debate the questions and price the graphic.  Then i've got each group report out on their answers to those three questions while  pointing to the mark-ups on their poster. As each group reports out, I record  commonalities within the insights of every group, then additional insights that come  from the give-and-take on a further copy of the graphic. After the session, I digitize  each group’s poster as an artifact, create a view that mixes the shared and new  insights from the give-and-take, then create a revised graphic that includes their  feedback and proposed changes that they agreed to as a gaggle.

Insight & Approach

What i've got learned from conducting this exercise with several groups is that while  the graphic – especially the revised graphic that comes with their feedback – is very  important for reinforcing their understanding of the matter they're working to  unravel, the more valuable aspect of the activity is that the shared insights and  shared learning that happens while they're working to define their problem space.  The graphic gives the various group of stakeholders a point of interest for discussion  that enables them to share their perspectives and develop insights into potential root  causes of their problems. While they could create the graphic from a blank slate in a  very collaborative manner, starting with a straw man jump starts the conversation for  them. they will quickly identify where they're within the graphic – or if they're  missing – and may more quickly gain new insights about relationships between key  entities rather than taking time to spot them. they'll also identify variables within the  problem space – that's, it helps them to spot what they don’t know, in what areas  they have to get information or data to produce the values for the variables. Since I  discovered that the foremost valuable aspect is that the shared insights and learning,  next time i'd use the visualization activity as a start line for a series of design thinking  activities. Then the revised graphic that comes with their combined feedback can  function a reference tool throughout the remainder of their work.

