Visualization

Challenge & Selection   The first tool I used was a Visualization or Visual Thinking tool to achieve a shared understanding of  the problem area between a diverse group of teammembers before trying to identify and define           possible solutions to the problem.  I often use this approach with our teammates who are members of a college club working to apply  management concepts for the conduct of debate and deliberation on issues of national and  international importance. I used the technique of using a straw man to visualize a problem domain  with a set of questions or discussion prompts to allow team members to learn from each other in the  process of defining the scope, boundaries, key elements, and relationships between the elements to  be considered when identifying pain points and opportunities for improvement or solution.    Application   I start the process by creating a straw man with a problem domain graphic. In order to develop a straw  man graphic, I will draw on any existing material available to understand the environment. Existing  materials may include operating or procedural documents, training materials, marketing materials,  etc. If there is no material available, I will conduct informal interviews with one-three of the team  members who serve as my main contact points on the initiative.   The template that I often start with also has a column on the left to identify partners and prospects  who might be participating in the event. The straw man graphic is simple, with simple shapes and  icons available in Vision or on the Internet. If the front-stage/backstage view does not work, then I will  create a different kind of visual, either based on a high-level process flow with swim lanes for different  stakeholders, or a different format.   For the activity, I will divide the members of the team into groups of 2-3 participants, each  representing a different area of interest. Each group is provided with a poster-size copy of the straw  man graphic that can be written directly or used by sticky notes to make comments. I 'm giving them  two-three questions to answer, such as: 1) What key elements are missing from the graphic? 2) What  would you change with the graphic to make it more accurate to reflect your problem space? 3) What  key insights do you have about the relationship between entities in your problem area? I'll give them  about 20 minutes to discuss the issues and mark the graphic. Then I have each group report back on  their answers to the three questions while pointing to the mark-ups on their poster. As each group  reports, I record commonalities in the insights of each group, and then additional insights from the  group discussion on an additional copy of the graphic. After the session, I digitize each group poster  as an artifact, create a view that combines shared and new insights from the group discussion, and  then create a revised graphic that incorporates their feedback and proposed changes that they agreed  to as a group.     Insight & Approach   What I have learned from this exercise with a number of groups is that while the graphics – especially  the revised graphics that incorporate their feedback – are important for enhancing their  understanding of the problem they are working on, the more valuable aspect of the activity is the  shared insights and shared learning that occur while they are working on defining their problem space.  The graphic gives the diverse group of team members a focal point for discussion that enables them  to share their perspectives and to develop insights into the potential root causes of their problems.  While they could create a graphic from a blank slate in a collaborative way, starting with a straw man  jump starts a conversation for them. They can quickly identify where they are in the graphic – or if  they are missing – and can quickly gain new insights into the relationship between key entities instead  of taking time to identify them. They can also identify variables in the problem area – that is, it helps

them to identify what they don't know, in which areas they need to obtain information or data to  provide values for variables.

