Reflection on VISUALIZATION

Challenge:

Our organization has a training course for auditors in timber industry. In timber industry, there are  different types of factories: harvesting, sawing, chipping, furniture making, warehouse, etc… With  different operations, the set up in the factories and warehouses are different and hence, the risks, which  depends on critical points of control, also varies. What we need after the training is that the trainees have  to understand different operations, and then identify the critical points of control and find the risks. We  must find the most efficient way to provide those knowledges to people with different background.

Selection:

We decided to use Visualization tool in order to create a shared understanding and imagination of  different operations.   We imagined that if we just use words to explain this part, different trainees would  think and imagine differently. So using pictures/drawing, it would be easier for the trainees to understand  and imagine. We also have trainees from different background, so we would ask the collaboration and  contribution from all of them to develop the most accurate visual of different operations.

Application:

So with the application, we ask the trainees to draw the map of an timber processing enterprise from  input to output, and identify the critical points of control that they know or they are working in on a piece  of A4 paper. To make sure that we cover the most types of operation as possible, we have a small  discussion at the beginning for the trainees to assign/choose which one they would like to draw. After the  individual working time, the class get together, each person presents their picture to the whole group. The  group then have the opportunity to discuss, share their insights and add/revise the details of each  drawing.

Insight:

With the exercise, the trainees have a big picture of all the operations/processes that they will work with  in their job. It is really interesting to engage different people with diverse range of experiences in the  process of co-creating the pictures. Through the visual creating process, each participant gains their  knowledge, not only from the instructor, but also from other learners in the class. The main valuable  aspect of this exercise is the shared insights and shared learning process. The tool not only makes it easy  for a diverse group people to imagine and remember the details, but also create the opportunity for the  participants to share their perspectives and develop insights into the topic.  From the drawings, the  participants then can easily dig down to further details in the whole process of timber manufacturing, i.e.  the associated risks, and then risk mitigation measures. It is also useful for the development of  management plan for the factory.

Approach:

After the process, we are thinking of doing it a bit differently, for example: doing in group, and ask the  participants to prepare some photographs before the course, and see if the exercise can be more  interesting and effective. With bigger group of participants, maybe group work would be better and easier  to manage within a limited time. Also, with real pictures of the operations, it would be easier for the  participants to visualize and understand.

