Reflection –Visualization

Challenge and Selection

I work at a company with regional offices, and I have to organize orientation programs for

new employees. It has been difficult to organize this program in person with all these travel

restrictions. So I have to find a way to do this online and allow the new employees to

understand the work environment and our company culture. The new employees come from

different countries and they are now working from home. It is not easy to effectively get our

messages across and get them engaged in an orientation program.

Then I discovered the design thinking tool, Visualization, to help me conduct the orientation

program. For an in-person orientation program, we already have powerpoint slides and

materials ready, but we have to make the activities available through online meetings, and

more visualized for the online program.

Application

Originally for in-person program, there was an activity about their preferences of work culture

and practices. On the floor, we would mark a line with a scale from 0 to 10, we would ask

them to come up from their seats, and stand next to the line that fits their preference.

So for online program, we would ask these employees to all come to a Google spreadsheet,

so that we could collaborate together online. We use cells in the spreadsheet to represent

the scale, and ask the employees to fill in their colors to indicate their preferences. This

allows us to bring the activities online and let the employees participate actively during the

online orientation program. And these activities provide them opportunities to discuss with

each other more visually in the online meeting.

Insight and Approach

In the after-program survey, the employees would have to provide feedback on what they

find useful in the online orientation program. Visualization is really effective in delivering

messages when people are likely to be distracted. Mony of them would find the orientation

program helpful in understanding the company. The program is not a one-way

communication in which we talk about the powerpoint slides. It allows the employees to

participate actively through the activities visualized with online tools. The satisfaction rate of

the participants could maintain as high as an in-person orientation program.

We will continue to improve our online program. When we are able to organize an in-person

program again, I will plan more visualization tools in the program. I believe using a design

thinking approach could help us achieve much more.


Reflection – Visualization Challenge and Selection I work at a company with regional offices , and I have to organize orientation programs for new employees . It has been difficult to organize this program in person with all these travel restrictions . So I have to find a way to do this online and allow the new employees to understand the work environment and our company culture . The new employees come from different countries and they are now working from home . It is not easy to effectively get our messages across and get them engaged in an orientation program . Then I discovered the design thinking tool , Visualization , to help me conduct the orientation program . For an in - person orientation program , we already have powerpoint slides and materials ready , but we have to make the activities available through online meetings , and more visualized for the online program . Application Originally for in - person program , there was an activity about their preferences of work culture and practices . On the floor , we would mark a line with a scale from 0 to 10 , we would ask them to come up from their seats , and stand next to the line that fits their preference . So for online program , we would ask these employees to all come to a Google spreadsheet , so that we could collaborate together online . We use cells in the spreadsheet to represent the scale , and ask the employees to fill in their colors to indicate their preferences . This allows us to bring the activities online and let the employees participate actively during the online orientation program . And these activities provide them opportunities to discuss with each other more visually in the online meeting . Insight and Approach In the after - program survey , the employees would have to provide feedback on what they find useful in the online orientation program . Visualization is really effective in delivering messages when people are likely to be distracted . Mony of them would find the orientation program helpful in understanding the company . The program is not a one - way communication in which we talk about the powerpoint slides . It allows the employees to participate actively through the activities visualized with online tools . The satisfaction rate of the participants could maintain as high as an in - person orientation program . We will continue to improve our online program . When we are able to organize an in - person program again , I will plan more visualization tools in the program . I believe using a design thinking approach could help us achieve much more .