Challenge & Selection

The tool I choose was Mind Maping, to find posible answers and solutions form many  problems between all the employees of a PYME, who are part of different áreas of it, like  marketing department, sales department, customer service, graphic design, etc. We had tried  other tecniques before, like reunions, speaking by turns and saying why they thought or what  was their points of view regarding the deparment they are part of, but I think that Mind  Maping is a tool who Will permit visualize better the possible solutions, key elements,  opportunities, and achieve a better understading between all the stakeholders.

Application

I started the process collecting all the data, information, graphics and relevant material  available about our company and our customers. That included interviews, insights, audits,  procedural documentes, etc. I selected a big room, well illuminated, were I placed all this  materials stick to the walls, so participants could walk, watch to them freely, and analize all the  information.     I divided the participants into groups, regarding the departments they are part of. I gave them  sticky notes of different colors, and pens. They had 30 minutes to make a tour around the  room, take notes of what they think were relevant, and classify them with different colours of  sticky notes, as they thought it was better to do. They had de possibility to make the activity  on their own, or sharing the process with their partners. Then, they came back with their  groups, and I gave them 20 minutes more to put all the notes together, organize them,  separate them by themes, and take a look to them agian, to order the ideas and discuss them  with the group.

Once they were done, I asked to the groups, one by one, to propose a theme. They had to put  the chosen theme in a big blackboard, and then the other participants had to put their notes  regarding that theme all together. Once they were done, I started to ask questions about the  specified theme, and invited them to make conclusions or give any relevant idea about it.

Insight & Approach

What I learned with the application of this exercise and tool is that, despite we took great  conclusions and ideas from it, it’s really important the comprehension about the problema we  have to solve, working together, cooperating, and share knowledge that, otherwise, they  wouldn’t know. With this activity, they knew and learn a lot of important information about  the work other departaments do in our company, and the importance of the work of al lof  them. This activity was usefull to share diferente points of view about the same problems, and  the basic causes of them, finding creative solutions to solve them.

Since I discovered the importance and the power of design thinking and tools like mind  maping, I use them as starting point in some other problems solving. It not only help us to find  creative solutions, but also to create a unit in our working group and fellow partners.


Challenge & Selection The tool I choose was Mind Maping , to find posible answers and solutions form many problems between all the employees of a PYME , who are part of different áreas of it , like marketing department , sales department , customer service , graphic design , etc . We had tried other tecniques before , like reunions , speaking by turns and saying why they thought or what was their points of view regarding the deparment they are part of , but I think that Mind Maping is a tool who Will permit visualize better the possible solutions , key elements , opportunities , and achieve a better understading between all the stakeholders . Application I started the process collecting all the data , information , graphics and relevant material available about our company and our customers . That included interviews , insights , audits , procedural documentes , etc . I selected a big room , well illuminated , were I placed all this materials stick to the walls , so participants could walk , watch to them freely , and analize all the information . I divided the participants into groups , regarding the departments they are part of . I gave them sticky notes of different colors , and pens . They had 30 minutes to make a tour around the room , take notes of what they think were relevant , and classify them with different colours of sticky notes , as they thought it was better to do . They had de possibility to make the activity on their own , or sharing the process with their partners . Then , they came back with their groups , and I gave them 20 minutes more to put all the notes together , organize them , separate them by themes , and take a look to them agian , to order the ideas and discuss them with the group . Once they were done , I asked to the groups , one by one , to propose a theme . They had to put the chosen theme in a big blackboard , and then the other participants had to put their notes regarding that theme all together . Once they were done , I started to ask questions about the specified theme , and invited them to make conclusions or give any relevant idea about it . Insight & Approach What I learned with the application of this exercise and tool is that , despite we took great conclusions and ideas from it , it ’s really important the comprehension about the problema we have to solve , working together , cooperating , and share knowledge that , otherwise , they would n’t know . With this activity , they knew and learn a lot of important information about the work other departaments do in our company , and the importance of the work of al lof them . This activity was usefull to share diferente points of view about the same problems , and the basic causes of them , finding creative solutions to solve them . Since I discovered the importance and the power of design thinking and tools like mind maping , I use them as starting point in some other problems solving . It not only help us to find creative solutions , but also to create a unit in our working group and fellow partners .