Visualization Tool – Design Thinking

Challenge

I work in financial planning and analytics for a company that recently acquired another firm. The newly  acquired company had different operating structures and product mixes. An operating plan needed to  be developed for the following year and synergy needed to be created with the parent company and the  acquired company. Senior management from both companies needed to understand each other’s  operating structures and product mix/revenue streams. Then, they could create a successful operating  plan and structure for the following year.

Selection

I chose the visualization tool to help senior management better understand the structures and financial  trends of both companies and to think about future possibilities and strategies. Visualizations help  access creativity in one’s brain. Items such as: colors, symbols and graphs demonstrate concepts in ways  not comprehended by words. The synchronized visual understanding among a group of individuals will  aid in achieving a sense of agreement. This makes the discussion more mutually beneficial, and the  group will thrive, since they are able to agree and understand the issues.

Application

I decided to apply the visualization tool at an off-site planning meeting the following year after  acquisition. I created graphics that showed product mix and revenue trends by different geographic  areas through a visualization software called Tableau. This easily showed both the parent company and  the acquired company areas of opportunity and concern. Senior management was aligned on the issues  and created new strategies to fix areas of concern and capitalize on areas of opportunity. Organizational  chart tree views were created in Excel that showed the similarities and differences of the parent and  acquired company’s organizational structures. One company had a much higher percentage of its  workface in upper management positions and the other had a much higher percentage in lower  management positions. The discussion was great and a completely new organization structure was  created by adding another layer of management as well as a few other changes.

Insight

I gained many insights when applying the visualization tool. The audience more easily understood the  chart and graph trends compared to just stagnantly showing numbers. Issues were easily identified and  agreed upon, so the discussion could focus on action plans. The organization chart trees were great  views that also easily allowed differences to be identified and created a framework for a new structure  to be built. The discussions and actions that particularly related to the organization structure piece of  the meeting benefited the company in multiple ways. Once an audience agrees on a challenge, ideas

and strategies come from multiple points of view on how to overcome the challenge. These insights  have motivated me to utilize more visualizations for all meetings.

Approach

I will use the visualization tool in the future as it does help facilitate discussion and aids in innovation.  The use of it during the operational structure/operating plan meeting did have successful outcomes, but  I would change a few things. I would not have covered so much material in a single day meeting. The  discussion and ideas during the operational structure meeting were amazing, but the delivery was cut  short due to time. Next time, I would utilize it throughout the span of a couple days. I would show the  views from the previous day and reflect on the discussions with a clear head to ensure that optimal  strategies are chosen. I would also use the Mind Mapping tool to identify patterns in everyone’s ideas.  The meeting was successful and the new operating structure as well as the plan that was created will  add value to the company.


Visualization Tool – Design Thinking Challenge I work in financial planning and analytics for a company that recently acquired another firm . The newly acquired company had different operating structures and product mixes . An operating plan needed to be developed for the following year and synergy needed to be created with the parent company and the acquired company . Senior management from both companies needed to understand each other ’s operating structures and product mix / revenue streams . Then , they could create a successful operating plan and structure for the following year . Selection I chose the visualization tool to help senior management better understand the structures and financial trends of both companies and to think about future possibilities and strategies . Visualizations help access creativity in one ’s brain . Items such as : colors , symbols and graphs demonstrate concepts in ways not comprehended by words . The synchronized visual understanding among a group of individuals will aid in achieving a sense of agreement . This makes the discussion more mutually beneficial , and the group will thrive , since they are able to agree and understand the issues . Application I decided to apply the visualization tool at an off - site planning meeting the following year after acquisition . I created graphics that showed product mix and revenue trends by different geographic areas through a visualization software called Tableau . This easily showed both the parent company and the acquired company areas of opportunity and concern . Senior management was aligned on the issues and created new strategies to fix areas of concern and capitalize on areas of opportunity . Organizational chart tree views were created in Excel that showed the similarities and differences of the parent and acquired company ’s organizational structures . One company had a much higher percentage of its workface in upper management positions and the other had a much higher percentage in lower management positions . The discussion was great and a completely new organization structure was created by adding another layer of management as well as a few other changes . Insight I gained many insights when applying the visualization tool . The audience more easily understood the chart and graph trends compared to just stagnantly showing numbers . Issues were easily identified and agreed upon , so the discussion could focus on action plans . The organization chart trees were great views that also easily allowed differences to be identified and created a framework for a new structure to be built . The discussions and actions that particularly related to the organization structure piece of the meeting benefited the company in multiple ways . Once an audience agrees on a challenge , ideas and strategies come from multiple points of view on how to overcome the challenge . These insights have motivated me to utilize more visualizations for all meetings . Approach I will use the visualization tool in the future as it does help facilitate discussion and aids in innovation . The use of it during the operational structure / operating plan meeting did have successful outcomes , but I would change a few things . I would not have covered so much material in a single day meeting . The discussion and ideas during the operational structure meeting were amazing , but the delivery was cut short due to time . Next time , I would utilize it throughout the span of a couple days . I would show the views from the previous day and reflect on the discussions with a clear head to ensure that optimal strategies are chosen . I would also use the Mind Mapping tool to identify patterns in everyone ’s ideas . The meeting was successful and the new operating structure as well as the plan that was created will add value to the company .