Capstone project

for the course ‘Design Thinking for Innovation’, Coursera

Date: 02/10/2020

Reflection: MindMaps

Challenge

My client is an international trading company that sells warehouse equipment, in the B2B market,

that operates across 3 regions markets and has a supply chain consisting of the central warehouse

and secondary regional warehouses. My challenge was to develop a strategy to increase sales, using

the potential of big data and advanced analytics.

Selection

To develop a strategy, I used a mindmap, because it allowed me to work out solutions in different

directions/areas and on a different scale. I also used the MECE pricnice to make sure there are no

missing spots and/or overlaps.

Application

I started working in several directions, eg, you can increase sales by increasing the number of clients

or the number of sales per client, then the number of sales per client - by increasing the number of

items in the invoice or increasing the number of lines in the invoice (cross sales). Further, for each

option, I developed a solution, eg, for the last option I offered a recommendation sales system for a

commercial retail site.

Insight

After developing the map, I realized that some of mine solutions may solve several problems

simultaneously and may work cross-functional. This allowed me to identify the most effective

solutions and assigned them higher priority, all of which was a base for the strategic road map.

What did I learn here - before the course, I used a decision tree structure and it was difficult for me

to perceive it visually. If a solution is structured like a mind map, I can work faster and more

efficiently. In addition, it allowed me to collect information in 2 categories - primary and secondary.

Approach

I designed the mind map using drawings app in Google Docs, that took a huge amount of time. Next

time I would use a specialized software or applications, for example, Google diagrams.net, that

makes it faster and easier to design, as well it has pre-developed notations.


Capstone project for the course ‘ Design Thinking for Innovation ’ , Coursera Date : 02/10/2020 Reflection : MindMaps Challenge My client is an international trading company that sells warehouse equipment , in the B2B market , that operates across 3 regions markets and has a supply chain consisting of the central warehouse and secondary regional warehouses . My challenge was to develop a strategy to increase sales , using the potential of big data and advanced analytics . Selection To develop a strategy , I used a mindmap , because it allowed me to work out solutions in different directions / areas and on a different scale . I also used the MECE pricnice to make sure there are no missing spots and/or overlaps . Application I started working in several directions , eg , you can increase sales by increasing the number of clients or the number of sales per client , then the number of sales per client - by increasing the number of items in the invoice or increasing the number of lines in the invoice ( cross sales ) . Further , for each option , I developed a solution , eg , for the last option I offered a recommendation sales system for a commercial retail site . Insight After developing the map , I realized that some of mine solutions may solve several problems simultaneously and may work cross - functional . This allowed me to identify the most effective solutions and assigned them higher priority , all of which was a base for the strategic road map . What did I learn here - before the course , I used a decision tree structure and it was difficult for me to perceive it visually . If a solution is structured like a mind map , I can work faster and more efficiently . In addition , it allowed me to collect information in 2 categories - primary and secondary . Approach I designed the mind map using drawings app in Google Docs , that took a huge amount of time . Next time I would use a specialized software or applications , for example , Google diagrams.net , that makes it faster and easier to design , as well it has pre - developed notations .