Challenge

The college I study in has women from several socio-economic  backgrounds, ages, abilities and cultures. Some are undergraduates,  some post-graduates, some underprivileged and so on. One of the  common spaces shared by everyone, is our college canteen. It is run by  ‘Rameshwar’, who provides all types of food at the lowest costs  possible. However, with time and use, the state of the canteen has  degraded signiﬁcantly. A very tiny kitchen with little to no moving  space, no proper ventilation system,, insuﬃcient seating, and a  disrupted movement ﬂow of movement are some major issues,  combined with some problems with the food- hardly any vegetarian  options, hygiene issues, food served with bare hands, overﬂowing and  open dustbins, cats roaming inside the canteen, and very high degrees  of heat. If these weren’t enough, Rameshwar complains of some  students stealing away the food, since a lot of it is displayed, open, on  the countertop. Students leave around their leftovers for the canteen  staﬀ to clean up, and simply misuse all canteen equipment with no  regard for others.  Students complain of the food being very unhealthy (since most of it is  fried), seemingly low quality ingredients are used (in terms of freshness,  taste and hygiene), the start cats come and go as they please and the  interiors are very unpleasant.  As a vegetarian myself, I can vouch for the fact that the food really is  unappetising. In my 2 years at the college, I have not bought a single  edible from the canteen.

Selection

As a member of the Student Council, I decided to take the task upon  myself to solve some of these issues. With a few other members of the  Council, we sat down with our College Principal to discuss  implementation of this idea. I zeroed in on the mind mapping tool; I felt  it would help us collectively bring all our ideas and hopes for the  canteen out, and give everyone an opportunity to brainstorm and work  on the ideas, helping free dialogue and creativity.

Application

With as many as 750 students, we formed a sample, consisting of some  Student Council Members, as well as student volunteers. Just as in the  lesson, where members go through a gallery and make observations,

form teams and discuss their ideas and group them, we created a  similar set-up. The volunteers went around the canteen, judging it on  their own criteria. They were informed that they would have o keep in  mind economic and practical ideas, but were told to keep all their ideas  on the post its, regardless of how small it was. Around 25 people were  part of this sample. Each took their time, walking around, even talking  to Rameshwar, to understand some key issues. We then sat down in a  comfortable environment, formed 5 groups, and each group was told to  group similar ideas together, and we narrowed down on further speciﬁc,  achievable ideas. These were major highlights:

1. Seating -Standing tables along the walls to create space for eating -Adding stackable chairs to increase seating capacity -Leaving the space around the counters and doors free for better ﬂow

2. Hygiene  -Routine clean-ups twice a week -Tongs/Spoons, etc used for serving food -Cooks to wear hair caps while cooking and serving

3. High temperatures  -Wall fans installed -Kitchen closed oﬀ, chimney installed for better temperatures

4. Cats  -Front and back doors to be opened to enter and leave, and shut  immediately after

5. Food  -Focus on healthier, easy to make options -Weekly menus created to ensure variety for consumer, and ease of  preparation for the cooks -Focus on quality, fresh ingredients by tying up with an organic  vegetable vendor

However, this was only one sided. We then brought in Rameshwar  (Canteen Head) and his colleagues, heard their issues, and told them  our issues. Their issues were:

1. Ventilation

-Addressed already- wall fans installed, as well as windows in the  kitchen opened up; nets added to them for hygiene.

2. Food wastage  -Monthly plans created for the menu, involving ingredients that were  used in more than one dish. Fresh ingredients brought in weekly, and  rationed accordingly.

3. Stealing of food  -Glass cabinets created for the food, accessed only from behind the  counter. A system of ‘pay and receive’ was implemented, where one  paid for the food, and then received it from the other side.

To help sustain the changes and make them the normal, we created a  ‘Canteen Squad’ to look after the equipments and issues of the  canteen. The student body was made aware of this entire process, and  a google documents set up where they could rate the updated canteen  and suggest any ideas they had.

Insight

I honestly never thought that we could actually improve the functioning  of the canteen, since it seemed like a very daunting task to accomplish.  however, the approach of looking at with the ‘what if-what is-what  wows-what works’ approach showed us that it was a pretty  straightforward and achievable task. Although there were many great  ideas, many were tabled because of budget and time constraints. This  activity helped me create a relation with the Staﬀ who work tirelessly in  the college, making life easier for us; the Staﬀ also saw that they were  valued, and that their voice and opinion mattered. The ability to include  all Stakeholders in a project like this was key, and we managed to  accomplish this. I learnt that until you get started on an idea, it will  always seem daunting; some of the best ideas came from the most  unexpected people; a diverse cohort is key to a great solution.

Approach

Looking back, I would probably take a larger sample, have at least 5  brainstorming sessions with diﬀerent samples, and then combine ideas  of all these groups to create an even more solid solution. If time

permitted, using tools like visualisation and learning launch would have  deﬁnitely aided in the process and created a more long-lasting eﬀect,  however, we ﬁnished all of this within a month- which is something I’m  very proud of. Needless to say, I can’t wait to use the other tools to  derive innovative solutions and help myself and those around me!


Challenge The college I study in has women from several socio - economic backgrounds , ages , abilities and cultures . Some are undergraduates , some post - graduates , some underprivileged and so on . One of the common spaces shared by everyone , is our college canteen . It is run by ‘ Rameshwar ’ , who provides all types of food at the lowest costs possible . However , with time and use , the state of the canteen has degraded signiﬁcantly . A very tiny kitchen with little to no moving space , no proper ventilation system , , insuﬃcient seating , and a disrupted movement ﬂow of movement are some major issues , combined with some problems with the food- hardly any vegetarian options , hygiene issues , food served with bare hands , overﬂowing and open dustbins , cats roaming inside the canteen , and very high degrees of heat . If these were n’t enough , Rameshwar complains of some students stealing away the food , since a lot of it is displayed , open , on the countertop . Students leave around their leftovers for the canteen staﬀ to clean up , and simply misuse all canteen equipment with no regard for others . Students complain of the food being very unhealthy ( since most of it is fried ) , seemingly low quality ingredients are used ( in terms of freshness , taste and hygiene ) , the start cats come and go as they please and the interiors are very unpleasant . As a vegetarian myself , I can vouch for the fact that the food really is unappetising . In my 2 years at the college , I have not bought a single edible from the canteen . Selection As a member of the Student Council , I decided to take the task upon myself to solve some of these issues . With a few other members of the Council , we sat down with our College Principal to discuss implementation of this idea . I zeroed in on the mind mapping tool ; I felt it would help us collectively bring all our ideas and hopes for the canteen out , and give everyone an opportunity to brainstorm and work on the ideas , helping free dialogue and creativity . Application With as many as 750 students , we formed a sample , consisting of some Student Council Members , as well as student volunteers . Just as in the lesson , where members go through a gallery and make observations , form teams and discuss their ideas and group them , we created a similar set - up . The volunteers went around the canteen , judging it on their own criteria . They were informed that they would have o keep in mind economic and practical ideas , but were told to keep all their ideas on the post its , regardless of how small it was . Around 25 people were part of this sample . Each took their time , walking around , even talking to Rameshwar , to understand some key issues . We then sat down in a comfortable environment , formed 5 groups , and each group was told to group similar ideas together , and we narrowed down on further speciﬁc , achievable ideas . These were major highlights : 1 . Seating -Standing tables along the walls to create space for eating -Adding stackable chairs to increase seating capacity -Leaving the space around the counters and doors free for better ﬂow 2 . Hygiene -Routine clean - ups twice a week -Tongs / Spoons , etc used for serving food -Cooks to wear hair caps while cooking and serving 3 . High temperatures -Wall fans installed -Kitchen closed oﬀ , chimney installed for better temperatures 4 . Cats -Front and back doors to be opened to enter and leave , and shut immediately after 5 . Food -Focus on healthier , easy to make options -Weekly menus created to ensure variety for consumer , and ease of preparation for the cooks -Focus on quality , fresh ingredients by tying up with an organic vegetable vendor However , this was only one sided . We then brought in Rameshwar ( Canteen Head ) and his colleagues , heard their issues , and told them our issues . Their issues were : 1 . Ventilation -Addressed already- wall fans installed , as well as windows in the kitchen opened up ; nets added to them for hygiene . 2 . Food wastage -Monthly plans created for the menu , involving ingredients that were used in more than one dish . Fresh ingredients brought in weekly , and rationed accordingly . 3 . Stealing of food -Glass cabinets created for the food , accessed only from behind the counter . A system of ‘ pay and receive ’ was implemented , where one paid for the food , and then received it from the other side . To help sustain the changes and make them the normal , we created a ‘ Canteen Squad ’ to look after the equipments and issues of the canteen . The student body was made aware of this entire process , and a google documents set up where they could rate the updated canteen and suggest any ideas they had . Insight I honestly never thought that we could actually improve the functioning of the canteen , since it seemed like a very daunting task to accomplish . however , the approach of looking at with the ‘ what if - what is - what wows - what works ’ approach showed us that it was a pretty straightforward and achievable task . Although there were many great ideas , many were tabled because of budget and time constraints . This activity helped me create a relation with the Staﬀ who work tirelessly in the college , making life easier for us ; the Staﬀ also saw that they were valued , and that their voice and opinion mattered . The ability to include all Stakeholders in a project like this was key , and we managed to accomplish this . I learnt that until you get started on an idea , it will always seem daunting ; some of the best ideas came from the most unexpected people ; a diverse cohort is key to a great solution . Approach Looking back , I would probably take a larger sample , have at least 5 brainstorming sessions with diﬀerent samples , and then combine ideas of all these groups to create an even more solid solution . If time permitted , using tools like visualisation and learning launch would have deﬁnitely aided in the process and created a more long - lasting eﬀect , however , we ﬁnished all of this within a month- which is something I ’m very proud of . Needless to say , I ca n’t wait to use the other tools to derive innovative solutions and help myself and those around me !