Use of Visualization on Workflow Optimization

Challenge & Selection

I am working for a cement production company which has traditional organisational culture. We  are currently using traditional methods for project management and  to follow operational  workflows. After failure on some projects in the initial phase we discovered some repetitive  patterns which create bottlenecks. As a members of digital transformation team, we wanted to  challenge our company’s teams to find more optimized methods to follow workflows; not only in  projects but in their daily business lifes (on their operational works).    First of all, in order to establish a sense of urgency we had to understand  if status-quo is more  risky than the unknown. We have spent time with engineers and technicians (ethnography) to  understand how they determine bottlenecks and solve them.  We empathized with the  employees and their issues .

Application

Since some of the issues are complex and have many layers, we have used visualization to  help managers to  understand patterns in the issues.    We used visualization to describe bottlenecks on 3 layers. In the first layer,  we have introduced  the personas we have created. It shows their passion, their abilities and their expectations from  the company,     Second layer presents personas’ daily routines and workflows. Here we used diagrams and  boards (like Kanban boards) to represent the flows and bottlenecks. We also showed how  bottlenecks block other flows, highlighting intersections with other flows. This eased for us to  see how a roadblock affects  different silos and projects and finally  affects the bigger picture.     In the third layer we presented detailed visualizations of  the bottlenecks. We placed them into  workflows and presented the causes and their effects connecting them with personas and  intersections with other personas.     The multi-layered visualisation help us show the managers  to show the relations between  workflows, bottlenecks and persona’s characteristics.

Insight

Vİsuals became a common ground  for managers to talk about the common issues .It helped  them to understand how the whole organization is connected. The ideas in the brainstorming  session shifted  from silo oriented solutions to organizational oriented ones.  Managers are  convinced  that the current situation needs to change. Pinpointed visualizations showed them  the problems can be solved but only following a common path.

Approach

Although even basic visualization can be effective on group thinking capabilities; visuals,  especially diagrams may take some time to adapt and to understand. Using storytelling; a could  be used as a transition phase before the “What is” phase.    2 3 2 2 2 2


Use of Visualization on Workflow Optimization Challenge & Selection I am working for a cement production company which has traditional organisational culture . We are currently using traditional methods for project management and to follow operational workflows . After failure on some projects in the initial phase we discovered some repetitive patterns which create bottlenecks . As a members of digital transformation team , we wanted to challenge our company ’s teams to find more optimized methods to follow workflows ; not only in projects but in their daily business lifes ( on their operational works ) . First of all , in order to establish a sense of urgency we had to understand if status - quo is more risky than the unknown . We have spent time with engineers and technicians ( ethnography ) to understand how they determine bottlenecks and solve them . We empathized with the employees and their issues . Application Since some of the issues are complex and have many layers , we have used visualization to help managers to understand patterns in the issues . We used visualization to describe bottlenecks on 3 layers . In the first layer , we have introduced the personas we have created . It shows their passion , their abilities and their expectations from the company , Second layer presents personas ’ daily routines and workflows . Here we used diagrams and boards ( like Kanban boards ) to represent the flows and bottlenecks . We also showed how bottlenecks block other flows , highlighting intersections with other flows . This eased for us to see how a roadblock affects different silos and projects and finally affects the bigger picture . In the third layer we presented detailed visualizations of the bottlenecks . We placed them into workflows and presented the causes and their effects connecting them with personas and intersections with other personas . The multi - layered visualisation help us show the managers to show the relations between workflows , bottlenecks and persona ’s characteristics . Insight Vİsuals became a common ground for managers to talk about the common issues .It helped them to understand how the whole organization is connected . The ideas in the brainstorming session shifted from silo oriented solutions to organizational oriented ones . Managers are convinced that the current situation needs to change . Pinpointed visualizations showed them the problems can be solved but only following a common path . Approach Although even basic visualization can be effective on group thinking capabilities ; visuals , especially diagrams may take some time to adapt and to understand . Using storytelling ; a could be used as a transition phase before the “ What is ” phase . 2 3 2 2 2 2