Assignment Rubric

Elements  Criteria  Score

1.Challenge  The first tool I used was the tool

of Visualization, or Visual

Thinking, to achieve a shared  understanding of a problem

space among a diverse group of  stakeholders before attempting  to identify and define possible  solutions to the problem. I use  this approach often with our

customers, with a set of  questions or prompts for

discussion to allow a diverse  group of stakeholders to learn  from each other in the process

of defining the scope,

boundaries, key elements, and  relationships between elements

to consider when identifying

pain points and opportunities for

improvements or solutions.

Feedback    NA

2.Selection  I use this approach often with

our customers, who are

government agencies working to  apply technology innovations to  modernize their mission or the  delivery of their services to their

customer, which may be U.S.  citizens, businesses, and non-

citizens. I have used the

technique of using a straw man

visualization of a problem

domain with a set of questions

or prompts for discussion to

allow a diverse group of

stakeholders to learn from each  other in the process of defining

the scope, boundaries, key  elements, and relationships.

Feedback    NA

3.Application  I start the process by creating a

straw man graphic of the

problem domain. To develop the

straw man graphic, I will draw

from any existing material  available to understand the  environment. The existing

material may be operational or  procedural documents, training  materials, marketing materials,  GAO or other auditing reports. If  materials are not available, then

I conduct informal interviews

with one-three of the

stakeholders who serve as my  main points of contact on the

initiative. I will divide the

stakeholders into groups of 5-6  participants each representing a  different organization or area of  interest. Each group receives a  poster-size copy of the straw

man graphic that they can write  on directly, or use sticky notes to

make comments. I give them

two-three questions to answer,  such as: 1) What key elements  are missing from the graphic? 2)  What would you change about

the graphic to make it more

accurately reflect your problem  space? 3) What key insights do  you have about the relationships

between the entities in your

problem space?

Feedback    NA

4.Insight  What I have learned from

conducting this exercise with  several groups is that while the  graphic – especially the revised  graphic that incorporates their

feedback – is important for

reinforcing their understanding  of the problem they are working

to solve, the more valuable  aspect of the activity is the

shared insights and shared

learning that occurs while they

are working to define their

problem space

Feedback    NA

5. Approach  The graphic gives the diverse  group of stakeholders a focal  point for discussion that allows  them to share their perspectives

and develop insights into

potential root causes of their  problems. While they could

create the graphic from a blank  slate in a collaborative manner,  starting with a straw man jump  starts the conversation for them.  They can quickly identify where

they are in the graphic – or if

they are missing – and can more  quickly gain new insights about

relationships between key

entities instead of taking time to

identify them. They can also

identify variables in the problem  space – that is, it helps them to  identify what they don’t know, in  what areas they need to obtain  information or data to provide

the values for the variables.

Since I discovered that the most

valuable aspect is the shared

insights and learning, next time I

would use the visualization

activity as a starting point for a

series of design thinking

activities. Then the revised

graphic that incorporates their  combined feedback can serve as  a reference tool throughout the

remainder of their work.

Feedback    NA

6. Organization

I am a member of my

organization’s Quality marketing

department and my/our

challenge is to improve the

workflow (activities and projects)

Visual Thinking, to achieve a  shared understanding of a

problem space among a diverse

group of stakeholders before

attempting to identify and define

possible solutions to the

problem

Feedback    NA

7.Additional

Feedback

NA


Assignment Rubric Elements Criteria Score 1.Challenge The first tool I used was the tool of Visualization , or Visual Thinking , to achieve a shared understanding of a problem space among a diverse group of stakeholders before attempting to identify and define possible solutions to the problem . I use this approach often with our customers , with a set of questions or prompts for discussion to allow a diverse group of stakeholders to learn from each other in the process of defining the scope , boundaries , key elements , and relationships between elements to consider when identifying pain points and opportunities for improvements or solutions . Feedback NA 2.Selection I use this approach often with our customers , who are government agencies working to apply technology innovations to modernize their mission or the delivery of their services to their customer , which may be U.S. citizens , businesses , and non- citizens . I have used the technique of using a straw man visualization of a problem domain with a set of questions or prompts for discussion to allow a diverse group of stakeholders to learn from each other in the process of defining the scope , boundaries , key elements , and relationships . Feedback NA 3.Application I start the process by creating a straw man graphic of the problem domain . To develop the straw man graphic , I will draw from any existing material available to understand the environment . The existing material may be operational or procedural documents , training materials , marketing materials , GAO or other auditing reports . If materials are not available , then I conduct informal interviews with one - three of the stakeholders who serve as my main points of contact on the initiative . I will divide the stakeholders into groups of 5 - 6 participants each representing a different organization or area of interest . Each group receives a poster - size copy of the straw man graphic that they can write on directly , or use sticky notes to make comments . I give them two - three questions to answer , such as : 1 ) What key elements are missing from the graphic ? 2 ) What would you change about the graphic to make it more accurately reflect your problem space ? 3 ) What key insights do you have about the relationships between the entities in your problem space ? Feedback NA 4.Insight What I have learned from conducting this exercise with several groups is that while the graphic – especially the revised graphic that incorporates their feedback – is important for reinforcing their understanding of the problem they are working to solve , the more valuable aspect of the activity is the shared insights and shared learning that occurs while they are working to define their problem space Feedback NA 5 . Approach The graphic gives the diverse group of stakeholders a focal point for discussion that allows them to share their perspectives and develop insights into potential root causes of their problems . While they could create the graphic from a blank slate in a collaborative manner , starting with a straw man jump starts the conversation for them . They can quickly identify where they are in the graphic – or if they are missing – and can more quickly gain new insights about relationships between key entities instead of taking time to identify them . They can also identify variables in the problem space – that is , it helps them to identify what they do n’t know , in what areas they need to obtain information or data to provide the values for the variables . Since I discovered that the most valuable aspect is the shared insights and learning , next time I would use the visualization activity as a starting point for a series of design thinking activities . Then the revised graphic that incorporates their combined feedback can serve as a reference tool throughout the remainder of their work . Feedback NA 6 . Organization I am a member of my organization ’s Quality marketing department and my / our challenge is to improve the workflow ( activities and projects ) Visual Thinking , to achieve a shared understanding of a problem space among a diverse group of stakeholders before attempting to identify and define possible solutions to the problem Feedback NA 7.Additional Feedback NA