Description of the challenge:

Increase the monetary income of the family tapestry, which has suffered losses since the  beginning of the pandemic and the confinement. During this season, customer visits have  decreased substantially and it is difficult to obtain raw materials, explicitly related to entering the  city due to the strict insulation standards.

Before the selection of the tool I wanted to investigate the topics that have been studied  throughout the course, among these is the type of problem, the identification of this gives us two  parameters: if it is manageable, organized it can easily use a model to follow, something like a  development algorithm, or a "twisted" problem which is solved by the design thinking method.

Selection:

The tool I decided to use to carry out this challenge is mind mapping, as I believe it will help me to  find solutions in an effective way. This tool organizes the data obtained through interviews,  supervision and other ethnographic sub-tools, which allow us to know the context in which the  challenge occurs. The organization of data is done graphically with keywords that allow us to  imagine the general situation and understand what causes the problem. Once the mind map is  established we proceed to look for patterns that locate the cause of the problem in order to  generate a slight notion of ideas or solutions that, even if they are not the definitive ones that will  help us, in future phases, to seek the right one and even to create new innovative ideas from the  starting ideas. Moreover, it simplifies in a creative and illustrative manner, which can be reflected  in an extensive report that is often complicated and tedious to read and understand.

Application:

For the application of the selected tool, starting with the question What is? , which corresponds to  the first phase, I started with the parts that make up the tapestry in some way, these parts make  the company exists, that I did in order to find the core of problem that should indeed be in some  of these factors. So from the four components that I managed to idealize (Clients, Commercial  Skills, catalogue, tools for the development of work), and questions attached to each of the  competencies, a list of each question was obtained, additionally I could do a small study of the  place for a short time, using the observation and some accurate questions (similar to a survey)  towards some clients and company personnel, with this data, I organized the mind map.

So by analyzing each component of the map we have:

•  Clients: those who are an essential part of the development and growth of the company,

in this case, the clients have radically diminished, and it is sought that they return again with  different options to obtain the product. The three questions are asked: Who are they?, What they  are looking for and if they are potential customers, why do they return?, I think they’re extremely  important questions that help you find factors and relate to each other, in the first, your answer is  people who have cars or companies that work with some type of vehicle. In the second there is a  list: durability, easy cleaning, good prices, innovative designs, availability of colors, guarantee,  quality, comfort, delivery time; and finally the third question, if they are potential customers,  because they return, among them this, the quality, friendship, references.

•  Commercial competitors: Are those who in one way or another, influence the low

demand, maybe because they have better prices, loyal customers, advertising, high quality among  others, in this case, the tapestry is located in an area where there are many more of them, and  competitiveness is big.

•  Work equipment: These are the tools used to carry out the work, from keys and pliers, to

sealant, sewing machines, It should be stressed that large companies have more machinery, which  puts the small family business at a disadvantage. In addition there are also the raw material, from  the thread, to the hides of all kinds and other fabrics used for upholstery, the availability of them  and their prices around quality and guarantee.

•  Catalog: The company offers only upholstery for vehicles, although there is a really great

variety of vehicles, it only stays there from the beginning of its days. There is a great diversity of  tents and upholstery for all kinds of vehicles.

Analyzing each component, there are several startup ideas that can help, this step proceeded to  brainstorm trying to find the problem to solve, What is?:

•  Small area of work

•  Little raw material available

•  Competition with large companies

•  Little advertising, whether on social networks, media or print media.

•  Global pandemic

•  Locality

•  Bad accounting

•  Bad Labor

•  Lack of labour force

•  Reduced catalogue

•  Bad materials

•  Lack of clients

•  Difficult access to the city, both for new customers and materials

At this point you can discard the options that are not presented in this case, and also join those  that depend on one another.

For example, if there is advertising on social networks and in print media, if there is good  accounting, because the one who manages knows finances, knows the prices of the upholstery of  each car and is trustworthy. The employee’s labor is very good, and in fact it is required by some  other companies, and the materials are certified, and of very good quality.

The locality can be combined with the skills of large companies; on the other hand, the pandemic  is related to the lack of clients and the lack of manpower, and difficult access to the city, there is  also the few raw materials available with the reduced catalog.

Thus, there are some points that are problems in the company for example, the small area of  work, the solution may be to expand by changing of commercial premises, at this time would be a  risky situation , and although lately some contracts have arrived (competition prices are much  higher and more local prices are often closing), the best thing would be to wait for developments,

and you can start by hiring manpower, improving the delivery time of the products, with this idea  you might think that if you risk hiring manpower and there is no work to be done, because it is a  smaller loss than renting a large premises, you use the trial and error tool, and the error is  measured, concerning that if there are monetary losses, It will be much smaller.

As far as raw materials are concerned, since materials cannot be accessed outside the city at the  moment, local materials are sought, of the same quality and with a satisfactory guarantee, and the  catalogue can also be expanded, for example, upholstering also home furniture and other  products, because in this case it would go out of its comfort zone, but would learn new skills and  would not lose income.

With the customers' difficult access to the city and the lack of physical contact due to wanting to  avoid contagion was idealized this alternative, using an application in which the customer can see  in the large library of car models, your car model but varying the upholstery available to your  preference, as each car make and model has different type of upholstery, so the customer could  see the upholstery he wants and how it would look to his model, in order to avoid unnecessary  extended contact, and also help the customer’s choice, as many times they are undecided as to  what color, material or type of upholstery they want, additionally there will be a section of notes,  where the customer can specify something to his liking , for example a brand seal or threads of  another color etc.

This last idea is the one that I think has more strength however as it is the first stage to explore  and resume if it is a good alternative.

Insight:

The knowledge that I obtained at the time of realizing, basically is to apply it in reality, in a case of  my own and that by following the following steps you can obtain a really good idea that helped the  lack of income in the company, besides thinking about innovating, although it is not a knowledge  that is easily obtained, with something you start and scale step by step, generating better ideas  and with more discretion.

Approach:

What I would like to do next time is to use the ethnographic tool more, in the sense of having  contact with customers for longer, to know their needs thoroughly and that they want to feel at  ease in their car or vehicle.


Description of the challenge : Increase the monetary income of the family tapestry , which has suffered losses since the beginning of the pandemic and the confinement . During this season , customer visits have decreased substantially and it is difficult to obtain raw materials , explicitly related to entering the city due to the strict insulation standards . Before the selection of the tool I wanted to investigate the topics that have been studied throughout the course , among these is the type of problem , the identification of this gives us two parameters : if it is manageable , organized it can easily use a model to follow , something like a development algorithm , or a " twisted " problem which is solved by the design thinking method . Selection : The tool I decided to use to carry out this challenge is mind mapping , as I believe it will help me to find solutions in an effective way . This tool organizes the data obtained through interviews , supervision and other ethnographic sub - tools , which allow us to know the context in which the challenge occurs . The organization of data is done graphically with keywords that allow us to imagine the general situation and understand what causes the problem . Once the mind map is established we proceed to look for patterns that locate the cause of the problem in order to generate a slight notion of ideas or solutions that , even if they are not the definitive ones that will help us , in future phases , to seek the right one and even to create new innovative ideas from the starting ideas . Moreover , it simplifies in a creative and illustrative manner , which can be reflected in an extensive report that is often complicated and tedious to read and understand . Application : For the application of the selected tool , starting with the question What is ? , which corresponds to the first phase , I started with the parts that make up the tapestry in some way , these parts make the company exists , that I did in order to find the core of problem that should indeed be in some of these factors . So from the four components that I managed to idealize ( Clients , Commercial Skills , catalogue , tools for the development of work ) , and questions attached to each of the competencies , a list of each question was obtained , additionally I could do a small study of the place for a short time , using the observation and some accurate questions ( similar to a survey ) towards some clients and company personnel , with this data , I organized the mind map . So by analyzing each component of the map we have : • Clients : those who are an essential part of the development and growth of the company , in this case , the clients have radically diminished , and it is sought that they return again with different options to obtain the product . The three questions are asked : Who are they ? , What they are looking for and if they are potential customers , why do they return ? , I think they ’re extremely important questions that help you find factors and relate to each other , in the first , your answer is people who have cars or companies that work with some type of vehicle . In the second there is a list : durability , easy cleaning , good prices , innovative designs , availability of colors , guarantee , quality , comfort , delivery time ; and finally the third question , if they are potential customers , because they return , among them this , the quality , friendship , references . • Commercial competitors : Are those who in one way or another , influence the low demand , maybe because they have better prices , loyal customers , advertising , high quality among others , in this case , the tapestry is located in an area where there are many more of them , and competitiveness is big . • Work equipment : These are the tools used to carry out the work , from keys and pliers , to sealant , sewing machines , It should be stressed that large companies have more machinery , which puts the small family business at a disadvantage . In addition there are also the raw material , from the thread , to the hides of all kinds and other fabrics used for upholstery , the availability of them and their prices around quality and guarantee . • Catalog : The company offers only upholstery for vehicles , although there is a really great variety of vehicles , it only stays there from the beginning of its days . There is a great diversity of tents and upholstery for all kinds of vehicles . Analyzing each component , there are several startup ideas that can help , this step proceeded to brainstorm trying to find the problem to solve , What is ? : • Small area of work • Little raw material available • Competition with large companies • Little advertising , whether on social networks , media or print media . • Global pandemic • Locality • Bad accounting • Bad Labor • Lack of labour force • Reduced catalogue • Bad materials • Lack of clients • Difficult access to the city , both for new customers and materials At this point you can discard the options that are not presented in this case , and also join those that depend on one another . For example , if there is advertising on social networks and in print media , if there is good accounting , because the one who manages knows finances , knows the prices of the upholstery of each car and is trustworthy . The employee ’s labor is very good , and in fact it is required by some other companies , and the materials are certified , and of very good quality . The locality can be combined with the skills of large companies ; on the other hand , the pandemic is related to the lack of clients and the lack of manpower , and difficult access to the city , there is also the few raw materials available with the reduced catalog . Thus , there are some points that are problems in the company for example , the small area of work , the solution may be to expand by changing of commercial premises , at this time would be a risky situation , and although lately some contracts have arrived ( competition prices are much higher and more local prices are often closing ) , the best thing would be to wait for developments , and you can start by hiring manpower , improving the delivery time of the products , with this idea you might think that if you risk hiring manpower and there is no work to be done , because it is a smaller loss than renting a large premises , you use the trial and error tool , and the error is measured , concerning that if there are monetary losses , It will be much smaller . As far as raw materials are concerned , since materials can not be accessed outside the city at the moment , local materials are sought , of the same quality and with a satisfactory guarantee , and the catalogue can also be expanded , for example , upholstering also home furniture and other products , because in this case it would go out of its comfort zone , but would learn new skills and would not lose income . With the customers ' difficult access to the city and the lack of physical contact due to wanting to avoid contagion was idealized this alternative , using an application in which the customer can see in the large library of car models , your car model but varying the upholstery available to your preference , as each car make and model has different type of upholstery , so the customer could see the upholstery he wants and how it would look to his model , in order to avoid unnecessary extended contact , and also help the customer ’s choice , as many times they are undecided as to what color , material or type of upholstery they want , additionally there will be a section of notes , where the customer can specify something to his liking , for example a brand seal or threads of another color etc . This last idea is the one that I think has more strength however as it is the first stage to explore and resume if it is a good alternative . Insight : The knowledge that I obtained at the time of realizing , basically is to apply it in reality , in a case of my own and that by following the following steps you can obtain a really good idea that helped the lack of income in the company , besides thinking about innovating , although it is not a knowledge that is easily obtained , with something you start and scale step by step , generating better ideas and with more discretion . Approach : What I would like to do next time is to use the ethnographic tool more , in the sense of having contact with customers for longer , to know their needs thoroughly and that they want to feel at ease in their car or vehicle .