Mind Mapping

Peer-graded assignment for ‘Design Thinking for Business Innovation’, Qaisar Johnson, 22 January  2017

Challenge

I work as engineer in a global consultancy and we have recently started to employ design thinking  tools to address challenges our clients face which were previously addressed with analytical problem- solving techniques. The most recent challenge was a request for proposal (RFP) to design the new  building for the school of music for a re-known university. The challenge was that this was an open  request and many engineering consultants would be competing and submitting bids. We knew we had  to do something different to differentiate ourselves and impress the client.

Selection

We selected the mind-mapping tool. This tool has the advantage that it is placed early in the process  of design thinking (DT). It can be deployed with a small number of chosen participants and in a short  time frame without the need to analyse large amounts of data or secondary research. It is also not  depending on pre-requisites as it is placed in the What-Is stage. Used correctly it can subsequently be  utilised in What-If, What-Wows, and What-Works stages once the project is awarded to the firm.

Figure 1 – typical Mind Mapping Steps (DT for Business Innovation, Week 3)

Application

We took the design criteria defined by the university in the RFP and mapped them out in a room. We  then invited a diverse group of participants to come to our ‘yard sale’. Key members were music  teachers from all backgrounds; primary school to university, with long years of experience all the way  to freshly graduated ones. They were asked to reflect on key questions such as:

-  What is the typical day for a student studying music?

-  What are pressure points for you as a teacher teaching music?

-  What facilities / spaces / tools are you missing most now / in the past?

-  What good experiences / success do you / did you have in teaching music? Which facilities /  spaces / tools enable(d) you to enjoy / achieve these?

The results from this session were recorded and included in the RFP submission to the client. The  client was very impressed with our submission and praised the unique approach which had taken  them by surprise. It created a positive vibe and encouraged the client organisation themselves to think  critically about what their drivers are for the new facility.

Insight

In taking a DT tool and deploying it with minimal effort at an early stage we were able to showcase  our ability to think creatively for the client. We were also able to open up a discussion about their real  objectives, which in the past might have been overlooked or come to light much later in the design  process causing costly changes or unhappy building owners / users. The approach provided a  differentiation against other firms competing for the design commission by simply applying a tool we  already use in a slightly different setting. The limited resource requirement and short timeframes to  deploy the tool made it suitable for this early stage where no revenue is generated for the firm.

Approach

It is likely that we would use Mind-Mapping again in a similar situation. The following key advantages  speak for Mind-Mapping:

-  It is placed early in the DT process and can be deployed with minimal pre-requisites

-  It requires a short amount of time to produce tangible results and material which can be  communicated clearly to a party outside of the process.

-  It requires little resources and almost no investment – crucial at this early stage when the firm  is still competing for the design commission.


Mind Mapping Peer - graded assignment for ‘ Design Thinking for Business Innovation ’ , Qaisar Johnson , 22 January 2017 Challenge I work as engineer in a global consultancy and we have recently started to employ design thinking tools to address challenges our clients face which were previously addressed with analytical problem- solving techniques . The most recent challenge was a request for proposal ( RFP ) to design the new building for the school of music for a re - known university . The challenge was that this was an open request and many engineering consultants would be competing and submitting bids . We knew we had to do something different to differentiate ourselves and impress the client . Selection We selected the mind - mapping tool . This tool has the advantage that it is placed early in the process of design thinking ( DT ) . It can be deployed with a small number of chosen participants and in a short time frame without the need to analyse large amounts of data or secondary research . It is also not depending on pre - requisites as it is placed in the What - Is stage . Used correctly it can subsequently be utilised in What - If , What - Wows , and What - Works stages once the project is awarded to the firm . Figure 1 – typical Mind Mapping Steps ( DT for Business Innovation , Week 3 ) Application We took the design criteria defined by the university in the RFP and mapped them out in a room . We then invited a diverse group of participants to come to our ‘ yard sale ’ . Key members were music teachers from all backgrounds ; primary school to university , with long years of experience all the way to freshly graduated ones . They were asked to reflect on key questions such as : - What is the typical day for a student studying music ? - What are pressure points for you as a teacher teaching music ? - What facilities / spaces / tools are you missing most now / in the past ? - What good experiences / success do you / did you have in teaching music ? Which facilities / spaces / tools enable(d ) you to enjoy / achieve these ? The results from this session were recorded and included in the RFP submission to the client . The client was very impressed with our submission and praised the unique approach which had taken them by surprise . It created a positive vibe and encouraged the client organisation themselves to think critically about what their drivers are for the new facility . Insight In taking a DT tool and deploying it with minimal effort at an early stage we were able to showcase our ability to think creatively for the client . We were also able to open up a discussion about their real objectives , which in the past might have been overlooked or come to light much later in the design process causing costly changes or unhappy building owners / users . The approach provided a differentiation against other firms competing for the design commission by simply applying a tool we already use in a slightly different setting . The limited resource requirement and short timeframes to deploy the tool made it suitable for this early stage where no revenue is generated for the firm . Approach It is likely that we would use Mind - Mapping again in a similar situation . The following key advantages speak for Mind - Mapping : - It is placed early in the DT process and can be deployed with minimal pre - requisites - It requires a short amount of time to produce tangible results and material which can be communicated clearly to a party outside of the process . - It requires little resources and almost no investment – crucial at this early stage when the firm is still competing for the design commission .