Challenge:

One friend of mine asked me for helping her with project for head of department of one

Government Ministry-to develop mechanism of effective interaction between government

structures in the framework of public procurement system. I work in this field but government

programs and their structure differs from things with which I work. But it was interesting for

me and some kind of level up. I agreed to help my friend.

The previous system was not effective and we need to explain all new which  we had

developed concept for a  person (head of department) who actually knows nothing about it and

can’t understand it. She has a very old and sophisticated work approach and rejected all ideas

and presentations of this project before. Project was not complicated for understanding for

specialists. We have described and repeated my friend speech several times for other experts

and they understand everything. I understand that the key problem was not in the project it was

in the order of project presentation to head of department. She  requires her subordinates to

describe everything in printed presentations or print papers for her and describe whole concept,

without the use of projectors or presentations on computer. It is easier for her to read and try by

herself get the idea, but long working day and huge flow of information had decreased reduced

her brain ability of perception of information from the text. I recommended my friend to use

visualization tool.

Selection:

Visualization is a way of unlocking a different part of your brain. Visualization is

anything from the picture which we has draw to the presentations and graphics that we create in

a presentation,or create an application.  Visualization, as like Storytelling tool, is really

important for explaining of idea or concept, but when you work with system where a lot of

elements it would be better to visualize it and how all elements are connected with each other.

Application:

I like brain studies and neurophysiology and i know that it's really dificult at end of work day

understand information because your brain is ecxausted. And especially when you are the

headofdepartment with several sub-department and each of them have different projects and

you need to undestand them all to apply or modify before you give recommendation to transfer

them to another Ministry or another department. I tryed to be in her skinand understand what

exactly is so difficult for her to understand. And then i changed our presentation. Deletad text,

put some numbers, figures und arrows and added some animation. My friend was against,

arguing with me that they don’t use projector or computer when they present for their boss. I

said –‘’Ok, but you can use  your IPad or smartphone”. She looked at me like with suprice.  I

took her tablet and transferred new presentation there and updated it through special

application. All animation worked, numbers, figures and arrows were on their position. Friend

of my presented it. Her boss understand all concept and she was surprised then my friend

present it on the tablet without additional papers. It was easy for her to understand it through

moving figures and flashing arrows than through text (as she was accustomed to read it and she

required it from her employees).

Insight & Approach

People are different and if you want them to get your idea or understand, try to use different

tools. We (my friend and I) tried visualization, even though her boss prefer a lot of text in printed

presentations without using computer devices. People differently understand information and get

the idea. Some of us quickly understand the essence some not. But simple approach and easy

information flow with some simple pictures and moving figures helped us.  First of all i tryed to

understand the person for whom it was presented. She is not an expert she was ecxausted by long

working day. I didn't use storytelling because she prefer to read and understand all information

by herself, so it's not easy for to get huge information by listening. So if she prefer to get

information through her eyes let's make it easier and add some animation that gave her a focal

point of the project. After this expirince i understand that you need to focus on your customer or

client or boss –make it easier for them to understand the point or use your information. Different

design thinking tools requires different approaches for different people andwe all are differet

right-thinked or left-thinked –no matter, one that's matter that we need to change ususal things if

they don't work effectivly anymore.

P.S: Since that time the head of department of Ministry has required from her employes who

present some «complex» projects – present it in tablets or laptops.

by Asmaa Ibrahim


Challenge : One friend of mine asked me for helping her with project for head of department of one Government Ministry - to develop mechanism of effective interaction between government structures in the framework of public procurement system . I work in this field but government programs and their structure differs from things with which I work . But it was interesting for me and some kind of level up . I agreed to help my friend . The previous system was not effective and we need to explain all new which we had developed concept for a person ( head of department ) who actually knows nothing about it and ca n’t understand it . She has a very old and sophisticated work approach and rejected all ideas and presentations of this project before . Project was not complicated for understanding for specialists . We have described and repeated my friend speech several times for other experts and they understand everything . I understand that the key problem was not in the project it was in the order of project presentation to head of department . She requires her subordinates to describe everything in printed presentations or print papers for her and describe whole concept , without the use of projectors or presentations on computer . It is easier for her to read and try by herself get the idea , but long working day and huge flow of information had decreased reduced her brain ability of perception of information from the text . I recommended my friend to use visualization tool . Selection : Visualization is a way of unlocking a different part of your brain . Visualization is anything from the picture which we has draw to the presentations and graphics that we create in a presentation , or create an application . Visualization , as like Storytelling tool , is really important for explaining of idea or concept , but when you work with system where a lot of elements it would be better to visualize it and how all elements are connected with each other . Application : I like brain studies and neurophysiology and i know that it 's really dificult at end of work day understand information because your brain is ecxausted . And especially when you are the headofdepartment with several sub - department and each of them have different projects and you need to undestand them all to apply or modify before you give recommendation to transfer them to another Ministry or another department . I tryed to be in her skinand understand what exactly is so difficult for her to understand . And then i changed our presentation . Deletad text , put some numbers , figures und arrows and added some animation . My friend was against , arguing with me that they do n’t use projector or computer when they present for their boss . I said – ‘ ’ Ok , but you can use your IPad or smartphone ” . She looked at me like with suprice . I took her tablet and transferred new presentation there and updated it through special application . All animation worked , numbers , figures and arrows were on their position . Friend of my presented it . Her boss understand all concept and she was surprised then my friend present it on the tablet without additional papers . It was easy for her to understand it through moving figures and flashing arrows than through text ( as she was accustomed to read it and she required it from her employees ) . Insight & Approach People are different and if you want them to get your idea or understand , try to use different tools . We ( my friend and I ) tried visualization , even though her boss prefer a lot of text in printed presentations without using computer devices . People differently understand information and get the idea . Some of us quickly understand the essence some not . But simple approach and easy information flow with some simple pictures and moving figures helped us . First of all i tryed to understand the person for whom it was presented . She is not an expert she was ecxausted by long working day . I did n't use storytelling because she prefer to read and understand all information by herself , so it 's not easy for to get huge information by listening . So if she prefer to get information through her eyes let 's make it easier and add some animation that gave her a focal point of the project . After this expirince i understand that you need to focus on your customer or client or boss – make it easier for them to understand the point or use your information . Different design thinking tools requires different approaches for different people andwe all are differet right - thinked or left - thinked – no matter , one that 's matter that we need to change ususal things if they do n't work effectivly anymore . P.S : Since that time the head of department of Ministry has required from her employes who present some « complex » projects – present it in tablets or laptops . by Asmaa Ibrahim