Reflection – Mind mapping

Challenge & Selection

Two years ago I worked as a lecturer at the Pesto Pizza of my city. Our class goal  was to match student's knowledge with non-profit organization necessities. We would make teams  of 5, with people from different careers (economics, accountancy, business administration, actuary),  and then guide them in the process of designing and executing innovations that could help a  selected NGO (non government organization) in their business.

In this case I will talk about ​our work with Cupe, a NGO that aims to improve life conditions of  low income individuals using educational and support tools. ​Their main function is about giving  workshops and training to help people get a job​.

The challenge was to create something that could boost investors willing to give financial  assistance ​to Cupe. With that goal in mind and after being working on the “what is?” stage, we  started to connect the dots using mind mapping.

Mind mapping, as seen in the third week video, is about looking for patterns in the collected data.  The use of this tool would help in the quest for a design criteria just before entering the “what if?”  idea generation fase.

Application

We knew that it would be easier to open investors pockets if they get solid prospects about the  return of their investments​.  Taking that into account and after spending some weeks getting data  from the different stakeholders, we started to draw a mind map.

At the center of the map we placed the beneficiaries of Cupe work. Then around it, we draw the  different topics (and subtopics): Who are they/How they live (cluster in main groups); Cupe  (functions) ; Investors (cluster main groups) ; Government (relevant policies linked to this  population).

With the map on the table we began feeding it with data. We conducted extensive surveys to all the  actors in play. Some patterns started to emerge. It was clear that the effectiveness of the different  services given by Cupe had a large variance depending on the beneficiary. The results were  different due to their population life/health conditions, educational stage, amount of kids, and other  features.

In the quest for more precise patterns ​we applied a linear regression​ after which we could measure  the importance of each feature. It was shocking that “overcrowding habitat” was the most powerful  variable. People that could manage to study quietly at home had better results than the other ones,  even if they had only elementary education. In second place was “educational level”, but this  variable was especially powerful between individuals that had not finished elementary school.

The described facts helped us to think of a new way to manage Cupe funds​. We started with a  small scale operation. We opened a library and an infant care service, results were overwhelming.

After concluding the experience, ​we created a brochure focused on these measurements​. Investors  were happy to see numbers and metrics linked to the use of their money. But not only that, they  started to talk about this with colleagues and friends, an NGO that makes linear regressions and  maximize the social impact of the money invested was a good title in the “mouth to mouth” market.  So fundraising got an important upgrade after the job was done.

Reflection – Mind mapping

Insight & Approach

In a nutshell, pattern finding was the key concept in our work​. Active Hearing of the beneficiaries  necessities and adding statistical tools to boost their power, were vital components of our plan. It  was really important to mix an analytical/technical approach with a humanitarian/caring one. The  mind map made possible to have all of this at the table. It was like creating a control panel and then  learning which buttons to push to get a better outcome.

Next time I will try to improve our data collection techniques.​ You can always get better in actively  listening and making surveys​. Also we will attempt to simplify the explanation of the used tools, we  had some trouble getting people to understand them.


Reflection – Mind mapping Challenge & Selection Two years ago I worked as a lecturer at the Pesto Pizza of my city . Our class goal was to match student 's knowledge with non - profit organization necessities . We would make teams of 5 , with people from different careers ( economics , accountancy , business administration , actuary ) , and then guide them in the process of designing and executing innovations that could help a selected NGO ( non government organization ) in their business . In this case I will talk about ​our work with Cupe , a NGO that aims to improve life conditions of low income individuals using educational and support tools . ​Their main function is about giving workshops and training to help people get a job​. The challenge was to create something that could boost investors willing to give financial assistance ​to Cupe . With that goal in mind and after being working on the “ what is ? ” stage , we started to connect the dots using mind mapping . Mind mapping , as seen in the third week video , is about looking for patterns in the collected data . The use of this tool would help in the quest for a design criteria just before entering the “ what if ? ” idea generation fase . Application We knew that it would be easier to open investors pockets if they get solid prospects about the return of their investments​. Taking that into account and after spending some weeks getting data from the different stakeholders , we started to draw a mind map . At the center of the map we placed the beneficiaries of Cupe work . Then around it , we draw the different topics ( and subtopics ): Who are they / How they live ( cluster in main groups ) ; Cupe ( functions ) ; Investors ( cluster main groups ) ; Government ( relevant policies linked to this population ) . With the map on the table we began feeding it with data . We conducted extensive surveys to all the actors in play . Some patterns started to emerge . It was clear that the effectiveness of the different services given by Cupe had a large variance depending on the beneficiary . The results were different due to their population life / health conditions , educational stage , amount of kids , and other features . In the quest for more precise patterns ​we applied a linear regression​ after which we could measure the importance of each feature . It was shocking that “ overcrowding habitat ” was the most powerful variable . People that could manage to study quietly at home had better results than the other ones , even if they had only elementary education . In second place was “ educational level ” , but this variable was especially powerful between individuals that had not finished elementary school . The described facts helped us to think of a new way to manage Cupe funds​. We started with a small scale operation . We opened a library and an infant care service , results were overwhelming . After concluding the experience , ​we created a brochure focused on these measurements​. Investors were happy to see numbers and metrics linked to the use of their money . But not only that , they started to talk about this with colleagues and friends , an NGO that makes linear regressions and maximize the social impact of the money invested was a good title in the “ mouth to mouth ” market . So fundraising got an important upgrade after the job was done . Reflection – Mind mapping Insight & Approach In a nutshell , pattern finding was the key concept in our work​. Active Hearing of the beneficiaries necessities and adding statistical tools to boost their power , were vital components of our plan . It was really important to mix an analytical / technical approach with a humanitarian / caring one . The mind map made possible to have all of this at the table . It was like creating a control panel and then learning which buttons to push to get a better outcome . Next time I will try to improve our data collection techniques.​ You can always get better in actively listening and making surveys​. Also we will attempt to simplify the explanation of the used tools , we had some trouble getting people to understand them .