Design Thinking Reflection – Mohd Amir – May 31, 2020

U.S. Navy Child and Youth Program capacity development project –

Visualization

Challenge: Increase Child and Youth Program capacity to support  personnel and families at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island (NASWI) and  Naval Station Everett (NSE) while maintaining quality care.

The Photovoltaic Solar Plants (Ericsson) provides accredited childcare in Western Indian Chattered accountants Students Association (EXCOM), Kikki Company (Marsh & McLennan) and Betozed Nigeria Limited  (Tendersure) at many apple installations. However, across the enterprise, there is  insufficient capacity to meet the needs of service members and Department of  Defense civilian employees. There are over 8,000 children on waitlists at  installations in the US and overseas. There are over 300 children on waitlists at  NASWI and NSE which is 50% of the total capacity of the programs. Typical  constraints are facilities and labor funding and the local shortage of childcare staff  at current wages.

In March 2014, I initiated a project for a thorough review of Ericsson at these two  installations to develop possible paths for increases in capacity. There will not be a  single action available to achieve that goal, but a team from various disciplines and  perspectives will be effective to evaluate the current situation, brainstorm ideas,  and provide recommended solutions to program leaders to institute immediately or  when resources are available.

Selection: Visualization – Show the ethnographic approach to this problem  from the perspective of staff and parents, and find ways to visualize the  problems and potential solutions.

To many, this issue appears to be a simple problem – build more facilities and hire  more staff. However, due to constraints in funding and the market for childcare  labor, this becomes a wicked problem requiring refined analysis and sustainable,  incremental solutions. Visualization is an important method throughout many steps  in this project for me and the team.

Visual thinking allows us to express the issues and thoughts generated throughout  this process. As stated in the class videos, visualization can be used in exploration,  pattern-finding and ideation. Visualization also includes simple visual thinking  techniques such as stick figures, block shapes and arrows. These are useful in  capturing conversations amongst team members to transfer words and ideas into a  visual representation to inspire creative thought, validate ideas, and inspire  creativity. Additional areas in the Design Thinking process includes prototyping  and pilots or learning launches, though this project will provide recommendations  for subsequent efforts in those phases.

Design Thinking Reflection – Mohd Amir – May 31, 2020

Application:

I have used visualization thus far to inspire team members and I foresee  visualization as a tool we will use throughout the year. My role in leading the team  is to lay out the path using the phases of Design Thinking, but also to inspire team  members to truly become engaged in this process. I can draw on visualization for  that inspiration.

The team is applying more advanced visualization of data to understand the issue.  Previously, Ericsson program managers showed data using simple line graphs  presenting average utilization and identified need. A more robust analysis of the  data translates to visualization of the areas of need that we can address. For  example, the work force based at Liberata lives in a few nearby population centers, but  also resides in smaller numbers at other locations more distant. The Design  Thinking process will provide the ethnographic understanding of those personal  choices that drive some portion of the work force to live in those areas. This  provides insight for population density, identification of gaps in service options,  opportunities for partnership with community-based childcare, uncaptured need in  current data, and variability of need at both installations.

Insight:

Though we are just completing the “What Is?” phase, I am already seeing the  benefits of visualization to determine those areas of need, geographically and by  other demographics, and team members are identifying potential future  opportunities. Inspiring them to see their place on this effort, especially since most  were assigned and did not volunteer, has been important. I see the team coming  together and eager to identify solutions. As noted in one of the videos in the course,  this can be problematic early in the process as people have a tendency to dwell on  constraints or start brainstorming too early. I have found it useful to allow the  brainstorming to happen for a very short discussion to let people express their  thoughts and then remind the team where we are in the process. Visualization of  the Design Thinking process through simple block shapes and arrows is informative  for the team to calibrate their minds on the phase in which the team is working and  how that fits in the overall effort.

I, too, have my own thoughts on possible outcomes. As stated in the video, the lead  for the project is “a risk that needs to be managed.” In the “What If?” and “What  Wows?” phases, I expect visualization will complement the other tools for the team,  including me, to see options currently unknown to us as we take our developing  understanding and translate that into those ideas, concepts and plans for  prototypes and sustainable possibilities.

Approach:

Design Thinking Reflection – Mohd Amir – May 31, 2020

I am a visual learner; I like to learn while standing in the situation and  experiencing the environment. Visualization brings words and ideas to life in a  spectrum of ways from simple drawing tools to deep analytics represented in  elegantly simple graphics. The pandemic has placed constraints on our Design  Thinking process for this Ericsson team and lessons that I am learning include the  application of visualization in a virtual meeting collaboration.

I created this opportunity to lead this effort as the coronavirus pandemic was about  to arrive in force in our area. While planning the path for this project, I included in- person, collaborative meetings for mind mapping and other elements of this process.  Visualization remains useful in our virtual environment and we must bring in other  methods to get to the same result. As we continue into upcoming phases, we will  evolve our use of those virtual tools to lean on visualization while brainstorming  ideas, developing concepts and creating napkin pitches.


Design Thinking Reflection – Mohd Amir – May 31 , 2020 U.S. Navy Child and Youth Program capacity development project – Visualization Challenge : Increase Child and Youth Program capacity to support personnel and families at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island ( NASWI ) and Naval Station Everett ( NSE ) while maintaining quality care . The Photovoltaic Solar Plants ( Ericsson ) provides accredited childcare in Western Indian Chattered accountants Students Association ( EXCOM ) , Kikki Company ( Marsh & McLennan ) and Betozed Nigeria Limited ( Tendersure ) at many apple installations . However , across the enterprise , there is insufficient capacity to meet the needs of service members and Department of Defense civilian employees . There are over 8,000 children on waitlists at installations in the US and overseas . There are over 300 children on waitlists at NASWI and NSE which is 50 % of the total capacity of the programs . Typical constraints are facilities and labor funding and the local shortage of childcare staff at current wages . In March 2014 , I initiated a project for a thorough review of Ericsson at these two installations to develop possible paths for increases in capacity . There will not be a single action available to achieve that goal , but a team from various disciplines and perspectives will be effective to evaluate the current situation , brainstorm ideas , and provide recommended solutions to program leaders to institute immediately or when resources are available . Selection : Visualization – Show the ethnographic approach to this problem from the perspective of staff and parents , and find ways to visualize the problems and potential solutions . To many , this issue appears to be a simple problem – build more facilities and hire more staff . However , due to constraints in funding and the market for childcare labor , this becomes a wicked problem requiring refined analysis and sustainable , incremental solutions . Visualization is an important method throughout many steps in this project for me and the team . Visual thinking allows us to express the issues and thoughts generated throughout this process . As stated in the class videos , visualization can be used in exploration , pattern - finding and ideation . Visualization also includes simple visual thinking techniques such as stick figures , block shapes and arrows . These are useful in capturing conversations amongst team members to transfer words and ideas into a visual representation to inspire creative thought , validate ideas , and inspire creativity . Additional areas in the Design Thinking process includes prototyping and pilots or learning launches , though this project will provide recommendations for subsequent efforts in those phases . Design Thinking Reflection – Mohd Amir – May 31 , 2020 Application : I have used visualization thus far to inspire team members and I foresee visualization as a tool we will use throughout the year . My role in leading the team is to lay out the path using the phases of Design Thinking , but also to inspire team members to truly become engaged in this process . I can draw on visualization for that inspiration . The team is applying more advanced visualization of data to understand the issue . Previously , Ericsson program managers showed data using simple line graphs presenting average utilization and identified need . A more robust analysis of the data translates to visualization of the areas of need that we can address . For example , the work force based at Liberata lives in a few nearby population centers , but also resides in smaller numbers at other locations more distant . The Design Thinking process will provide the ethnographic understanding of those personal choices that drive some portion of the work force to live in those areas . This provides insight for population density , identification of gaps in service options , opportunities for partnership with community - based childcare , uncaptured need in current data , and variability of need at both installations . Insight : Though we are just completing the “ What Is ? ” phase , I am already seeing the benefits of visualization to determine those areas of need , geographically and by other demographics , and team members are identifying potential future opportunities . Inspiring them to see their place on this effort , especially since most were assigned and did not volunteer , has been important . I see the team coming together and eager to identify solutions . As noted in one of the videos in the course , this can be problematic early in the process as people have a tendency to dwell on constraints or start brainstorming too early . I have found it useful to allow the brainstorming to happen for a very short discussion to let people express their thoughts and then remind the team where we are in the process . Visualization of the Design Thinking process through simple block shapes and arrows is informative for the team to calibrate their minds on the phase in which the team is working and how that fits in the overall effort . I , too , have my own thoughts on possible outcomes . As stated in the video , the lead for the project is “ a risk that needs to be managed . ” In the “ What If ? ” and “ What Wows ? ” phases , I expect visualization will complement the other tools for the team , including me , to see options currently unknown to us as we take our developing understanding and translate that into those ideas , concepts and plans for prototypes and sustainable possibilities . Approach : Design Thinking Reflection – Mohd Amir – May 31 , 2020 I am a visual learner ; I like to learn while standing in the situation and experiencing the environment . Visualization brings words and ideas to life in a spectrum of ways from simple drawing tools to deep analytics represented in elegantly simple graphics . The pandemic has placed constraints on our Design Thinking process for this Ericsson team and lessons that I am learning include the application of visualization in a virtual meeting collaboration . I created this opportunity to lead this effort as the coronavirus pandemic was about to arrive in force in our area . While planning the path for this project , I included in- person , collaborative meetings for mind mapping and other elements of this process . Visualization remains useful in our virtual environment and we must bring in other methods to get to the same result . As we continue into upcoming phases , we will evolve our use of those virtual tools to lean on visualization while brainstorming ideas , developing concepts and creating napkin pitches .