DESIGN THINKING: Utilization of Brainstorming Tool to Create a Foolproof Relief

and Rescue Operations in the Philippines

By Jamal Wahab

CHALLENGE

Image source: https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Finteraksyon.philstar.com%2Ftrends- spotlights%2F2020%2F11%2F12%2F180332%2Fwidespread-flooding-during-ulysses-onslaught-triggers-memories-of-2009s- ondoy%2F&psig=AOvVaw0nJWUdtSz5On4qDYmupYP_&ust=1605587485880000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAIQjRxqFwoTCMDi_tOdhu0C FQAAAAAdAAAAABAD    Filipinos are often portrayed as free-spirited: smiling even at the brink of misery, laughing even  at the wallows of despair, and joking even at the expense of one’s well-being. With the country  regarded as ever resilient, it is concurred to foster a national image of a strong nation and uplift  the disposition of each of its citizens. However, the resiliency of the Filipinos has also been  irrefutably contentious. Recent arguments claim that the people in power relations incline to  brush off adversities like that of the deadly pandemic and frightening calamities as something  commonly dealt with on a daily basis. The present-day society outwardly overemphasizes and  overplays Filipinos’ resilient trait. The very same resiliency is the one conjuring up the dismissal  of risks in an advent of another insignificant event. Granted that frequent super typhoons on top  of the pandemic are not abating and the stop-gap measures such as community quarantine and  rescue operations are not sufficiently working, this so-called resiliency induces not a foolproof  borderline for the nation but rather a tinge of frailocracy to its people.

With an aim to cease the social stigmatization engulfing the Philippine society, I would like to  focus this study on possible effective and efficient ways in upholding the welfare of all the citizens  of this venerable nation in the face of the virulent COVID-19 and super typhoon streaks targeting  not only the privileged class but most especially the oppressed sectors. This is through designing  an ideal model for relief and rescue operations that would cater the needs of those who are  severely affected during this hardest and darkest times.     SELECTION

Image source: https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tes.com%2Flessons%2FSXXLSjVkqghu4Q%2Fbrainstorming- expository-writing&psig=AOvVaw18HOrC- 8OUpoTBewPKSir6&ust=1605587398481000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAIQjRxqFwoTCPiBraidhu0CFQAAAAAdAAAAABAJ     The tool I decided to utilize is the Brainstorming Tool. This, I believe, is the most appropriate  because it serves as a collective bowl of ideas from various people who are deemed to have  gained expertise and compassion in this particular field. According to Dianne Ty who spent years  in product marketing and new product development, design thinking is an interesting approach  mainly because it is unique compared to all the other typical ideations. Brainstorming, as one of  the familiar tools to us, is actually crucial to apply for it requires a more structured representation  than the commonly known free-form approach. This is to ensure that all the information and  ideas to be gathered from various people will be properly solicited, sorted out, dissected, and  employed. Moreover, brainstorming is presumably the soundest method for this study as it  constantly prompting a large array of people who would be willing to share their experiences,  ideas, and opinions about the correct organization of relief and rescue operations as well as  promoting a wider range of valuable resolutions to the given problem.

APPLICATION    As I ponder on this course, I would like to apply the organized method of brainstorming session  proposed by the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC). The first step for the  brainstorming process is defining the exact problem. For this case, it is the ineffective and  inefficient ways to execute the relief and rescue operations during the difficult times like that of  the super typhoons in the Philippines. The second step is laying out all the relevant and significant  contexts and additional information. This is to ensure that the proponents of the study are  actually going to the right path that would determine the specific needs of the people and  establish a call of action. The third step is choosing the appropriate facilitator for the  study/project. For this case, I assume the position since I have determined the specific challenge  and selected the appropriate tool for this study. The fourth step is inviting the right people. This  might be a little difficult because the community quarantine hinders everyone to personally meet  and connect with each other. Fortunately, the internet and social media equip me to better  incorporate the necessary things to be accomplished for this study. I would like to reach out to  private organizations and concerned individuals because I believe that they would be of great  help in planning of the advocated project. The fifth step is setting the agenda. This is a very basic  thing to do. It is a common knowledge that a profound agenda is required in any design thinking.  For this case, the agenda is to have a collective set of responses, insights, and experiences that  may potentially build upon the development of an effective and efficient relief and rescue  operations. The last and most crucial step is holding the session. In this step, every single person  invited for this session will be delivering significant insights for the creation of a resolution. All of  the people involved have the rights to speak their minds as their thoughts may play a vital role in  the execution of the project. A separate notetaker is assigned to gather all the details that have  been talked about. After everyone has spoken, a concrete plan will be accomplished in response  to the determined problem of the study. There may be revisions along the way that makes the  whole process cyclical. In the entirety, carrying out all the steps is certainly an arduous task but,  nevertheless, all the Filipino people (and/or probably the other nations) will be benefiting greatly  in this study.     INSIGHT    The application of Brainstorming Tool in this study allowed me to freely think of ideas –whether  it is feasible or not does not really give much of an importance because that is the purpose of this  tool. It basically encouraged me more to work competently and politely with other people in  solving the stated challenge and generating innovative ideas. I believe that this tool did not only  harness my hard skills (e.g., intellectual intelligence, content creation, data management, and  critical thinking) but also improved my soft skills (e.g., emotional intelligence, team player  aptitude, adaptability, and work ethics). The diverse group of people working hand-in-hand to  produce an enhanced model for relief and rescue operations specifically designed for the Filipino  people guided me to have a broader and deeper growth mindset of what more can I contribute  to my nation. Towards the end of the study, I began to realize that by using the brainstorming  tool, I enabled myself to be accustomed with bottom-top approach. This approach focuses first

on the perspective of the people who are actually under such circumstances before creating a  coalition to particularly cater the needs of these people, then submitting the design to the people  in power relations or the higher ups. Overall, I did not regret utilizing the brainstorming tool for  it greatly benefited me and this study.    APPROACH

Imgae source:  https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.workem.com%2Findex.php%2Fbl og%2Fconcept-development-and-interweaving-used-in-varied- circumstances&psig=AOvVaw2Key2vxGyO92nzU7itBP07&ust=1605587632319000&source=ima ges&cd=vfe&ved=0CAIQjRxqFwoTCODK7paehu0CFQAAAAAdAAAAABAJ    If I had not used the Brainstorming Tool, I would suggest an alternative one which is the Concept  Development Tool. This basically just inherits out the output done in the brainstorming;  however, the huge difference that this tool can have compared to the previous one is the fact  that it follows the phase of insights -> ideas -> concepts. With this phase, the proponents of the  study would be able to further organize the inputs to coherent clusters. Afterwards, an accurate  and foolproof plan may now be executed in line with the proposed problem which is the creation  of effective and efficient relief and rescue operations for the victims of super typhoon.


DESIGN THINKING : Utilization of Brainstorming Tool to Create a Foolproof Relief and Rescue Operations in the Philippines By Jamal Wahab CHALLENGE Image source : https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Finteraksyon.philstar.com%2Ftrends- spotlights%2F2020%2F11%2F12%2F180332%2Fwidespread - flooding - during - ulysses - onslaught - triggers - memories - of-2009s- ondoy%2F&psig = AOvVaw0nJWUdtSz5On4qDYmupYP_&ust=1605587485880000&source = images&cd = vfe&ved=0CAIQjRxqFwoTCMDi_tOdhu0C FQAAAAAdAAAAABAD Filipinos are often portrayed as free - spirited : smiling even at the brink of misery , laughing even at the wallows of despair , and joking even at the expense of one ’s well - being . With the country regarded as ever resilient , it is concurred to foster a national image of a strong nation and uplift the disposition of each of its citizens . However , the resiliency of the Filipinos has also been irrefutably contentious . Recent arguments claim that the people in power relations incline to brush off adversities like that of the deadly pandemic and frightening calamities as something commonly dealt with on a daily basis . The present - day society outwardly overemphasizes and overplays Filipinos ’ resilient trait . The very same resiliency is the one conjuring up the dismissal of risks in an advent of another insignificant event . Granted that frequent super typhoons on top of the pandemic are not abating and the stop - gap measures such as community quarantine and rescue operations are not sufficiently working , this so - called resiliency induces not a foolproof borderline for the nation but rather a tinge of frailocracy to its people . With an aim to cease the social stigmatization engulfing the Philippine society , I would like to focus this study on possible effective and efficient ways in upholding the welfare of all the citizens of this venerable nation in the face of the virulent COVID-19 and super typhoon streaks targeting not only the privileged class but most especially the oppressed sectors . This is through designing an ideal model for relief and rescue operations that would cater the needs of those who are severely affected during this hardest and darkest times . SELECTION Image source : https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tes.com%2Flessons%2FSXXLSjVkqghu4Q%2Fbrainstorming- expository - writing&psig = AOvVaw18HOrC- 8OUpoTBewPKSir6&ust=1605587398481000&source = images&cd = vfe&ved=0CAIQjRxqFwoTCPiBraidhu0CFQAAAAAdAAAAABAJ The tool I decided to utilize is the Brainstorming Tool . This , I believe , is the most appropriate because it serves as a collective bowl of ideas from various people who are deemed to have gained expertise and compassion in this particular field . According to Dianne Ty who spent years in product marketing and new product development , design thinking is an interesting approach mainly because it is unique compared to all the other typical ideations . Brainstorming , as one of the familiar tools to us , is actually crucial to apply for it requires a more structured representation than the commonly known free - form approach . This is to ensure that all the information and ideas to be gathered from various people will be properly solicited , sorted out , dissected , and employed . Moreover , brainstorming is presumably the soundest method for this study as it constantly prompting a large array of people who would be willing to share their experiences , ideas , and opinions about the correct organization of relief and rescue operations as well as promoting a wider range of valuable resolutions to the given problem . APPLICATION As I ponder on this course , I would like to apply the organized method of brainstorming session proposed by the Business Development Bank of Canada ( BDC ) . The first step for the brainstorming process is defining the exact problem . For this case , it is the ineffective and inefficient ways to execute the relief and rescue operations during the difficult times like that of the super typhoons in the Philippines . The second step is laying out all the relevant and significant contexts and additional information . This is to ensure that the proponents of the study are actually going to the right path that would determine the specific needs of the people and establish a call of action . The third step is choosing the appropriate facilitator for the study / project . For this case , I assume the position since I have determined the specific challenge and selected the appropriate tool for this study . The fourth step is inviting the right people . This might be a little difficult because the community quarantine hinders everyone to personally meet and connect with each other . Fortunately , the internet and social media equip me to better incorporate the necessary things to be accomplished for this study . I would like to reach out to private organizations and concerned individuals because I believe that they would be of great help in planning of the advocated project . The fifth step is setting the agenda . This is a very basic thing to do . It is a common knowledge that a profound agenda is required in any design thinking . For this case , the agenda is to have a collective set of responses , insights , and experiences that may potentially build upon the development of an effective and efficient relief and rescue operations . The last and most crucial step is holding the session . In this step , every single person invited for this session will be delivering significant insights for the creation of a resolution . All of the people involved have the rights to speak their minds as their thoughts may play a vital role in the execution of the project . A separate notetaker is assigned to gather all the details that have been talked about . After everyone has spoken , a concrete plan will be accomplished in response to the determined problem of the study . There may be revisions along the way that makes the whole process cyclical . In the entirety , carrying out all the steps is certainly an arduous task but , nevertheless , all the Filipino people ( and/or probably the other nations ) will be benefiting greatly in this study . INSIGHT The application of Brainstorming Tool in this study allowed me to freely think of ideas – whether it is feasible or not does not really give much of an importance because that is the purpose of this tool . It basically encouraged me more to work competently and politely with other people in solving the stated challenge and generating innovative ideas . I believe that this tool did not only harness my hard skills ( e.g. , intellectual intelligence , content creation , data management , and critical thinking ) but also improved my soft skills ( e.g. , emotional intelligence , team player aptitude , adaptability , and work ethics ) . The diverse group of people working hand - in - hand to produce an enhanced model for relief and rescue operations specifically designed for the Filipino people guided me to have a broader and deeper growth mindset of what more can I contribute to my nation . Towards the end of the study , I began to realize that by using the brainstorming tool , I enabled myself to be accustomed with bottom - top approach . This approach focuses first on the perspective of the people who are actually under such circumstances before creating a coalition to particularly cater the needs of these people , then submitting the design to the people in power relations or the higher ups . Overall , I did not regret utilizing the brainstorming tool for it greatly benefited me and this study . APPROACH Imgae source : https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.workem.com%2Findex.php%2Fbl og%2Fconcept - development - and - interweaving - used - in - varied- circumstances&psig = AOvVaw2Key2vxGyO92nzU7itBP07&ust=1605587632319000&source = ima ges&cd = vfe&ved=0CAIQjRxqFwoTCODK7paehu0CFQAAAAAdAAAAABAJ If I had not used the Brainstorming Tool , I would suggest an alternative one which is the Concept Development Tool . This basically just inherits out the output done in the brainstorming ; however , the huge difference that this tool can have compared to the previous one is the fact that it follows the phase of insights - > ideas - > concepts . With this phase , the proponents of the study would be able to further organize the inputs to coherent clusters . Afterwards , an accurate and foolproof plan may now be executed in line with the proposed problem which is the creation of effective and efficient relief and rescue operations for the victims of super typhoon .