Visualization as a Tool for Solving Community Development Association's Disunity.

CHALLENGE

I became a member of a Community Development Association (CDA) when I relocated to the area. The  members were not impressed with the activities of the Executive Committee (EXCO) members due to  financial misappropriation, lack of transparency, low level of developmental projects when compared to  financial contributions. This limited the members active participation and their financial commitment to  the Association.

SELECTION

Members of my street pulled out of the larger CDA to stand alone, and I was made the Acting Leader of  the smaller group. The tool I used was the tool of visualization to visualize the bad state of our  environment and the likely results if we co-operate to bring the needed development to our street to  serve as a reference point to other members in the larger CDA. The need to co-operate among members  and transparency on the part of selected leader(s). The visualization about digging of Alternative  drainage system to control the flood on our road whenever it rains and how to make the street a better  abode for the habitants.

APPLICATION

Members were given roles to play in the smaller CDA. Bank account was opened, and the signatories  were different from those who get transaction alerts (both SMS and E-mail) to serve as check and  balance and to bring about the transparency concerns raised in the larger CDA.

Developmental projects that were visualized at selection stage were embarked upon with members  actively participated both in financial commitment and physical involvement. The projects embarked  upon during the 13-month tenure with various level of completion stage were:

•  Digging of Alternative Drainage system to control flood whenever it rains.

•  Provision of streetlight on the 13 electric poles on the street

•  Grading of the alternative road access as second entrance to the street

•  Numbering of each Building on the street including the vacant plots of land.

•  Mounting of Giant Gate at the entrance of the second road (Ongoing)

Also, individual members were assisted to get Prepaid meters for their building to relief them from the  menace of outrageous estimated bills from Electricity Distribution Company.

INSIGHTS

The visualization tool helped to increase the enthusiasm of members to participate effectively in  decision makings on steps needed to bring those itemized development to the smaller CDA. This showed  the larger CDA on how things could be done better as the smaller CDA became a reference point in the  community. Several donations were received from members outside their statutory levies and this  shaped my thinking that once members valid agitations are addressed in a peaceful manner, their no  limit to their co-operation and the multiplier effect can exceed expectation.

APPROACH

The visualization tool was very successful in addressing ‘What is’, ‘What if’, ‘What wows’ and ‘What  works’ questions in Design Thinking for Innovation. And I intended to sell this idea to the larger CDA for  emulation.

Though this visualization was largely successful, there might need to apply more than one approach as  few members of the smaller CDA recluse from active participation when the praises and ovation are  being showered on me as the innovator of the new development. It gave me an insight that individual  wants should not be subsumed into general evaluation no matter how laudable the result was. Other  tools like Mind Mapping or StoryTelling might be considered for those individuals who I considered  outliers.


Visualization as a Tool for Solving Community Development Association 's Disunity . CHALLENGE I became a member of a Community Development Association ( CDA ) when I relocated to the area . The members were not impressed with the activities of the Executive Committee ( EXCO ) members due to financial misappropriation , lack of transparency , low level of developmental projects when compared to financial contributions . This limited the members active participation and their financial commitment to the Association . SELECTION Members of my street pulled out of the larger CDA to stand alone , and I was made the Acting Leader of the smaller group . The tool I used was the tool of visualization to visualize the bad state of our environment and the likely results if we co - operate to bring the needed development to our street to serve as a reference point to other members in the larger CDA . The need to co - operate among members and transparency on the part of selected leader(s ) . The visualization about digging of Alternative drainage system to control the flood on our road whenever it rains and how to make the street a better abode for the habitants . APPLICATION Members were given roles to play in the smaller CDA . Bank account was opened , and the signatories were different from those who get transaction alerts ( both SMS and E - mail ) to serve as check and balance and to bring about the transparency concerns raised in the larger CDA . Developmental projects that were visualized at selection stage were embarked upon with members actively participated both in financial commitment and physical involvement . The projects embarked upon during the 13 - month tenure with various level of completion stage were : • Digging of Alternative Drainage system to control flood whenever it rains . • Provision of streetlight on the 13 electric poles on the street • Grading of the alternative road access as second entrance to the street • Numbering of each Building on the street including the vacant plots of land . • Mounting of Giant Gate at the entrance of the second road ( Ongoing ) Also , individual members were assisted to get Prepaid meters for their building to relief them from the menace of outrageous estimated bills from Electricity Distribution Company . INSIGHTS The visualization tool helped to increase the enthusiasm of members to participate effectively in decision makings on steps needed to bring those itemized development to the smaller CDA . This showed the larger CDA on how things could be done better as the smaller CDA became a reference point in the community . Several donations were received from members outside their statutory levies and this shaped my thinking that once members valid agitations are addressed in a peaceful manner , their no limit to their co - operation and the multiplier effect can exceed expectation . APPROACH The visualization tool was very successful in addressing ‘ What is ’ , ‘ What if ’ , ‘ What wows ’ and ‘ What works ’ questions in Design Thinking for Innovation . And I intended to sell this idea to the larger CDA for emulation . Though this visualization was largely successful , there might need to apply more than one approach as few members of the smaller CDA recluse from active participation when the praises and ovation are being showered on me as the innovator of the new development . It gave me an insight that individual wants should not be subsumed into general evaluation no matter how laudable the result was . Other tools like Mind Mapping or StoryTelling might be considered for those individuals who I considered outliers .