Design Thinking Assignment

Challenge

I had the privilege of studying at one of the best B-schools in India. In the first few months of my stay at  the college campus, I realized a big environment challenge at the campus. All the professors in the  college used to be given small plastic water bottles during lectures. I found two main issues here:

Plastic waste issue: With so many professors, and so many lectures happening on a daily basis, the  number of water bottles being used and thrown daily was huge.

Water wastage issue: Some water used to get wasted when half / even-lesser-at-times consumed water  bottles were left behind by professors.

Selection

Tool - Storytelling

Storytelling is a very powerful tool. It helps to get a clear idea of what issues or challenges people face,  and when it’s directly from the horse’s mouth, there’s nothing better than that.

I selected this tool because I thought the best way to understand the problem and get feedback was  from user who were actually involved in the usage of these plastic bottles – college admins who  approved and bought them, peons who maintained the inventory and finally professors who consumed  them.

Application

I spoke to many of the different categories of people mentioned above, to know how these plastic  bottles were being used in the college campus, since when they were being used, the number of bottles  being used by one person on average on a daily basis, what according to the users were their  advantages and disadvantages, what they did of the half consumed bottles, what issues they would face  if they were not given these bottles, why they didn’t carry their own water bottles, on what occasions  they used such bottles outside of college, what could be a probable alternative to these bottles, to what  degree and why they thought this was a problem in the first place, etc. Users shared their experiences  and viewpoints whole heartedly. Thus storytelling proved to be an excellent tool for this challenge.

Insight

The insight gained was that most users didn’t think too much about this issue before it was pointed out  to them. Though there were some who did think about it, they didn’t think it was so serious. They were  alarmed when they were shown the actual data related to the hazards caused by such plastic bottles.  Also, because the users were not being charged for it, the half consumed bottles were mostly forgotten  about. They didn’t carry their own bottles since they were given a convenient option of these bottles by  the college. Also, some users were worried about hygiene, they were happy with the existing bottles  because they considered these sealed bottles safe. Drinking from sources like taps or earthen or steel  pots, or even coolers seemed like a health worry for some. Going to the water coolers every time they  felt thirsty during lectures was another challenge.

Approach

An alternative approach to these plastic bottles that was given and even implemented was, keeping  clean glass jugs and two glasses on a clean tray in every classroom. The glasses were changed after every  lecture. Since the water was kept in clean, crystal clear glass jugs, to a large extent it reduced the fear  that the water might not be safe for consumption. Since the glasses were replaced after every lecture,  one more fear was reduced. Professors who felt thirsty during lectures poured only the required  quantity of water in the glass, so water wastage too was eliminated. Thus, the use of hundreds of  thousands of environment hazardous plastic bottles at the institute was stopped. Water wastage was  also drastically reduced.


Design Thinking Assignment Challenge I had the privilege of studying at one of the best B - schools in India . In the first few months of my stay at the college campus , I realized a big environment challenge at the campus . All the professors in the college used to be given small plastic water bottles during lectures . I found two main issues here : Plastic waste issue : With so many professors , and so many lectures happening on a daily basis , the number of water bottles being used and thrown daily was huge . Water wastage issue : Some water used to get wasted when half / even - lesser - at - times consumed water bottles were left behind by professors . Selection Tool - Storytelling Storytelling is a very powerful tool . It helps to get a clear idea of what issues or challenges people face , and when it ’s directly from the horse ’s mouth , there ’s nothing better than that . I selected this tool because I thought the best way to understand the problem and get feedback was from user who were actually involved in the usage of these plastic bottles – college admins who approved and bought them , peons who maintained the inventory and finally professors who consumed them . Application I spoke to many of the different categories of people mentioned above , to know how these plastic bottles were being used in the college campus , since when they were being used , the number of bottles being used by one person on average on a daily basis , what according to the users were their advantages and disadvantages , what they did of the half consumed bottles , what issues they would face if they were not given these bottles , why they did n’t carry their own water bottles , on what occasions they used such bottles outside of college , what could be a probable alternative to these bottles , to what degree and why they thought this was a problem in the first place , etc . Users shared their experiences and viewpoints whole heartedly . Thus storytelling proved to be an excellent tool for this challenge . Insight The insight gained was that most users did n’t think too much about this issue before it was pointed out to them . Though there were some who did think about it , they did n’t think it was so serious . They were alarmed when they were shown the actual data related to the hazards caused by such plastic bottles . Also , because the users were not being charged for it , the half consumed bottles were mostly forgotten about . They did n’t carry their own bottles since they were given a convenient option of these bottles by the college . Also , some users were worried about hygiene , they were happy with the existing bottles because they considered these sealed bottles safe . Drinking from sources like taps or earthen or steel pots , or even coolers seemed like a health worry for some . Going to the water coolers every time they felt thirsty during lectures was another challenge . Approach An alternative approach to these plastic bottles that was given and even implemented was , keeping clean glass jugs and two glasses on a clean tray in every classroom . The glasses were changed after every lecture . Since the water was kept in clean , crystal clear glass jugs , to a large extent it reduced the fear that the water might not be safe for consumption . Since the glasses were replaced after every lecture , one more fear was reduced . Professors who felt thirsty during lectures poured only the required quantity of water in the glass , so water wastage too was eliminated . Thus , the use of hundreds of thousands of environment hazardous plastic bottles at the institute was stopped . Water wastage was also drastically reduced .