Visualization

Challenge

Normally you find companies that want to improve the software they have because the one  they currently use does not meet their needs. In these situations, I have sought to help these  organizations to find their requirements based on a series of ideas that they have, however,  these ideas in most cases are not clear, and therefore it is necessary to discern them and focus  them on a single goal. Companies come to us as professionals so that we can help them in this  process, giving them a guide to fulfill their desires and goals. It is at this point that the problem  arises, since each person has his or her own vision of the current difficulties, and of the possible  solutions and new requirements for this improvement.

Selection

I chose the visualization tool because usually there are different visions, and these are  complicated to combine because they can vary greatly from person to person, that is, because  each one can have a different concept of the same idea when imagining a possible solution. For  example, if someone says chair, it can be interpreted as a wooden chair, or, for example, a metal  school chair. These variations are given according to the context and influences in which a person  develops in their daily life, and even where they grew up. What has worked for me in these cases  is to give each participant a piece of paper to put their ideas on paper, and then ask them to  group with others who have similar thoughts. Finally, each group will explain their diagram to the  others. Using this method, in most cases, brings the different perspectives together in a series of  selected diagrams in which everyone feels represented.

Application

The pharmacy chain in my city wants to improve its payroll system, since the one they currently  use, although it allows them to keep track of their workers' data, does not meet all the necessary  requirements, so part of the paperwork is done manually. The company has inventory control,  invoicing control, logistics, and accounting processes that are completely manual. The leaders of  this franchise, and of each branch, met to present their ideas to the development team of which  I am a part. These leaders had only one clear goal, to automate as many processes as possible,  but on the other hand, they didn't know which ones they could, nor did they agree on how. They  had a special concern; they did not know if this transformation was going to affect the  organization of the company and the sale of products.

As a team, we did not know how to start, we had no clear requirements and no clear objectives.  We proposed to the organization several ideas that encompassed all the ideas they presented.  For each idea we made a graphic that had images of how the processes would be, for example if  we were talking about the shipment of products, we drew the means of transport that would be  used, and what processes would be required behind for its operation. In the next meeting we

asked the company to try to capture their ideas in a mind map, at the beginning of this meeting,  we read them to everyone, and then we showed our diagrams. After this meeting we were able  to define which route we were going to direct the entire development, thus making the  objectives clear.

Insight and Approach

I consider this tool to be useful when you want to gather ideas from different people and  conceptions in different groups that can represent all project participants, thus avoiding  misunderstandings and discussions about the vision that should be taken, in this case, the  development. By implementing visualization, I was able to realize that you can use flowcharts,  sequence diagrams, and drawings, whatever it takes to make the idea clear on paper.

However, I believe that this tool has its limits. And to overcome them it is necessary to use other  tools that serve as a link between the different visions, such as, for example, the mind map used  in the case presented throughout this document. In the case we proposed, we realized that using  visualization with so many ideas can become more confusing if the right tools are not used to  synthesize the complexity of the problem.

Definitely, I consider that this tool is one of the most used by teams and people in general,  because since we were children, our first instinct is to draw what we understand to capture our  vision of the world.


Visualization Challenge Normally you find companies that want to improve the software they have because the one they currently use does not meet their needs . In these situations , I have sought to help these organizations to find their requirements based on a series of ideas that they have , however , these ideas in most cases are not clear , and therefore it is necessary to discern them and focus them on a single goal . Companies come to us as professionals so that we can help them in this process , giving them a guide to fulfill their desires and goals . It is at this point that the problem arises , since each person has his or her own vision of the current difficulties , and of the possible solutions and new requirements for this improvement . Selection I chose the visualization tool because usually there are different visions , and these are complicated to combine because they can vary greatly from person to person , that is , because each one can have a different concept of the same idea when imagining a possible solution . For example , if someone says chair , it can be interpreted as a wooden chair , or , for example , a metal school chair . These variations are given according to the context and influences in which a person develops in their daily life , and even where they grew up . What has worked for me in these cases is to give each participant a piece of paper to put their ideas on paper , and then ask them to group with others who have similar thoughts . Finally , each group will explain their diagram to the others . Using this method , in most cases , brings the different perspectives together in a series of selected diagrams in which everyone feels represented . Application The pharmacy chain in my city wants to improve its payroll system , since the one they currently use , although it allows them to keep track of their workers ' data , does not meet all the necessary requirements , so part of the paperwork is done manually . The company has inventory control , invoicing control , logistics , and accounting processes that are completely manual . The leaders of this franchise , and of each branch , met to present their ideas to the development team of which I am a part . These leaders had only one clear goal , to automate as many processes as possible , but on the other hand , they did n't know which ones they could , nor did they agree on how . They had a special concern ; they did not know if this transformation was going to affect the organization of the company and the sale of products . As a team , we did not know how to start , we had no clear requirements and no clear objectives . We proposed to the organization several ideas that encompassed all the ideas they presented . For each idea we made a graphic that had images of how the processes would be , for example if we were talking about the shipment of products , we drew the means of transport that would be used , and what processes would be required behind for its operation . In the next meeting we asked the company to try to capture their ideas in a mind map , at the beginning of this meeting , we read them to everyone , and then we showed our diagrams . After this meeting we were able to define which route we were going to direct the entire development , thus making the objectives clear . Insight and Approach I consider this tool to be useful when you want to gather ideas from different people and conceptions in different groups that can represent all project participants , thus avoiding misunderstandings and discussions about the vision that should be taken , in this case , the development . By implementing visualization , I was able to realize that you can use flowcharts , sequence diagrams , and drawings , whatever it takes to make the idea clear on paper . However , I believe that this tool has its limits . And to overcome them it is necessary to use other tools that serve as a link between the different visions , such as , for example , the mind map used in the case presented throughout this document . In the case we proposed , we realized that using visualization with so many ideas can become more confusing if the right tools are not used to synthesize the complexity of the problem . Definitely , I consider that this tool is one of the most used by teams and people in general , because since we were children , our first instinct is to draw what we understand to capture our vision of the world .