Instituto Loureiro: Company General Use

Storytelling is perhaps the most powerful of the design thinking tools. We, humans, are instinctively  storytellers. From a young age we crave a bedtime story. We have our attention fixed on a captivating  narrative, that often inspires us to become who we are later. That’s way there are stories everywhere  we care to look: the children moral tales, the local folklore, the grand myths. It could be argued that we  never outgrow that crave for the bedtime story under a calm lamplight. So, stemming from that fact, I  use storytelling constantly in my work. There isn’t a single example to indicate this fact, there are plenty.

I work as a field engineer, I find myself in constant need to convince high management of a certain  solution in the field that should be implemented to prevent future problems and potential failures. The  members of management are usually not close to the field and are therefore unaware of the real  problems at the several sites. They need either see them themselves, or be told vividly what the field  needs so they could then provide funds or any other sort of support to resolve potential issues. That  way I use storytelling. Telling anyone who’s in charge what needs to done in a form of a story. Even if it  is design related, like for instance a new proposal to modify the design of an equipment in the field, that  also needs a story.

What I want to share is, I think, an interesting example of using storytelling. The field that I cover is  large, mostly desert area. There are a lot of remote locations and equipment. Remote Terminal Units,  RTUs, are control circuits used for remote locations to control a certain process linked to a much larger  equipment like a valve, a filter, or a pipeline. These RTUs are prone to power failure, and other such  issues since they are in inaccessible locations. The failure must be attended by an electrician usually to  resolve, even after midnight. This is an obvious waste of resources. My proposal was to automate the  RTUs, like mini-substations. Here I had to use storytelling to convince everyone about this. They were  used to the situation as it was since they were first hired, they couldn’t conceive of an alternative. So, I  had to convince them that it is better to have these RTUs fully automated by installing an  uninterruptable power supply, a UPS, that would act seamlessly, switching power from one source to a  back-up source without any interruptions.

The story I told was a real one. I told them about the weekend day of one electrician that was called to a  remote field from his home. He was spending some much-needed quality time with his children. Al that  was ruined when he got the call to report immediately to the site, for an RTU was down. When he  arrived, there was nothing much he could do, the transformer that powered the RTU was damaged, he  had to wait for hours for a back-up generator to arrive and power the unit back. He didn’t return home  until 4 am in the morning. But he couldn’t rest, he had to go back the next morning at 11 am to oversee  the installation of the transformer.

After I told them this story, I said now picture if we have a UPS installed there, RTU would have been  working fine, no interruptions to the operation. The next day someone will visit as routine check and  would see that the back-up has been activated, that would then lead to fixing whatever problem that  may have caused it to switch so. By simply having that device installed there, designed to withstand such  blows, we would have saved numerous resources, and the man would be safe with his family, having a  good time.

Designing such a system was not easy. But it was worth it. It not only saved a lot of potential  interruptions, it boosted efficiency immensely. After that simple story, everyone kept saying why didn’t  we implement this earlier. All it took is a tale.  And for all future design ideas, or any other idea that I  come up with, I shall put my trust in the power of story.


Instituto Loureiro : Company General Use Storytelling is perhaps the most powerful of the design thinking tools . We , humans , are instinctively storytellers . From a young age we crave a bedtime story . We have our attention fixed on a captivating narrative , that often inspires us to become who we are later . That ’s way there are stories everywhere we care to look : the children moral tales , the local folklore , the grand myths . It could be argued that we never outgrow that crave for the bedtime story under a calm lamplight . So , stemming from that fact , I use storytelling constantly in my work . There is n’t a single example to indicate this fact , there are plenty . I work as a field engineer , I find myself in constant need to convince high management of a certain solution in the field that should be implemented to prevent future problems and potential failures . The members of management are usually not close to the field and are therefore unaware of the real problems at the several sites . They need either see them themselves , or be told vividly what the field needs so they could then provide funds or any other sort of support to resolve potential issues . That way I use storytelling . Telling anyone who ’s in charge what needs to done in a form of a story . Even if it is design related , like for instance a new proposal to modify the design of an equipment in the field , that also needs a story . What I want to share is , I think , an interesting example of using storytelling . The field that I cover is large , mostly desert area . There are a lot of remote locations and equipment . Remote Terminal Units , RTUs , are control circuits used for remote locations to control a certain process linked to a much larger equipment like a valve , a filter , or a pipeline . These RTUs are prone to power failure , and other such issues since they are in inaccessible locations . The failure must be attended by an electrician usually to resolve , even after midnight . This is an obvious waste of resources . My proposal was to automate the RTUs , like mini - substations . Here I had to use storytelling to convince everyone about this . They were used to the situation as it was since they were first hired , they could n’t conceive of an alternative . So , I had to convince them that it is better to have these RTUs fully automated by installing an uninterruptable power supply , a UPS , that would act seamlessly , switching power from one source to a back - up source without any interruptions . The story I told was a real one . I told them about the weekend day of one electrician that was called to a remote field from his home . He was spending some much - needed quality time with his children . Al that was ruined when he got the call to report immediately to the site , for an RTU was down . When he arrived , there was nothing much he could do , the transformer that powered the RTU was damaged , he had to wait for hours for a back - up generator to arrive and power the unit back . He did n’t return home until 4 am in the morning . But he could n’t rest , he had to go back the next morning at 11 am to oversee the installation of the transformer . After I told them this story , I said now picture if we have a UPS installed there , RTU would have been working fine , no interruptions to the operation . The next day someone will visit as routine check and would see that the back - up has been activated , that would then lead to fixing whatever problem that may have caused it to switch so . By simply having that device installed there , designed to withstand such blows , we would have saved numerous resources , and the man would be safe with his family , having a good time . Designing such a system was not easy . But it was worth it . It not only saved a lot of potential interruptions , it boosted efficiency immensely . After that simple story , everyone kept saying why did n’t we implement this earlier . All it took is a tale . And for all future design ideas , or any other idea that I come up with , I shall put my trust in the power of story .