PBI – Visualization

Challenge & Selection        The first tool that I used was a analytics tool, to achieve a shared understanding of projects in our  team to stakeholders and others in our company, attempting  to  identify  and  define possible  solutions to some problems that the project and the assignees might be going through. I have used  the technique of using a straw man visualization of a problem domain with a set of questions or prompts  for discussion to allow a diverse group of stakeholders to learn from each other in the process of  defining the scope, boundaries, key elements, and relationships between elements to consider when  identifying pain points and opportunities for improvements or solutions.    Application      I start the process by creating a POWER BI Dashboard, with PBI desktop, connecting a google sheets  file as a source of data, like a data base. To develop the straw man graphic, I will draw from any  existing material available in there to understand the environment. The existing material  may  be  operational or procedural documents, training materials, marketing materials, GAO or other auditing  reports. If materials are not available, then I conduct informal interviews with one-three of the  stakeholders who serve as my main points of contact on the initiative.    For the activity, I will divide the stakeholders into groups of 5-6 participants each representing a  different organization or area of interest. Each group receives a poster-size copy of the straw man  graphic that  they can  write  on  directly, or use sticky notes to make comments. I  give  them  two- three questions to answer, such as: 1) What key elements are missing from the graphic? 2) What  would you change about the graphic to make it more accurately reflect your problem space? 3) What  key insights do you have about the relationships between the entities in your problem space? I  give them approximately 20 minutes to discuss the questions and mark up the graphic. Then I have  each group report out on their answers to those three questions while pointing to the mark-ups on  their poster. As each group reports out, I record commonalities in the insights of each group, and  then additional insights that come from the group discussion on an additional copy of the graphic.  After the session, I digitize each group’s poster as an artifact, create a view that combines the shared  and new insights from the group discussion, and then create a revised graphic that incorporates their  feedback and proposed changes that they agreed to as a group.

Insight & Approach    What I have learned from conducting this exercise with several groups is that while the graphic –  especially the revised graphic that incorporates their feedback – is important for reinforcing their  understanding of the problem they are working to solve, the more valuable aspect of the activity is the  shared insights and shared learning that occurs while they are working to define their problem  space. The graphic gives the diverse group of stakeholders a focal point for discussion that allows them  to share their perspectives and develop insights into potential root causes of their problems. While they  could create the graphic from a blank slate in a collaborative manner, starting with a straw man jump  starts the conversation for them. They can quickly identify where they are in the graphic – or if they are  missing – and can more quickly gain new insights about relationships between key entities instead of  taking time to identify them. They can also identify variables in the problem space – that is, it helps  them to identify what they don’t know, in what areas they need to obtain information or data to provide  the values for the variables.    Since I discovered that the most valuable aspect is the shared insights and learning, next time I would  use the visualization activity as a starting point for a series of design thinking activities. Then the revised  graphic that incorporates their combined feedback can serve as a reference tool throughout the  remainder of their work.


PBI – Visualization Challenge & Selection The first tool that I used was a analytics tool , to achieve a shared understanding of projects in our team to stakeholders and others in our company , attempting to identify and define possible solutions to some problems that the project and the assignees might be going through . I have used the technique of using a straw man visualization of a problem domain with a set of questions or prompts for discussion to allow a diverse group of stakeholders to learn from each other in the process of defining the scope , boundaries , key elements , and relationships between elements to consider when identifying pain points and opportunities for improvements or solutions . Application I start the process by creating a POWER BI Dashboard , with PBI desktop , connecting a google sheets file as a source of data , like a data base . To develop the straw man graphic , I will draw from any existing material available in there to understand the environment . The existing material may be operational or procedural documents , training materials , marketing materials , GAO or other auditing reports . If materials are not available , then I conduct informal interviews with one - three of the stakeholders who serve as my main points of contact on the initiative . For the activity , I will divide the stakeholders into groups of 5 - 6 participants each representing a different organization or area of interest . Each group receives a poster - size copy of the straw man graphic that they can write on directly , or use sticky notes to make comments . I give them two- three questions to answer , such as : 1 ) What key elements are missing from the graphic ? 2 ) What would you change about the graphic to make it more accurately reflect your problem space ? 3 ) What key insights do you have about the relationships between the entities in your problem space ? I give them approximately 20 minutes to discuss the questions and mark up the graphic . Then I have each group report out on their answers to those three questions while pointing to the mark - ups on their poster . As each group reports out , I record commonalities in the insights of each group , and then additional insights that come from the group discussion on an additional copy of the graphic . After the session , I digitize each group ’s poster as an artifact , create a view that combines the shared and new insights from the group discussion , and then create a revised graphic that incorporates their feedback and proposed changes that they agreed to as a group . Insight & Approach What I have learned from conducting this exercise with several groups is that while the graphic – especially the revised graphic that incorporates their feedback – is important for reinforcing their understanding of the problem they are working to solve , the more valuable aspect of the activity is the shared insights and shared learning that occurs while they are working to define their problem space . The graphic gives the diverse group of stakeholders a focal point for discussion that allows them to share their perspectives and develop insights into potential root causes of their problems . While they could create the graphic from a blank slate in a collaborative manner , starting with a straw man jump starts the conversation for them . They can quickly identify where they are in the graphic – or if they are missing – and can more quickly gain new insights about relationships between key entities instead of taking time to identify them . They can also identify variables in the problem space – that is , it helps them to identify what they do n’t know , in what areas they need to obtain information or data to provide the values for the variables . Since I discovered that the most valuable aspect is the shared insights and learning , next time I would use the visualization activity as a starting point for a series of design thinking activities . Then the revised graphic that incorporates their combined feedback can serve as a reference tool throughout the remainder of their work .