Challenge

Describe your challenge, including all relevant information.

I am a cofounder at https://jones.com/tags/wp-contentpost.html , a agtech Startup specializing in setting up  and operating farms and also consulting other farms to be efficient.   Hydroponics is a practice of growing greens and veggies on a water and is one of the  solutions to feed more with lower resources and carbon footprint.   In one of our projects, we were called up to solve a failed crop cycle in one of the farms  in India. The farm had been commissioned on schedule and all plants failed to grow after a  40 day cycle leading to a wipeout of all produce. We went in to rescue the farm.

Selection  In your own words, briefly describe the tool you selected (e.g., what it is and why you  selected it for your challenge -- including any appropriate video lecture references).

We selected Mind Mapping as the tool of choice.   The hydroponics is an evolving technique and lots of unknowns in the field. It was very  important to leverage the combined ideas from all and brainstorm to solve the problem and  identify the cause of the error.

Application:  Describe how you applied the tool you selected to your challenge (e.g., what you did

and how the tool was applied effectively or ineffectively).

What is : We sat down with the farm team and documented all the process they follow and  asked crucial questions of “why” they did a particular activity in a way and what were the  determining factors in those choices. Without prejudice, we all sat in a circle time every day  twice to speak the mind.   The agronomist, farm electrician, water supply in-charge, organic pest controller shared  their actions over the past 60 days in the farm, and also offered their views on what may  have gone wrong.   The key findings from the studies were these –

a) The plant roots were affected and unable to pick up nutrients from the water   b) Algae growth on the pipes led to nutrients being unavailable to crops  c) Organic pesticides were in effective against some strange flies affecting vine plants   d) Humidity levels fluctuating through the day in unplanned way  e) Grow lights (Special purpose LED lights used to simulate Sunlight) ineffective.

What If : We worked with the teams and analyzed the patterns and anti-patterns to create  heuristics from the data to identify the black spaces and white spaces.    The problem causes was a simple set –

a) Lack of correct water usage (Reverse osmosis water not used to save costs).

Normal well water causes algae in pipes

b) Algae in pipes causing pests   c) Improper fan/pad system design causing air flow gaps affecting humidity  d) Grow lights mistakenly replaced with normal LEDs.

What Wows :

a) We cleared up one grow area , decoupled from rest of the farm and experimented

with simple RO water (5 gallon bottles) to see the algae growth process.

b) Replaced grow lights in same sector.    c) Fan pad systems reprogrammed to avoid air drag.

What Works

a) We are in post seedling stage and results are very encouraging – the algae growth

is zero and no need for any pesticides in the last 3 weeks

b) No humidity issues faced in the test sector.   c) Grow lights still under testing, effects being measured and visible after 35 days.

Insight:   Describe the insight you gained from applying the tool you selected to your challenge  (e.g., how an insight affected your thinking about the challenge and about design  thinking more broadly).

The tool from Mind mapping exercise was very useful – rather than take a random  approach or keep doing the same things again and again, we found the approach very  useful in being able to nail the problem and avoid a massive loss in having to  redevelop the farm from scratch.

Approach:   Describe what you might do differently next time -- applying the same tool you  selected or a different one -- and the reason(s) why.

In retrospect, if the owners had employed a visualization approach upfront- the farm  would not have gone into this stage. In more layman terms we found a lack of strong  documented and visual directions for the farm operators.


Challenge Describe your challenge , including all relevant information . I am a cofounder at https://jones.com/tags/wp-contentpost.html , a agtech Startup specializing in setting up and operating farms and also consulting other farms to be efficient . Hydroponics is a practice of growing greens and veggies on a water and is one of the solutions to feed more with lower resources and carbon footprint . In one of our projects , we were called up to solve a failed crop cycle in one of the farms in India . The farm had been commissioned on schedule and all plants failed to grow after a 40 day cycle leading to a wipeout of all produce . We went in to rescue the farm . Selection In your own words , briefly describe the tool you selected ( e.g. , what it is and why you selected it for your challenge -- including any appropriate video lecture references ) . We selected Mind Mapping as the tool of choice . The hydroponics is an evolving technique and lots of unknowns in the field . It was very important to leverage the combined ideas from all and brainstorm to solve the problem and identify the cause of the error . Application : Describe how you applied the tool you selected to your challenge ( e.g. , what you did and how the tool was applied effectively or ineffectively ) . What is : We sat down with the farm team and documented all the process they follow and asked crucial questions of “ why ” they did a particular activity in a way and what were the determining factors in those choices . Without prejudice , we all sat in a circle time every day twice to speak the mind . The agronomist , farm electrician , water supply in - charge , organic pest controller shared their actions over the past 60 days in the farm , and also offered their views on what may have gone wrong . The key findings from the studies were these – a ) The plant roots were affected and unable to pick up nutrients from the water b ) Algae growth on the pipes led to nutrients being unavailable to crops c ) Organic pesticides were in effective against some strange flies affecting vine plants d ) Humidity levels fluctuating through the day in unplanned way e ) Grow lights ( Special purpose LED lights used to simulate Sunlight ) ineffective . What If : We worked with the teams and analyzed the patterns and anti - patterns to create heuristics from the data to identify the black spaces and white spaces . The problem causes was a simple set – a ) Lack of correct water usage ( Reverse osmosis water not used to save costs ) . Normal well water causes algae in pipes b ) Algae in pipes causing pests c ) Improper fan / pad system design causing air flow gaps affecting humidity d ) Grow lights mistakenly replaced with normal LEDs . What Wows : a ) We cleared up one grow area , decoupled from rest of the farm and experimented with simple RO water ( 5 gallon bottles ) to see the algae growth process . b ) Replaced grow lights in same sector . c ) Fan pad systems reprogrammed to avoid air drag . What Works a ) We are in post seedling stage and results are very encouraging – the algae growth is zero and no need for any pesticides in the last 3 weeks b ) No humidity issues faced in the test sector . c ) Grow lights still under testing , effects being measured and visible after 35 days . Insight : Describe the insight you gained from applying the tool you selected to your challenge ( e.g. , how an insight affected your thinking about the challenge and about design thinking more broadly ) . The tool from Mind mapping exercise was very useful – rather than take a random approach or keep doing the same things again and again , we found the approach very useful in being able to nail the problem and avoid a massive loss in having to redevelop the farm from scratch . Approach : Describe what you might do differently next time -- applying the same tool you selected or a different one -- and the reason(s ) why . In retrospect , if the owners had employed a visualization approach upfront- the farm would not have gone into this stage . In more layman terms we found a lack of strong documented and visual directions for the farm operators .