My Reflection – Mind Mapping

Challenge & Selection

I have been working on an IT project which composes of 35 people. They have an on-going initiative to  spark innovation through listing problem statements which the project can then prioritize for  continuous improvements that can be worked on for next year 2015. A lot of initiatives have been  logged, shared and gathered within the project (estimated 20 – 30). However, the challenge the project  is facing is what needs to be prioritized, what are impacting to all the teams within the project from  development, testing to operations and how can these be implemented before the end of next year  2015.

Using the what I learned throughout this course, one of the tools I used which I want to share is the  Mind Mapping tool. I selected this tool as it can help me identify patterns on what the stakeholders  (management and all project members) want to priorities and work on from the list of problem  statements.

Application

Before starting the application of the tool, I first formed a team of five across the different teams  including management to form our core innovation team. I listed all the problem statements gathered  for the past 3 months into a huge spreadsheet to ensure I have not missed anything. I then applied the  key steps of Mind Mapping, first with setting up the art gallery.

I reserved a medium sized meeting room good for 3 days and ensured that it has enough glass boards to  support 30 – 40 sticky notes. Me and my team then proceeded with writing into medium-sized sticky  notes and a brief description of the problem statements and placed them on the glass boards in random  order. We then announced the opening of our art gallery through a project meeting; sharing our  common goal to address the current problem which is to prioritize highly impacting problem statements  that the project can work on. Next, we invited our gallery goers by making groups 5 comprising of 7  people each from different teams. We provided them with notebooks and ball pens for them to write on  and have them go into the meeting room and pick out what problem statements catch their attention  while entertaining any questions they share on the statements that are of interest.

After their visit to the gallery, we conducted 10-minute discussions with the groups to understand their  selections and why is it highly impacting to them. When then grouped all the selected problem  statements. After the 3-day activity, we were able to identify 5 problem statements that the teams want  to work and prioritize on for next year.

Insight

I learned that having the involvement of stakeholders while having them share their feedback and  insights one of the key components to identify patterns and themes from the given data. In this case,  the project’s team members and their involvement in picking what problem statements are highly  impacting to them. Presenting the data as art gallery exhibits has given a new graphical representation

of the artifacts, we gathered for the past 3 months and allowed e and my team to answer the team’s  inquiries and shed insights on what the problem statement is and how it impacts the team and project.

Having each of the stakeholders enter the room go through the problem statements at their own pace  has enabled them to think carefully and thoroughly what they feel has impact without any pressure or  time constraints.

Approach

Although I used the tool differently from what was presented in the Design Thinking course, I would still  use the Mind Mapping tool but refine it and ensure that it is used to establish a proper what-if to create  an innovative solution to a business problem.


My Reflection – Mind Mapping Challenge & Selection I have been working on an IT project which composes of 35 people . They have an on - going initiative to spark innovation through listing problem statements which the project can then prioritize for continuous improvements that can be worked on for next year 2015 . A lot of initiatives have been logged , shared and gathered within the project ( estimated 20 – 30 ) . However , the challenge the project is facing is what needs to be prioritized , what are impacting to all the teams within the project from development , testing to operations and how can these be implemented before the end of next year 2015 . Using the what I learned throughout this course , one of the tools I used which I want to share is the Mind Mapping tool . I selected this tool as it can help me identify patterns on what the stakeholders ( management and all project members ) want to priorities and work on from the list of problem statements . Application Before starting the application of the tool , I first formed a team of five across the different teams including management to form our core innovation team . I listed all the problem statements gathered for the past 3 months into a huge spreadsheet to ensure I have not missed anything . I then applied the key steps of Mind Mapping , first with setting up the art gallery . I reserved a medium sized meeting room good for 3 days and ensured that it has enough glass boards to support 30 – 40 sticky notes . Me and my team then proceeded with writing into medium - sized sticky notes and a brief description of the problem statements and placed them on the glass boards in random order . We then announced the opening of our art gallery through a project meeting ; sharing our common goal to address the current problem which is to prioritize highly impacting problem statements that the project can work on . Next , we invited our gallery goers by making groups 5 comprising of 7 people each from different teams . We provided them with notebooks and ball pens for them to write on and have them go into the meeting room and pick out what problem statements catch their attention while entertaining any questions they share on the statements that are of interest . After their visit to the gallery , we conducted 10 - minute discussions with the groups to understand their selections and why is it highly impacting to them . When then grouped all the selected problem statements . After the 3 - day activity , we were able to identify 5 problem statements that the teams want to work and prioritize on for next year . Insight I learned that having the involvement of stakeholders while having them share their feedback and insights one of the key components to identify patterns and themes from the given data . In this case , the project ’s team members and their involvement in picking what problem statements are highly impacting to them . Presenting the data as art gallery exhibits has given a new graphical representation of the artifacts , we gathered for the past 3 months and allowed e and my team to answer the team ’s inquiries and shed insights on what the problem statement is and how it impacts the team and project . Having each of the stakeholders enter the room go through the problem statements at their own pace has enabled them to think carefully and thoroughly what they feel has impact without any pressure or time constraints . Approach Although I used the tool differently from what was presented in the Design Thinking course , I would still use the Mind Mapping tool but refine it and ensure that it is used to establish a proper what - if to create an innovative solution to a business problem .