Story Telling Tool

Challenge  I work at a Mining Research company which employees mostly engineers and scientists.  These are analytical thinkers who approach most projects with scientific method and where  people typically speak in facts and figures. We employ the traditional "technology push"  approach where research into the unknown results in a new invention, and we then try to  find a need for that invention. One of our objectives is community upliftment where a  struggling rural community is targeted for upliftment. The execution of these types of  projects has been largely clinical in nature. First, a method of upliftment is selected, and this  can include options such as training in jewellery manufacturing, ornament design, etc. Then  the project is executed. The challenge is that we have not taken the time to properly engage  with the community to determine their needs. And where we have had success, we have  found it difficult to relay the importance of the work to other stakeholders.    Selection  I have selected the Story Telling Tool from the Design Thinking Toolkit to apply to this  challenge. This tool was introduced to us by Andre Martin in week 2 of the lectures.  It helps you convey emotions, connections and the larger purpose, instead of just facts and  figures or a checklist. Andre mentioned that the story helps create a cause. People are  looking to be inspired, and this tool can be a powerful for that purpose.    Application  To begin with, we have to understand the community we were trying to help and what their  real problems are. We should avoid coming up with solutions without first really  understanding the problem. To try to achieve this we have started interviewing members of  the community. We ask open ended questions about their personal circumstances and what  their goals are. We found that even the little training that we had implemented was making  a difference in their lives.    We have begun sharing the stories of these community members with some of the  stakeholders. Instead of boring Power Point presentations, we now have personal stories of  people’s expectations from our projects and the impact of the projects on their lives. We  have learnt to structure our stories carefully, depending on the target audience e.g. the  technical people require much more detail.    Insights  We realized that facts and figures were only part of the equation. The humanness of the  problem must be captured in order to elicit the responses we need to help solve the  underlying problems and storytelling turns out to be the perfect tool for this. We also  realized that these stories we had already shared meant something to everyone who  worked at the company. The tool helps motivate people and aligns them with a greater  purpose. It had created a cause that we could use to rally more support.    Approach

The way that we perform research needs to be balanced. Instead of trying to push an  invention to market, sometimes it is necessary to determine what people actually need first,  this can then guide the research. Those are the principles of Design Thinking, but has not  been the approach we have used in my company in the past. As part of an innovation team  at my organization, I have plans to run Design Thinking workshops and training sessions so  that the needs of the people play a vital role early on in any new development.


Story Telling Tool Challenge I work at a Mining Research company which employees mostly engineers and scientists . These are analytical thinkers who approach most projects with scientific method and where people typically speak in facts and figures . We employ the traditional " technology push " approach where research into the unknown results in a new invention , and we then try to find a need for that invention . One of our objectives is community upliftment where a struggling rural community is targeted for upliftment . The execution of these types of projects has been largely clinical in nature . First , a method of upliftment is selected , and this can include options such as training in jewellery manufacturing , ornament design , etc . Then the project is executed . The challenge is that we have not taken the time to properly engage with the community to determine their needs . And where we have had success , we have found it difficult to relay the importance of the work to other stakeholders . Selection I have selected the Story Telling Tool from the Design Thinking Toolkit to apply to this challenge . This tool was introduced to us by Andre Martin in week 2 of the lectures . It helps you convey emotions , connections and the larger purpose , instead of just facts and figures or a checklist . Andre mentioned that the story helps create a cause . People are looking to be inspired , and this tool can be a powerful for that purpose . Application To begin with , we have to understand the community we were trying to help and what their real problems are . We should avoid coming up with solutions without first really understanding the problem . To try to achieve this we have started interviewing members of the community . We ask open ended questions about their personal circumstances and what their goals are . We found that even the little training that we had implemented was making a difference in their lives . We have begun sharing the stories of these community members with some of the stakeholders . Instead of boring Power Point presentations , we now have personal stories of people ’s expectations from our projects and the impact of the projects on their lives . We have learnt to structure our stories carefully , depending on the target audience e.g. the technical people require much more detail . Insights We realized that facts and figures were only part of the equation . The humanness of the problem must be captured in order to elicit the responses we need to help solve the underlying problems and storytelling turns out to be the perfect tool for this . We also realized that these stories we had already shared meant something to everyone who worked at the company . The tool helps motivate people and aligns them with a greater purpose . It had created a cause that we could use to rally more support . Approach The way that we perform research needs to be balanced . Instead of trying to push an invention to market , sometimes it is necessary to determine what people actually need first , this can then guide the research . Those are the principles of Design Thinking , but has not been the approach we have used in my company in the past . As part of an innovation team at my organization , I have plans to run Design Thinking workshops and training sessions so that the needs of the people play a vital role early on in any new development .