Reflection – Visualization

Challenge & Selection

The first tool I used was the tool of Visualization, or Visual Thinking, to achieve a shared understanding  of a problem space among a diverse group before attempting to identify and define possible solutions to  the problem. I use this approach often with customers, who are government agencies working to apply  technology innovations to modernize their mission or the delivery of their services to their customer,  which may be citizens or  non-citizens. 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.

One challenge within an organization is to develop new innovative products and services and present  them to the market. These products must be developed in an economical and sustainable way. They  must also answer a desire or need on the market, be technologically and organizationally feasible and  financially viable (Brown, 2009). Design competency in organizations can help to improve the processes  of creating innovative, sustainable products and services. A typical design process includes generic steps  such as the identification of needs, idea generation and conceptual design, detailed product design, the  preparation of production and design of production system, production, marketing and delivery.  Defined generic design phases include Idea and Concept Design, Product Design and System Design.  These phases often differ from each other in objectives and approaches but have the design concept in  common. Another aspect these phases share is the use and need of visual communication.

Application

I start the process by creating a straw man graphic of the problem domain. To develop the straw man  graphic, I will draw from any existing material available 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.

The use of visualization has always been very close to me. The first time I used it in a way that could be  considered a product realization was when I built my first soap car. My parents told me later that I  started by making a drawing I called “beritning , a combination of description  and drawing . However, I  never gave much thought to it until I started writing this thesis. I now realize that this new word has  followed me during my whole life, in different ways. Like most children, I drew a great deal. Many of my  drawings became stories about events I had experienced. However, this storytelling was not for others  to look at, but strictly for me. One could say that it was a way of reliving events and capturing moments.  These representations of the past became stories of the future, where I as a painter decided what was  worth telling. The use of drawings became more and more interesting for me, and I started every new  project with a “beritning”. It could be a new tree hut, soap car or a gadget that I wanted to create. When

it was time to choose an education, it was rather simple, because of my interest in drawing and  architecture. During this time, I started to use drawings more as a tool for explaining ideas and testing  solutions. As a construction engineer with focus on design, the ultimate job was, of course, architecture.  My first employment was at an architect firm, working with everything from layout drawings of kitchens,  bathrooms and windows, to architectural drawings of apartments, schools and offices and of course  detailed drawings. The work was done both by hand and in CAD tools for architects. The drawings  produced were for the construction workers primarily.

This meant the drawings should be easy to read, understandable and create meaning. My work as an  architect involved designing information without knowing anything about Information Design. When it  comes to architect drawings, they are complex and rich in information .This information has to be  communicated, and the drawing acts as communicator between the architect and the construction  worker.

It all starts with the sketch, this mythical and glamorous answer to a requirements specification. It could  be just some sketchy lines on a napkin or well-defined ruler lines on film. It is not the characteristics of  the line that tell us what kind of representation it is, but its usage. A sketch does not have to be sketchy,  and a drawing need not be done with rulers. It is the type of communication that decides what kind of  representation it should be. For an architect, as well as for a designer, sketches are for exploring and  coming up with ideas and drawings are for explaining and describing the sol

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  theshared insights and shared learning . This  focuses on SMEs (Small and Medium sized Enterprises)  with in-house product development competency. The area of importance is in the use of visualizations  in the early phases of NPD.

Visualization is defined as sketches, models and drawings with the main purpose to explore ideas, but  some results are in the solution phase of the development process. The research is focused on how to  improve the performance on NPD projects and strengthen competiveness in SME NPD projects. This  research has been performed with a focus on SMEs. However, the problem description could be found  in larger companies as well. The applicability of the result on larger organizations is not discussed.  Nonetheless, one can assume it is valid for them as well. The aim is also to create a deeper  understanding of the early phases, the value of the information visualization creates and how it effects  the phases to come.

The expected result of this research is to explain why visualization is an important part of the product  development process. The research is expected to deliver a series of results with a focus on the impact  visualization has on the performance of the product realization execution. It should explain and map a

visualization process for the product realization process in order to deliver value and benefits to the  project partners, the research community and industry. The expected result is a conceptual framework  regarding how visualization can be used within a product development project. The model should look  into the existing situation and highlight the problem that is relevant in industry, focusing on SMEs. The  model should also look into the factors most suitable to take into consideration when improving the  situation.


Reflection – Visualization Challenge & Selection The first tool I used was the tool of Visualization , or Visual Thinking , to achieve a shared understanding of a problem space among a diverse group before attempting to identify and define possible solutions to the problem . I use this approach often with customers , who are government agencies working to apply technology innovations to modernize their mission or the delivery of their services to their customer , which may be citizens or non - citizens . 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 . One challenge within an organization is to develop new innovative products and services and present them to the market . These products must be developed in an economical and sustainable way . They must also answer a desire or need on the market , be technologically and organizationally feasible and financially viable ( Brown , 2009 ) . Design competency in organizations can help to improve the processes of creating innovative , sustainable products and services . A typical design process includes generic steps such as the identification of needs , idea generation and conceptual design , detailed product design , the preparation of production and design of production system , production , marketing and delivery . Defined generic design phases include Idea and Concept Design , Product Design and System Design . These phases often differ from each other in objectives and approaches but have the design concept in common . Another aspect these phases share is the use and need of visual communication . Application I start the process by creating a straw man graphic of the problem domain . To develop the straw man graphic , I will draw from any existing material available 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 . The use of visualization has always been very close to me . The first time I used it in a way that could be considered a product realization was when I built my first soap car . My parents told me later that I started by making a drawing I called “ beritning , a combination of description and drawing . However , I never gave much thought to it until I started writing this thesis . I now realize that this new word has followed me during my whole life , in different ways . Like most children , I drew a great deal . Many of my drawings became stories about events I had experienced . However , this storytelling was not for others to look at , but strictly for me . One could say that it was a way of reliving events and capturing moments . These representations of the past became stories of the future , where I as a painter decided what was worth telling . The use of drawings became more and more interesting for me , and I started every new project with a “ beritning ” . It could be a new tree hut , soap car or a gadget that I wanted to create . When it was time to choose an education , it was rather simple , because of my interest in drawing and architecture . During this time , I started to use drawings more as a tool for explaining ideas and testing solutions . As a construction engineer with focus on design , the ultimate job was , of course , architecture . My first employment was at an architect firm , working with everything from layout drawings of kitchens , bathrooms and windows , to architectural drawings of apartments , schools and offices and of course detailed drawings . The work was done both by hand and in CAD tools for architects . The drawings produced were for the construction workers primarily . This meant the drawings should be easy to read , understandable and create meaning . My work as an architect involved designing information without knowing anything about Information Design . When it comes to architect drawings , they are complex and rich in information .This information has to be communicated , and the drawing acts as communicator between the architect and the construction worker . It all starts with the sketch , this mythical and glamorous answer to a requirements specification . It could be just some sketchy lines on a napkin or well - defined ruler lines on film . It is not the characteristics of the line that tell us what kind of representation it is , but its usage . A sketch does not have to be sketchy , and a drawing need not be done with rulers . It is the type of communication that decides what kind of representation it should be . For an architect , as well as for a designer , sketches are for exploring and coming up with ideas and drawings are for explaining and describing the sol 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 theshared insights and shared learning . This focuses on SMEs ( Small and Medium sized Enterprises ) with in - house product development competency . The area of importance is in the use of visualizations in the early phases of NPD . Visualization is defined as sketches , models and drawings with the main purpose to explore ideas , but some results are in the solution phase of the development process . The research is focused on how to improve the performance on NPD projects and strengthen competiveness in SME NPD projects . This research has been performed with a focus on SMEs . However , the problem description could be found in larger companies as well . The applicability of the result on larger organizations is not discussed . Nonetheless , one can assume it is valid for them as well . The aim is also to create a deeper understanding of the early phases , the value of the information visualization creates and how it effects the phases to come . The expected result of this research is to explain why visualization is an important part of the product development process . The research is expected to deliver a series of results with a focus on the impact visualization has on the performance of the product realization execution . It should explain and map a visualization process for the product realization process in order to deliver value and benefits to the project partners , the research community and industry . The expected result is a conceptual framework regarding how visualization can be used within a product development project . The model should look into the existing situation and highlight the problem that is relevant in industry , focusing on SMEs . The model should also look into the factors most suitable to take into consideration when improving the situation .