Reflection – Mind mapping

CHALLENGE AND SELECTION

The tool chosen here is MIND MAPPING. My case is a young business that deals as a small store and  mostly operates online that offers handicrafts and gift items. The business functioned for a short  period but due to some potential reasons and competition, the sales of the business went down,  hence it is in the need to re-analyze all its strategies and expand business. My main challenge is to  revive the business with proper planning and implementation of strategies.

So, to evaluate best strategies and rule out other alternatives, mind mapping is considered here. I  can easily understand trends, outliers and patterns in large quantities of data collected so far. And  also i can place the particular decision in the centre of the map and brainstorm issues related to it so  that it is easier to map out positive risks, negative risks, threats, possibilities etcetera.

APPLICATION

In this process, I had gathered the information of total quantity of various products to find trend  sales record over the functioning period of the business and it was scrutinized as weekly sales. This  information showed that the trend of sales is positive i.e. they have gradual and constant increase.  On an average, it is a contribution of all products; hence the demand for an individual product also  has a gradual and constant increase.

Also, I had planned a gathering at the store and invited interested customers to review my products  and asked what best they liked about my product. I noted their feedbacks so as to gain useful  insights which can help me better my products. There were about 100 customers present, divided  into group of 10 and were taken to different stall lines present in the store. I asked them to rate my  products on a scale of 1 to 5, 1 being very poor and 5 being extremely impressive and attach a small  feedback slip to the product wherever they felt it was needed. I also observed that the customers  present in the store were the regular and loyal ones. So, it might be the accurate feedback i would  be looking forward to as they thoroughly know about the product.

Here comes my mind mapping, where i place the least rated and least sold product or product in the  centre and start to branch out reasons that the customers stated. For instance, hands carved  wooden products were labelled to be very fragile and not very detailed in carving. Now, connecting  various reasons stated by each group and cluster them, while us, the company employees sit  together to analyse each set of reasons and see if we can find insights on how best customers can be  served. And further, state the ways on how to overcome the hindrances of the products for their  respective reasons, like 1) assigning contract to a different source ensuring good quality of wood.  2)  Taking control over the manufacturing process, personal supervision 3) safe ways of transportation  so that there is less scope for product damage ect.

INSIGHT AND APPROACH

This design tool has been an eye opener where i learned how best can challenge and its ways of  approach can be easily understood and evaluated to bring out the best one. Finding trends and  connecting various clusters of data gives unique hidden insights whereas, in general it is  inconspicuous since we might not be able to make out in a large quantity of data in front of us. It has  the potential to trigger the innovative thinking and creative side in one and show positive results,  where employees can discuss and share their different perspectives. If not, it can still be an aid we  can rely upon. Personally, it has provoked my design thinking and I find it easier to think on the  necessary lines, like the root cause of my problem.

We have new products like customized watches and accessories in process, looking to enter market;  i would surely like to implement mind mapping while drafting our new product launches and map  out, organize all the information and necessary steps like promotion, public relations and other  social media platforms where the product can be launched.


Reflection – Mind mapping CHALLENGE AND SELECTION The tool chosen here is MIND MAPPING . My case is a young business that deals as a small store and mostly operates online that offers handicrafts and gift items . The business functioned for a short period but due to some potential reasons and competition , the sales of the business went down , hence it is in the need to re - analyze all its strategies and expand business . My main challenge is to revive the business with proper planning and implementation of strategies . So , to evaluate best strategies and rule out other alternatives , mind mapping is considered here . I can easily understand trends , outliers and patterns in large quantities of data collected so far . And also i can place the particular decision in the centre of the map and brainstorm issues related to it so that it is easier to map out positive risks , negative risks , threats , possibilities etcetera . APPLICATION In this process , I had gathered the information of total quantity of various products to find trend sales record over the functioning period of the business and it was scrutinized as weekly sales . This information showed that the trend of sales is positive i.e. they have gradual and constant increase . On an average , it is a contribution of all products ; hence the demand for an individual product also has a gradual and constant increase . Also , I had planned a gathering at the store and invited interested customers to review my products and asked what best they liked about my product . I noted their feedbacks so as to gain useful insights which can help me better my products . There were about 100 customers present , divided into group of 10 and were taken to different stall lines present in the store . I asked them to rate my products on a scale of 1 to 5 , 1 being very poor and 5 being extremely impressive and attach a small feedback slip to the product wherever they felt it was needed . I also observed that the customers present in the store were the regular and loyal ones . So , it might be the accurate feedback i would be looking forward to as they thoroughly know about the product . Here comes my mind mapping , where i place the least rated and least sold product or product in the centre and start to branch out reasons that the customers stated . For instance , hands carved wooden products were labelled to be very fragile and not very detailed in carving . Now , connecting various reasons stated by each group and cluster them , while us , the company employees sit together to analyse each set of reasons and see if we can find insights on how best customers can be served . And further , state the ways on how to overcome the hindrances of the products for their respective reasons , like 1 ) assigning contract to a different source ensuring good quality of wood . 2 ) Taking control over the manufacturing process , personal supervision 3 ) safe ways of transportation so that there is less scope for product damage ect . INSIGHT AND APPROACH This design tool has been an eye opener where i learned how best can challenge and its ways of approach can be easily understood and evaluated to bring out the best one . Finding trends and connecting various clusters of data gives unique hidden insights whereas , in general it is inconspicuous since we might not be able to make out in a large quantity of data in front of us . It has the potential to trigger the innovative thinking and creative side in one and show positive results , where employees can discuss and share their different perspectives . If not , it can still be an aid we can rely upon . Personally , it has provoked my design thinking and I find it easier to think on the necessary lines , like the root cause of my problem . We have new products like customized watches and accessories in process , looking to enter market ; i would surely like to implement mind mapping while drafting our new product launches and map out , organize all the information and necessary steps like promotion , public relations and other social media platforms where the product can be launched .