Challenge & Selection

I choosed to use the tool of Visualization, or Visual Thinking, to achieve a shared  understanding of a problem among a diverse group of stakeholders before attempting to  identify and define possible solutions to the problem.i often use it with my team members  when we are trying to bring up a new idea or when I am facilitating something to them.I use  a set of questions for discussion to allow a diverse group of stakeholders to learn from each  other in the process of defining the scope, key elements, and relationships between  elements to consider when identifying pain points and opportunities for solutions.

Application

I start the process by creating a visualization graphic of the problem domain. To develop the  visualization 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 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. If appropriate to the situation, I approach helps to  reinforce the notion that every service  has customers with whom the service provider  interacts and internal processes that enable the organization to provide the service. The  template I often start with also has a column on the left to identify Partners and Value Chain  Providers and a column on the right to identify Oversight Organizations, such as Congress,  advocacy groups, and other entities that may add constraints to how the organization  operates. The visualization graphic is simple, using simple shapes and icons available.If  doesn’t work, then I will create a different type of visual, either based on a high-level  process flow with swim lanes for different stakeholders, or another format. For the activity, I  will divide the stakeholders into groups of 5-6 participants each representing a different  organization or area of interest. Each group receives a poster-size copy of the visualization  graphic that they can write on directly, or use sticky notes to make comments. I give them  two-three questions to answer, such as: 1) What key elements are missing from the graphic?  2) What would you change about the graphic to make it more accurately reflect your  problem space? 3) What key insights do you have about the relationships between the  entities in your problem space? I give them approximately 30 minutes to discuss the  questions and mark up the graphic. Then I have each group report out on their answers to  those three questions while pointing to the mark-ups on their poster. As each group reports  out, I record commonalities in the insights of each group, and then additional insights that  come from the group discussion on an additional copy of the graphic. After the session, I  digitize each group’s poster as an artifact, create a view that combines the shared and new  insights from the group discussion, and then create a revised graphic that incorporates their  feedback and proposed changes that they agreed to as a group.

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 the shared insights and shared learning that occurs while they are  working to define their problem space. The graphic gives the diverse group of stakeholders a  focal point for discussion that allows them to share their perspectives and develop insights  into potential root causes of their problems. While they could create the graphic from a  blank slate in a collaborative manner, starting with a conversation with them. They can  quickly identify where they are in the graphic and can more quickly gain new insights about  relationships between key entities instead of taking time to identify them. They can also  identify variables in the problem space – that is, it helps them to identify what they don’t  know, in what areas they need to obtain information or data to provide the values for the  variables. Since I discovered that the most valuable aspect is the shared insights and  learning, next time I would use the visualization activity as a starting point for a series of  design thinking activities. Then the revised graphic that incorporates their combined  feedback can serve as a reference tool throughout the remainder of their work.


Challenge & Selection I choosed to use the tool of Visualization , or Visual Thinking , to achieve a shared understanding of a problem among a diverse group of stakeholders before attempting to identify and define possible solutions to the problem.i often use it with my team members when we are trying to bring up a new idea or when I am facilitating something to them . I use a set of questions for discussion to allow a diverse group of stakeholders to learn from each other in the process of defining the scope , key elements , and relationships between elements to consider when identifying pain points and opportunities for solutions . Application I start the process by creating a visualization graphic of the problem domain . To develop the visualization 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 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 . If appropriate to the situation , I approach helps to reinforce the notion that every service has customers with whom the service provider interacts and internal processes that enable the organization to provide the service . The template I often start with also has a column on the left to identify Partners and Value Chain Providers and a column on the right to identify Oversight Organizations , such as Congress , advocacy groups , and other entities that may add constraints to how the organization operates . The visualization graphic is simple , using simple shapes and icons available . If does n’t work , then I will create a different type of visual , either based on a high - level process flow with swim lanes for different stakeholders , or another format . For the activity , I will divide the stakeholders into groups of 5 - 6 participants each representing a different organization or area of interest . Each group receives a poster - size copy of the visualization graphic that they can write on directly , or use sticky notes to make comments . I give them two - three questions to answer , such as : 1 ) What key elements are missing from the graphic ? 2 ) What would you change about the graphic to make it more accurately reflect your problem space ? 3 ) What key insights do you have about the relationships between the entities in your problem space ? I give them approximately 30 minutes to discuss the questions and mark up the graphic . Then I have each group report out on their answers to those three questions while pointing to the mark - ups on their poster . As each group reports out , I record commonalities in the insights of each group , and then additional insights that come from the group discussion on an additional copy of the graphic . After the session , I digitize each group ’s poster as an artifact , create a view that combines the shared and new insights from the group discussion , and then create a revised graphic that incorporates their feedback and proposed changes that they agreed to as a group . 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 the shared insights and shared learning that occurs while they are working to define their problem space . The graphic gives the diverse group of stakeholders a focal point for discussion that allows them to share their perspectives and develop insights into potential root causes of their problems . While they could create the graphic from a blank slate in a collaborative manner , starting with a conversation with them . They can quickly identify where they are in the graphic and can more quickly gain new insights about relationships between key entities instead of taking time to identify them . They can also identify variables in the problem space – that is , it helps them to identify what they do n’t know , in what areas they need to obtain information or data to provide the values for the variables . Since I discovered that the most valuable aspect is the shared insights and learning , next time I would use the visualization activity as a starting point for a series of design thinking activities . Then the revised graphic that incorporates their combined feedback can serve as a reference tool throughout the remainder of their work .