Reflection – Visualization

1. Challenge: Describe your challenge, including all relevant information.

Visualization is the tool of my choice for proposing a long-old process change.

I needed to propose something to my senior management. Given the diverse group of individuals  with varied background, this tool becomes handy in explaining the problem in a visual way and get  their thinking into same line.

Usually I create PowerPoint presentations to ensure we the problem, especially, unstructured  problem is explained.

This allows to explain the problem and make everyone understand the problem. Recently to propose  a process change I used this technique to explain the current limitations, challenges, drawbacks and  with the new solution, what would change.

This brought the groups buy-in to think about solutions.

2. Selection: In your own words, briefly describe the tool you selected (e.g., what it is and why

you selected it for your challenge -- including any appropriate video lecture references).

Whenever we have to propose a change to long old process, there is an initial resistance to accept  the problems in the process. It has become a habit for the organization to accept the way it is. It  becomes very difficult to distinguish what is root cause and what is the symptom. Many times, by  addressing the symptom is taken as a cure for the problem.

Hence, I chose this tool to explain the problem in more visual manner, which got attention and with  examples I explained it to the management team.

This tool not only gave an way to structure an undefined problem but also provided the framework  to think in all possible perspectives. Added a screenshot for reference.

3. Application: Describe how you applied the tool you selected to your challenge (e.g., what you

did and how the tool was applied effectively or ineffectively).

Here is the list of steps I performed to explain my proposal

1. Started with putting the facts in my organization

a.  Drawbacks

b. Challenges  c.  Duplication of effort

d. Lack of intrinsic motivation  e. No formal recognition

2. Backed the above with thorough research and shared the insights  3. Proposed a design criterion – a simple 3 staged development  4. Raise the question of What If?

a.  Proposed multiple ideas

b. Brainstormed on the ideas  c.  Evaluated the ideas

5. During this process, explained the bigger picture and what Definition of Done looks like  6. To take it to next level, and to get “wow” factor  7. Proposed a detailed step/step process involved to achieve the overall outcome

8. Visualized the End Result with additional reality check (added for reference)

4. Insight: Describe the insight you gained from applying the tool you selected to your challenge

(e.g., how an insight affected your thinking about the challenge and about design thinking  more broadly).

1. This tool not only gave an way to structure an undefined problem but also provided the

framework to think in all possible perspectives.

2. It helped detailing all possible questions in each phase with clear questions

5. Approach: Describe what you might do differently next time -- applying the same tool you

selected or a different one -- and the reason(s) why.

1. Implementing the proposed solution in a smaller group

2. Receive feedback on the proposed solution

3. Curate and alter the solution based on feedback

4. Create a continuous loop and feedback mechanism

5. Visualize the outcome by quantifying the improvement

6. Make micro improvement


Reflection – Visualization 1 . Challenge : Describe your challenge , including all relevant information . Visualization is the tool of my choice for proposing a long - old process change . I needed to propose something to my senior management . Given the diverse group of individuals with varied background , this tool becomes handy in explaining the problem in a visual way and get their thinking into same line . Usually I create PowerPoint presentations to ensure we the problem , especially , unstructured problem is explained . This allows to explain the problem and make everyone understand the problem . Recently to propose a process change I used this technique to explain the current limitations , challenges , drawbacks and with the new solution , what would change . This brought the groups buy - in to think about solutions . 2 . Selection : In your own words , briefly describe the tool you selected ( e.g. , what it is and why you selected it for your challenge -- including any appropriate video lecture references ) . Whenever we have to propose a change to long old process , there is an initial resistance to accept the problems in the process . It has become a habit for the organization to accept the way it is . It becomes very difficult to distinguish what is root cause and what is the symptom . Many times , by addressing the symptom is taken as a cure for the problem . Hence , I chose this tool to explain the problem in more visual manner , which got attention and with examples I explained it to the management team . This tool not only gave an way to structure an undefined problem but also provided the framework to think in all possible perspectives . Added a screenshot for reference . 3 . Application : Describe how you applied the tool you selected to your challenge ( e.g. , what you did and how the tool was applied effectively or ineffectively ) . Here is the list of steps I performed to explain my proposal 1 . Started with putting the facts in my organization a. Drawbacks b. Challenges c. Duplication of effort d. Lack of intrinsic motivation e. No formal recognition 2 . Backed the above with thorough research and shared the insights 3 . Proposed a design criterion – a simple 3 staged development 4 . Raise the question of What If ? a. Proposed multiple ideas b. Brainstormed on the ideas c. Evaluated the ideas 5 . During this process , explained the bigger picture and what Definition of Done looks like 6 . To take it to next level , and to get “ wow ” factor 7 . Proposed a detailed step / step process involved to achieve the overall outcome 8 . Visualized the End Result with additional reality check ( added for reference ) 4 . Insight : Describe the insight you gained from applying the tool you selected to your challenge ( e.g. , how an insight affected your thinking about the challenge and about design thinking more broadly ) . 1 . This tool not only gave an way to structure an undefined problem but also provided the framework to think in all possible perspectives . 2 . It helped detailing all possible questions in each phase with clear questions 5 . Approach : Describe what you might do differently next time -- applying the same tool you selected or a different one -- and the reason(s ) why . 1 . Implementing the proposed solution in a smaller group 2 . Receive feedback on the proposed solution 3 . Curate and alter the solution based on feedback 4 . Create a continuous loop and feedback mechanism 5 . Visualize the outcome by quantifying the improvement 6 . Make micro improvement