Reflection – Visualisation 

 Challenge   A client had asked us to build a new tool to help them evaluate their raw materials and certify their   finished products . Unfortunately , we had little information about the old tools . Users knew how to   operate them but there was no technical information available . We needed to start from a clean sheet   although the hidden expectations were high . 

 Since the information we had access to was minimal and the processes we needed to address were   highly customized , we had to start from the beginning : establishing a common understanding of the   problem to solve . Later in the project we would use the same visualisation tool to present our solutions   and , in the end , to train the end - users . 

 Selection   The client company was familiar with LEGO Serious Play ( https://www.lego.com/en-us/seriousplay ) .   You can use LEGO bricks to visualise a challenge or a solution , but their use should not be limited to   visualisation . They also trigger “ play ” . 

 One of the team members spontaneously introduced visualisation using LEGO bricks at a moment   where we got stuck . Instantaneously , the atmosphere improved , and we managed to make progress .   Whereas , up to that moment , we failed to understand each other , spoke a different language and did   not manage to grasp all the nitty gritty yet important details . 

 Application   On a high level , the client ’s process works as follows . All raw materials are evaluated individually . Once   approved , they are tested in various combinations with other materials . Their final products are   certified based on the successful evaluation of raw materials and all relevant combinations . 

 We used LEGO bricks to represent different materials , certifications , etc . 

 Imagine 3 raw materials 

 Each of the raw materials is successfully evaluated ( represented by orange stamp ) 

 3 out of 4 combinations of raw materials are tested successfully ( again represented by orange stamp ) 

 raw material 1 raw material 2 raw material 3 

 ok ok ok 

 raw material 1 raw material 2 raw material 3 

 Based on these approved combinations , several final products can be certified , whereas some others   can not : 

 This is a simplified visualisation of what really happened . Doing this in excel gives little room for “ what- if ” scenarios . e.g. what would happen in case raw material 1 was no longer available due to changing   rules in the evaluation ? Combinations 2 and 4 would no longer be available resulting in only final   product 1 that can remain certified . 

 Now imagine how much “ play ” we had , doing this kind of exercises with LEGO bricks and how easy it   was to test several what - if scenario ’s ? 

 Insight   Visualisation using LEGO Serious Play has helped us in various ways . 

 Bringing the bricks to the table enabled us to unblock a situation where we were no longer making   progress . The factor “ play ” and the ability to make abstract concepts tangible were most important .   Suddenly we were able to define a common language , explaining vague ideas became fun and cross- checking with each other became like an act of play . The “ we ” from business and “ they ” from IT   disappeared rapidly . 

 Best of all was the long - term effect of these exercises . Change management and training went   smoother than expected since we had a common model and tool to refer to . Again , the factor of “ play ”   made it fun and reduced the impact of the anticipated fear for change . 

 nok ok ok ok 

 ok ok ok ok 

 ok ok ok ok 

 ok 

 raw material 1 

 raw material 3 

 combination 1 combination 2 combination 3 combination 4 

 raw material 1 

 raw material 2 

 raw material 3 

 raw material 1 

 raw material 2 

 raw material 2 

 raw material 3 

 cert cert cert cert 

 ok ok ok ok 

 ok ok ok ok 

 ok 

 combination 2 

 combination 4 

 final product 1 final product 2 final product 3 final product 4 

 combination 2 

 combination 3 

 combination 4 

 combination 2 

 combination 3 

 combination 3 

 combination 4 

 not cert not cert not cert 

 ok ok ok 

 nok nok nok 

 combination 1 combination 1 combination 1 

 final product 5 final product 6 final product 7 

 combination 2 combination 3 combination 4 

 Approach   Bringing LEGO bricks to the table invites people both inside and outside of their comfort zone . Playing   at work is odd at first but play as such feels very natural . It helps discussing abstract topics by making   them tangible . 

 When we tried to visualize on a whiteboard using sketches like the ones above , people found it hard   to understand them . It was the introduction of the bricks that helped . 

 Were the bricks the key factor for success ? Maybe . Even the best tools and processes will lead you   nowhere if you do n’t know how to use them well … That is why I want to emphasize the importance   of the facilitator in the process . 

 While we only used basic features of the LEGO Serious Play methods , I like to find out more about its   full potential . And I am considering some training to improve my facilitating skills . 


EMAIL: 
ID_NUM: 
NAME_STUDENT: 
PHONE_NUM: 
STREET_ADDRESS: 
URL_PERSONAL: 
USERNAME: 

### Task: You are a PII (Personal Identity Information) Detection. Given a essays written by students, you have to identify ONLY the following:
NAME_STUDENT - The full or partial name of a student that is not necessarily the author of the essay. This excludes instructors, authors, and other person names.
EMAIL - A student’s email address.
USERNAME - A student's username on any platform.
ID_NUM - A number or sequence of characters that could be used to identify a student, such as a student ID or a social security number.
PHONE_NUM - A phone number associated with a student.
URL_PERSONAL - A URL that might be used to identify a student.
STREET_ADDRESS - A full or partial street address that is associated with the student, such as their home address.
### Input: Reflection – Visualisation 

 Challenge   A client had asked us to build a new tool to help them evaluate their raw materials and certify their   finished products . Unfortunately , we had little information about the old tools . Users knew how to   operate them but there was no technical information available . We needed to start from a clean sheet   although the hidden expectations were high . 

 Since the information we had access to was minimal and the processes we needed to address were   highly customized , we had to start from the beginning : establishing a common understanding of the   problem to solve . Later in the project we would use the same visualisation tool to present our solutions   and , in the end , to train the end - users . 

 Selection   The client company was familiar with LEGO Serious Play ( https://www.lego.com/en-us/seriousplay ) .   You can use LEGO bricks to visualise a challenge or a solution , but their use should not be limited to   visualisation . They also trigger “ play ” . 

 One of the team members spontaneously introduced visualisation using LEGO bricks at a moment   where we got stuck . Instantaneously , the atmosphere improved , and we managed to make progress .   Whereas , up to that moment , we failed to understand each other , spoke a different language and did   not manage to grasp all the nitty gritty yet important details . 

 Application   On a high level , the client ’s process works as follows . All raw materials are evaluated individually . Once   approved , they are tested in various combinations with other materials . Their final products are   certified based on the successful evaluation of raw materials and all relevant combinations . 

 We used LEGO bricks to represent different materials , certifications , etc . 

 Imagine 3 raw materials 

 Each of the raw materials is successfully evaluated ( represented by orange stamp ) 

 3 out of 4 combinations of raw materials are tested successfully ( again represented by orange stamp ) 

 raw material 1 raw material 2 raw material 3 

 ok ok ok 

 raw material 1 raw material 2 raw material 3 

 Based on these approved combinations , several final products can be certified , whereas some others   can not : 

 This is a simplified visualisation of what really happened . Doing this in excel gives little room for “ what- if ” scenarios . e.g. what would happen in case raw material 1 was no longer available due to changing   rules in the evaluation ? Combinations 2 and 4 would no longer be available resulting in only final   product 1 that can remain certified . 

 Now imagine how much “ play ” we had , doing this kind of exercises with LEGO bricks and how easy it   was to test several what - if scenario ’s ? 

 Insight   Visualisation using LEGO Serious Play has helped us in various ways . 

 Bringing the bricks to the table enabled us to unblock a situation where we were no longer making   progress . The factor “ play ” and the ability to make abstract concepts tangible were most important .   Suddenly we were able to define a common language , explaining vague ideas became fun and cross- checking with each other became like an act of play . The “ we ” from business and “ they ” from IT   disappeared rapidly . 

 Best of all was the long - term effect of these exercises . Change management and training went   smoother than expected since we had a common model and tool to refer to . Again , the factor of “ play ”   made it fun and reduced the impact of the anticipated fear for change . 

 nok ok ok ok 

 ok ok ok ok 

 ok ok ok ok 

 ok 

 raw material 1 

 raw material 3 

 combination 1 combination 2 combination 3 combination 4 

 raw material 1 

 raw material 2 

 raw material 3 

 raw material 1 

 raw material 2 

 raw material 2 

 raw material 3 

 cert cert cert cert 

 ok ok ok ok 

 ok ok ok ok 

 ok 

 combination 2 

 combination 4 

 final product 1 final product 2 final product 3 final product 4 

 combination 2 

 combination 3 

 combination 4 

 combination 2 

 combination 3 

 combination 3 

 combination 4 

 not cert not cert not cert 

 ok ok ok 

 nok nok nok 

 combination 1 combination 1 combination 1 

 final product 5 final product 6 final product 7 

 combination 2 combination 3 combination 4 

 Approach   Bringing LEGO bricks to the table invites people both inside and outside of their comfort zone . Playing   at work is odd at first but play as such feels very natural . It helps discussing abstract topics by making   them tangible . 

 When we tried to visualize on a whiteboard using sketches like the ones above , people found it hard   to understand them . It was the introduction of the bricks that helped . 

 Were the bricks the key factor for success ? Maybe . Even the best tools and processes will lead you   nowhere if you do n’t know how to use them well … That is why I want to emphasize the importance   of the facilitator in the process . 

 While we only used basic features of the LEGO Serious Play methods , I like to find out more about its   full potential . And I am considering some training to improve my facilitating skills .
### Output: 