Reflection – Visualization 

 Challenge : 

 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 of stakeholders before attempting to identify and define   possible solutions to the problem . I used this approach often with my colleagues who are working to   apply technology innovations to modernize their tasks and the delivery of their services to their various   customers both internal and external . 

 Selection : 

 I have used the technique of using a rectangular box visualization of a problem domain with a set of   questions or prompts for discussion to allow everyone 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 . 

 Application : 

 I start the process by creating a rectangular graphics of the problem domain . To develop the rectangular   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 , and   other auditing reports . 

 Where materials were not available , then I conducted an informal interview with some of the   stakeholders who serve as the main points of contact on the initiative . 

 The frontstage / back - stage approach helps to reinforce the notion that every service – even an internal   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 vendors and Value Chain Providers and a column on the right to identify downtime that may   add constraints to how the organization operates . 

 The rectangular graphic is simple , using simple shapes and icons available in Microsoft word/   PowerPoint or on the Internet . 

 Where the used view does not seem to be clear enough to the relevant stakeholders , then the need to   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 , stakeholders will be divided into various groups each representing a different area of   interest . Each group receives a sticky note to make comments after which I give them two - three   questions to answer , which includes : 

 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 20 minutes to discuss the questions and mark up 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 : 

 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 . They can   quickly identify where they are in the graphic – or if they are missing – and can more quickly gain new   insights about relationships between key entities instead of taking time to identify them . It also 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 . 

 Approach : 

 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 . 


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 – Visualization 

 Challenge : 

 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 of stakeholders before attempting to identify and define   possible solutions to the problem . I used this approach often with my colleagues who are working to   apply technology innovations to modernize their tasks and the delivery of their services to their various   customers both internal and external . 

 Selection : 

 I have used the technique of using a rectangular box visualization of a problem domain with a set of   questions or prompts for discussion to allow everyone 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 . 

 Application : 

 I start the process by creating a rectangular graphics of the problem domain . To develop the rectangular   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 , and   other auditing reports . 

 Where materials were not available , then I conducted an informal interview with some of the   stakeholders who serve as the main points of contact on the initiative . 

 The frontstage / back - stage approach helps to reinforce the notion that every service – even an internal   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 vendors and Value Chain Providers and a column on the right to identify downtime that may   add constraints to how the organization operates . 

 The rectangular graphic is simple , using simple shapes and icons available in Microsoft word/   PowerPoint or on the Internet . 

 Where the used view does not seem to be clear enough to the relevant stakeholders , then the need to   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 , stakeholders will be divided into various groups each representing a different area of   interest . Each group receives a sticky note to make comments after which I give them two - three   questions to answer , which includes : 

 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 20 minutes to discuss the questions and mark up 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 : 

 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 . They can   quickly identify where they are in the graphic – or if they are missing – and can more quickly gain new   insights about relationships between key entities instead of taking time to identify them . It also 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 . 

 Approach : 

 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 .
### Output: 