Reflection on Ideation including visualization 

 Challenge : 

 Working in an innovative specialty chemicals company we are often faced with customer challenges   and projects / project ideas where we need to develop unconventional new products or processes . In a   similar phase as the “ what if ” phase our innovation tool calls for a brainstorming session to generate   new approaches and ideas . For an average project we typically assemble around 10 - 12 employees with   an as diverse background as possible ( from marketing , production , development and research as well   as with a divers educational background ranging from Chemistry , Business and Administration to   Biotechnology ) . The colleagues are then working together in a half day to day workshop to generate   in several iterative cycles new ideas . 

 There are specific challenges to overcome in this phase . First we need to collect as many also   unconventional ideas , without influencing each other and leading to a bias in the group . Then the ideas   have to be consolidated , sorted and evaluated in a limited time . 

 Application 

 Our idea generation team meets in a dedicated room , preferably distant to any normal office or lab   environment to ensure the full dedication and attention of the participant . Mobile phones are banned   during the sessions . 

 A moderator , often a responsible project manager , introduces the challenge / project / idea / design   criteria to the team with as much information on the background / design criteria as possible and   needed . In a first phase , the group is then split into at least 2 groups of 5 - 6 people ( group A , B ) . Each   group is led by an individual moderator . Each of the individual group members ( of group A or B ) is then   asked to formulate his or her ideas and thoughts on sticky notes ( independent of each other , without   interaction in the group , one idea per sticky note ) . This typically needs 10 - 20 min . It is important that   every idea counts be it high level or detailed , even thoughts or questions are permitted [ Week 3 : Video   Idea generation process ] . After that the colleagues are asked to pin their thoughts and ideas to a   whiteboard or flip chart , giving a brief explanation of the individual sticker . Important is to formulate   only one idea / thought per sticker . This is done by each member of the group without permitting   comments or question from the colleagues . This part can take 30 min to an hour depending on the   number of ideas formulated by the participants . This is then followed by a phase , in which discussions   and questions of the group are encouraged . The moderator , tries to cluster at this point ideas and   moves sticky notes with similar ideas close together as well as ideas , which are somehow related to   each other in close proximity . This generates a picture similar to a mind map [ Week 3 : Mind mapping   tool ; Mind map https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mind_map ] . The picture will then be refined during the   rest of the process . In this phase , the group generates a common understanding of the problem and   the ideas generated , and sometimes even develops new , advanced ideas . 

 After the discussion session , the groups switch white boards / pictures / drawing boards and are   introduced by the moderator ( who stays at the same board ) to the ideas generated by the other group .   Typically this phase takes 30 min to 1h . Questions and discussions are permitted even encouraged .   During this phase additional ideas and thoughts can be added , sticky notes moved , consolidated and   the picture further refined . Additions and additional visualization is encouraged . 

 In a third phase , the two moderators present the final white boards / pictures / drawing boards including   the most important point of the discussions to the entire group . Discussions are permitted at this point   but need to be restricted to a minimum to close the phase . The phase should not exceed 15 - 30 min . 

 Finally , the entire group is then asked to vote for the most interesting or attractive idea . This is done   by sticky points provided by the moderator team . Each group member and moderator gets 3 - 5 votes   and can use them as to vote for the most interesting and attractive idea in their opinion . This might   take 5- 10 min depending on the group . 

 The final two idea boards / pictures / drawing boards including the votes are recorded and serve as   starting point for a more detailed analysis , including business potential , technical feasibility and   attractiveness in the ongoing project . 

 The   concept   is   closely   related   to   the   world   café   concept   described   e.g.   here 

 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_caf%C3%A9 . 

 Insight 

 In my opinion the concept is a very powerful tool to develop new concepts and ideas . For me it has   worked on several occasions very well with innovative results . It depends very much though , on the   introduction / design criteria given by the moderator team . In addition , the moderators do have a very   active role in this concept and do have a strong influence . Moderators can steer this concept and use   it to direct the group towards their own ideas and interests . This should be avoided and moderators   should be reminded that they have to be neutral to generate new insights and ideas . Since it is a   complex approach with at least two groups coordination of the two groups is crucial as well as a similar   moderation style of the moderators . Surprisingly enough , in my experience the two groups often   develop very similar ideas to the given problem . 

 Modification of approach : 

 The role of the moderator is the leading part in this concept . The moderator needs to understand that   and needs to act accordingly . The moderator needs to be absolutely neutral not following his or her   own interests . This can be ensured e.g. by a 3rd moderator as neutral instance . 

 Having been reminded by the Design Thinking course how powerful visualization is , I will try to   implement more visualization in this approach not only text . The group members could already come   up with drawings of ideas or work on the visualization of the relation of the ideas to further clarify the   final idea boards / mind maps . 


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 on Ideation including visualization 

 Challenge : 

 Working in an innovative specialty chemicals company we are often faced with customer challenges   and projects / project ideas where we need to develop unconventional new products or processes . In a   similar phase as the “ what if ” phase our innovation tool calls for a brainstorming session to generate   new approaches and ideas . For an average project we typically assemble around 10 - 12 employees with   an as diverse background as possible ( from marketing , production , development and research as well   as with a divers educational background ranging from Chemistry , Business and Administration to   Biotechnology ) . The colleagues are then working together in a half day to day workshop to generate   in several iterative cycles new ideas . 

 There are specific challenges to overcome in this phase . First we need to collect as many also   unconventional ideas , without influencing each other and leading to a bias in the group . Then the ideas   have to be consolidated , sorted and evaluated in a limited time . 

 Application 

 Our idea generation team meets in a dedicated room , preferably distant to any normal office or lab   environment to ensure the full dedication and attention of the participant . Mobile phones are banned   during the sessions . 

 A moderator , often a responsible project manager , introduces the challenge / project / idea / design   criteria to the team with as much information on the background / design criteria as possible and   needed . In a first phase , the group is then split into at least 2 groups of 5 - 6 people ( group A , B ) . Each   group is led by an individual moderator . Each of the individual group members ( of group A or B ) is then   asked to formulate his or her ideas and thoughts on sticky notes ( independent of each other , without   interaction in the group , one idea per sticky note ) . This typically needs 10 - 20 min . It is important that   every idea counts be it high level or detailed , even thoughts or questions are permitted [ Week 3 : Video   Idea generation process ] . After that the colleagues are asked to pin their thoughts and ideas to a   whiteboard or flip chart , giving a brief explanation of the individual sticker . Important is to formulate   only one idea / thought per sticker . This is done by each member of the group without permitting   comments or question from the colleagues . This part can take 30 min to an hour depending on the   number of ideas formulated by the participants . This is then followed by a phase , in which discussions   and questions of the group are encouraged . The moderator , tries to cluster at this point ideas and   moves sticky notes with similar ideas close together as well as ideas , which are somehow related to   each other in close proximity . This generates a picture similar to a mind map [ Week 3 : Mind mapping   tool ; Mind map https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mind_map ] . The picture will then be refined during the   rest of the process . In this phase , the group generates a common understanding of the problem and   the ideas generated , and sometimes even develops new , advanced ideas . 

 After the discussion session , the groups switch white boards / pictures / drawing boards and are   introduced by the moderator ( who stays at the same board ) to the ideas generated by the other group .   Typically this phase takes 30 min to 1h . Questions and discussions are permitted even encouraged .   During this phase additional ideas and thoughts can be added , sticky notes moved , consolidated and   the picture further refined . Additions and additional visualization is encouraged . 

 In a third phase , the two moderators present the final white boards / pictures / drawing boards including   the most important point of the discussions to the entire group . Discussions are permitted at this point   but need to be restricted to a minimum to close the phase . The phase should not exceed 15 - 30 min . 

 Finally , the entire group is then asked to vote for the most interesting or attractive idea . This is done   by sticky points provided by the moderator team . Each group member and moderator gets 3 - 5 votes   and can use them as to vote for the most interesting and attractive idea in their opinion . This might   take 5- 10 min depending on the group . 

 The final two idea boards / pictures / drawing boards including the votes are recorded and serve as   starting point for a more detailed analysis , including business potential , technical feasibility and   attractiveness in the ongoing project . 

 The   concept   is   closely   related   to   the   world   café   concept   described   e.g.   here 

 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_caf%C3%A9 . 

 Insight 

 In my opinion the concept is a very powerful tool to develop new concepts and ideas . For me it has   worked on several occasions very well with innovative results . It depends very much though , on the   introduction / design criteria given by the moderator team . In addition , the moderators do have a very   active role in this concept and do have a strong influence . Moderators can steer this concept and use   it to direct the group towards their own ideas and interests . This should be avoided and moderators   should be reminded that they have to be neutral to generate new insights and ideas . Since it is a   complex approach with at least two groups coordination of the two groups is crucial as well as a similar   moderation style of the moderators . Surprisingly enough , in my experience the two groups often   develop very similar ideas to the given problem . 

 Modification of approach : 

 The role of the moderator is the leading part in this concept . The moderator needs to understand that   and needs to act accordingly . The moderator needs to be absolutely neutral not following his or her   own interests . This can be ensured e.g. by a 3rd moderator as neutral instance . 

 Having been reminded by the Design Thinking course how powerful visualization is , I will try to   implement more visualization in this approach not only text . The group members could already come   up with drawings of ideas or work on the visualization of the relation of the ideas to further clarify the   final idea boards / mind maps .
### Output: 