Visualization 

 Visualization or Visual Thinking was my first tool . This tool allowed us to come to a common   understanding among diverse stakeholders . We then attempted to determine and propose solutions . I   often use this approach with customers , government agencies , when they are trying to improve their   mission or deliver services to non - citizens . I 've used the strawman visualization of a problem domain to   help a variety of stakeholders learn from one another . 

 Application 

 I begin the process by making a straw man diagram of the problem area . I will use all existing materials to   develop the strawman graphic . It could be any operational or procedural documentation , training   materials , marketing material , GAO , or any other auditing report . If I do not have the material , I will   conduct informal interviews with the key stakeholders . 

 If appropriate to the situation , I will borrow the concept to " front - stage / back - stage " from previous   research , and discussed in David Gray 's book , " The Connected Company " . The front - stage / 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 that I use to start is simple and has a column to identify Value Chain Providers and   Partners . A column to identify Oversight Organizations ( such as Congress , GAO , labor unites , advocacy   groups and other entities that could limit the operation of the organization ) is also included . The strawman   graphic is very simple and uses icons and shapes available in Visio . If the front - stage / back - stage view   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 . 

 I will break the stakeholders down into groups of between 5 - 6 people , each representing an area of   expertise or organization . Each group will receive a poster - sized version of the strawman graphic . They   can use sticky notes or write directly on it . I ask them two to three questions . For example , what key   elements are missing from this graphic ? 2 ) What would you make the graphic more accurate to reflect   your problem area ? What key insights are you able to share about the relationships between entities   within your problem space ? I allow them to discuss the questions for approximately 20 minutes and then   mark up their poster . Each group is then asked to answer the three questions and to point to their posters .   I then record the commonalities between the groups ' insights and the additional insights from the group   discussion , on an additional copy . I then digitize the posters of each group as artifacts , combine the new   and shared insights from the group discussion and create a revised graphic . This includes their feedback   and any proposed changes . 

 Approach 

 Through this exercise , I 've learned that the graphic , and especially the updated graphic that incorporates   their feedback is very important in helping them understand the problem . But the most valuable part of   the activity is their shared insights . 

 There is space . The graphic offers a common platform for discussion among stakeholders . It allows them   to exchange their opinions and gain insight into the root causes of their problems . Although they could   work together to create the graphic , it is easier for them to start by creating a strawman . They can quickly   identify their place in the graphic , or where they are not . This allows them to gain quick insights into   relationships between key entities and is quicker than taking time . They can also identify variables in a   problem space . It helps them to identify the areas where they are lacking information , and the areas in   which they need data or information to give the variables their values . 

 As I have discovered that the most important aspect of learning and sharing ideas is the shared insight , I   plan to use the visualization exercise as a point of departure for several design thinking activities . The   revised graphic that incorporates their collective feedback can then be used as a reference throughout   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: Visualization 

 Visualization or Visual Thinking was my first tool . This tool allowed us to come to a common   understanding among diverse stakeholders . We then attempted to determine and propose solutions . I   often use this approach with customers , government agencies , when they are trying to improve their   mission or deliver services to non - citizens . I 've used the strawman visualization of a problem domain to   help a variety of stakeholders learn from one another . 

 Application 

 I begin the process by making a straw man diagram of the problem area . I will use all existing materials to   develop the strawman graphic . It could be any operational or procedural documentation , training   materials , marketing material , GAO , or any other auditing report . If I do not have the material , I will   conduct informal interviews with the key stakeholders . 

 If appropriate to the situation , I will borrow the concept to " front - stage / back - stage " from previous   research , and discussed in David Gray 's book , " The Connected Company " . The front - stage / 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 that I use to start is simple and has a column to identify Value Chain Providers and   Partners . A column to identify Oversight Organizations ( such as Congress , GAO , labor unites , advocacy   groups and other entities that could limit the operation of the organization ) is also included . The strawman   graphic is very simple and uses icons and shapes available in Visio . If the front - stage / back - stage view   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 . 

 I will break the stakeholders down into groups of between 5 - 6 people , each representing an area of   expertise or organization . Each group will receive a poster - sized version of the strawman graphic . They   can use sticky notes or write directly on it . I ask them two to three questions . For example , what key   elements are missing from this graphic ? 2 ) What would you make the graphic more accurate to reflect   your problem area ? What key insights are you able to share about the relationships between entities   within your problem space ? I allow them to discuss the questions for approximately 20 minutes and then   mark up their poster . Each group is then asked to answer the three questions and to point to their posters .   I then record the commonalities between the groups ' insights and the additional insights from the group   discussion , on an additional copy . I then digitize the posters of each group as artifacts , combine the new   and shared insights from the group discussion and create a revised graphic . This includes their feedback   and any proposed changes . 

 Approach 

 Through this exercise , I 've learned that the graphic , and especially the updated graphic that incorporates   their feedback is very important in helping them understand the problem . But the most valuable part of   the activity is their shared insights . 

 There is space . The graphic offers a common platform for discussion among stakeholders . It allows them   to exchange their opinions and gain insight into the root causes of their problems . Although they could   work together to create the graphic , it is easier for them to start by creating a strawman . They can quickly   identify their place in the graphic , or where they are not . This allows them to gain quick insights into   relationships between key entities and is quicker than taking time . They can also identify variables in a   problem space . It helps them to identify the areas where they are lacking information , and the areas in   which they need data or information to give the variables their values . 

 As I have discovered that the most important aspect of learning and sharing ideas is the shared insight , I   plan to use the visualization exercise as a point of departure for several design thinking activities . The   revised graphic that incorporates their collective feedback can then be used as a reference throughout   their work .
### Output: 