Explaining Structured Visual Thinking™
The world is changing so fast the last thing business needs are processes and methodologies that slow it down further.
We created Structured Visual Thinking™ when we were clients ourselves. We needed to avoid solving the wrong problems really well.
We could only do that by looking at the whole system and that required a picture.
We believe in structure because it brings precision and logic to force us to reason and calculate more critically.
We believe in visualisation because we have proven beyond any doubt that it can improve understanding, align people and rapidly speed up the pace of progress.
We believe in thinking because it’s a commodity that’s in short supply and every business, institution and society on Earth needs it.
We added it all up to make the task of planning and problem solving fun and quick.
Telling The Story Visually
The following images explain the approach using visuals from each part of the process. Using visualisation is a powerful methodology. There are many ways in which visuals are used at conferences and meetings. The common description of that is graphic recording. This is NOT graphic recording. This link gives an explanation of the difference.
A Methodical Approach
Our Approach Always Evolves
It’s always tailored to each individual assignment but there are a few principles that are always true and are applied consistently.
Always A Clear Focus
We start every assignment by agreeing on the big question. The Exam Question.
This is the question that best describes the challenge at hand.
As a direct consequence of that, we aim to get hold of every scrap of information and insight that we can.
We Think Systemically
Because we are systems and critical thinkers we are driven towards understanding the all-important context.
We test every assumption and all the perspectives along the way.
And that allows us to appreciate the nuances and subtleties of the system.
That ensures map everything back to the program and solve the correct, not the wrong problem.
We Think Practically
Next comes detailed design for the work.
Who should be involved, how should we engage with them.
What expectations should be set?
Where and when team sessions should be planned.
Timescales and deliverables needed.
We Are On The Ground
Because our philosophy was built on needing to make progress key phases are done in collaborative sessions.
It’s only by having human to human interaction with the content and the conversations that we can expect any success.
This is where the vital meaning and the ongoing ownership happens.
Creating The Plan
It doesn’t matter what the challenge is we need outcomes.
These are typically agreed in advance but ours is an evolving approach that unearths the right results.
Our work always delivers the practical deliverables the teams need.
Whether that’s a fully detailed plan, business case, vision, strategy or set of business outcomes.
Let’s Not Solve The Wrong Problem Really Well.
