Tuesday, 23 February 2010
Let the design begin!
The whole group has spent hours and hours on investigating solar concentrators. Last monday on the work shop we even got new ideas from our course mates and their mentors. So now we are more than ready to take this to the next level! After the fruitful work shop we decided to hit our wise heads together in Desing Factory next friday 26.2 at 2 p.m. We´ll meet at the library first and walk there together.
Remember to take your enthusiasm, creativity and your supernatural skills with you!
B.R. Irena
Saturday, 20 February 2010
TIPS ON DESIGNING WORKSHOPS
Workshops are an extremely flexible and effective method for training, learning, development, change management, team building and problem solving, and virtually any organizational challenge.
You can actually run any sort of workshop you want - your options are as wide as your imagination and certainly not limited to off-the-shelf or tried and tested formats.
Think about and then agree openly your aim(s) for each workshop or and/or session.
Invite suggestions from delegates beforehand as to workshop subjects and aims if you want to maximise commitment and empowerment.
Split big groups into pairs or threes - this is more dynamic and produces more ideas - and gets the whole group working better, particularly when they present ideas and review with the whole group. As with teambuilding exercises, if you split into sub-teams of more than four it's advisable to have each team appoint a leader, or things can be chaotic and some members become 'passengers'.
Try to agree actions and accountabilities at the end of sessions and workshops which enable follow-up.
Tailor the content and structure of your workshop for the particular situation rather than use off-the-shelf formats. Approach it like training design - what are you (or the delegates) seeking to achieve? Be specific - more specific than just 'team-building' or 'improving relationships' - you need to identify a specific element within a general aim.
Establish and agree a measurable output(s) or result(s) that represent the aim(s), and then work back from there in thinking how to structure the workshop or session(s).
Unless you have a good reason for using laptops and projector, have the delegates use flip chart paper and coloured marker pens, and hang the sheets around the walls. This enables delegates to be far more dynamic and creative than modern technology media.
Encourage people to use creative methods that are appropriate for their personal styles and learning styles.
Visual, spatial, creative people enjoy working with flip-charts, colours, 'post-it' notes, etc.
People-centred individuals and teams enjoy human interaction - role-plays, discussions, mutual interviews, etc.
Logical, numerate, process-oriented people are happier with more structured planning tools and computers.
Think about the sort of people in the workshop groups and provide tools, materials and methods that they will be comfortable using.
Source: http://www.businessballs.com
Hope we wold have a very interesting workshop!!
You can actually run any sort of workshop you want - your options are as wide as your imagination and certainly not limited to off-the-shelf or tried and tested formats.
Think about and then agree openly your aim(s) for each workshop or and/or session.
Invite suggestions from delegates beforehand as to workshop subjects and aims if you want to maximise commitment and empowerment.
Split big groups into pairs or threes - this is more dynamic and produces more ideas - and gets the whole group working better, particularly when they present ideas and review with the whole group. As with teambuilding exercises, if you split into sub-teams of more than four it's advisable to have each team appoint a leader, or things can be chaotic and some members become 'passengers'.
Try to agree actions and accountabilities at the end of sessions and workshops which enable follow-up.
Tailor the content and structure of your workshop for the particular situation rather than use off-the-shelf formats. Approach it like training design - what are you (or the delegates) seeking to achieve? Be specific - more specific than just 'team-building' or 'improving relationships' - you need to identify a specific element within a general aim.
Establish and agree a measurable output(s) or result(s) that represent the aim(s), and then work back from there in thinking how to structure the workshop or session(s).
Unless you have a good reason for using laptops and projector, have the delegates use flip chart paper and coloured marker pens, and hang the sheets around the walls. This enables delegates to be far more dynamic and creative than modern technology media.
Encourage people to use creative methods that are appropriate for their personal styles and learning styles.
Visual, spatial, creative people enjoy working with flip-charts, colours, 'post-it' notes, etc.
People-centred individuals and teams enjoy human interaction - role-plays, discussions, mutual interviews, etc.
Logical, numerate, process-oriented people are happier with more structured planning tools and computers.
Think about the sort of people in the workshop groups and provide tools, materials and methods that they will be comfortable using.
Source: http://www.businessballs.com
Hope we wold have a very interesting workshop!!
TIPS ON HOW TO RUN A WORKSHOP
The best and most constructive motivational team-building format is a workshop, or better still series of workshops, focusing on the people's key priorities and personal responsibilities/interest areas, which hopefully will strongly overlap with business and departmental aims too. Workshops can be integrated within regular monthly team meetings - an amazing amount of motivation progress and productivity can be accomplished with just a 90 mins workshop per month. Workshop facilitation by a team leader or manager develops leadership, and workshops achieve strong focus on business aims among team members. Workshops are very effective for training too - workshops encourage buy-in and involvement more than conventional training courses because they are necessarily participative, and the content and output are created by the delegates. Also, the relationship between workshop facilitator or workshop presenter and delegates is participative, whereas a 'trainer' is often perceived as detached, and the training material 'not invented here'.
There are many workshop format variations - here's a basic workshop format:
* Prior to workshop session identify and agree via consultation with the team the aim/opportunity area to be addressed.
* It's also important to decide workshop objectives in relation to the team's 'maturity', experience and development - refer to the Tuckman 'forming storming norming performing' model, and the Tannenbaum and Schmidt model to understand and agree the level of freedom and responsibility to give the team during workshops, and in agreeing workshop follow-up actions and responsibilities.
* Set suitable date and venue for meeting and issue agenda, with verbal explanation/reassurance if necessary.
* At start of workshop, introduce aim and process - agree expectations - answer queries. (5 mins)
* Brainstorm the ideas and opportunities with the whole group - flip chart is best. (10-20 mins)
* Split the group into pairs or threes (more usually creates passengers) and ask them to come up with outline actions/initiatives/plans to achieve agreed purpose/aim. (20-30 mins)
* Have groups present back their ideas - review and praise positives aspects in each, and gently agree areas which would benefit from improvement/refining. (max 5 mins per group)
* Then task and agree for groups or individuals to refine outline plans into clear objectives (refer to SMARTER principles), during the workshop, or afterwards to be fed back to manager, which can then be followed up and coached during implementation.
* Follow up, coach, encourage, support and invite ideas for future workshop items and process improvements.
Hope we wold have a very interesting workshop!!
Source:www.businessballs.com
There are many workshop format variations - here's a basic workshop format:
* Prior to workshop session identify and agree via consultation with the team the aim/opportunity area to be addressed.
* It's also important to decide workshop objectives in relation to the team's 'maturity', experience and development - refer to the Tuckman 'forming storming norming performing' model, and the Tannenbaum and Schmidt model to understand and agree the level of freedom and responsibility to give the team during workshops, and in agreeing workshop follow-up actions and responsibilities.
* Set suitable date and venue for meeting and issue agenda, with verbal explanation/reassurance if necessary.
* At start of workshop, introduce aim and process - agree expectations - answer queries. (5 mins)
* Brainstorm the ideas and opportunities with the whole group - flip chart is best. (10-20 mins)
* Split the group into pairs or threes (more usually creates passengers) and ask them to come up with outline actions/initiatives/plans to achieve agreed purpose/aim. (20-30 mins)
* Have groups present back their ideas - review and praise positives aspects in each, and gently agree areas which would benefit from improvement/refining. (max 5 mins per group)
* Then task and agree for groups or individuals to refine outline plans into clear objectives (refer to SMARTER principles), during the workshop, or afterwards to be fed back to manager, which can then be followed up and coached during implementation.
* Follow up, coach, encourage, support and invite ideas for future workshop items and process improvements.
Hope we wold have a very interesting workshop!!
Source:www.businessballs.com
Wednesday, 17 February 2010
Meeting with Eric
Last Tuesday Irena, Peter and myself went to meet Eric Coatanéa, who is a professor of development process and system engineering. The idea was to discuss about the facilities where we would soon start developing our solar concentrator. Eric took us to Design Factory, which is Aalto University's new (started in 2008 I think) product design and learning facility. We took a little tour around the place, and boy, it looked great! I'm confident that we will find anything we need there, in terms of premises, tools and skilled helpful personnel. Couldn't hope for a better designing environment! The guys working there told us we could go and reserve room for us once we are more clear about the schedule. And some premises were even available without reserving them.
We also discussed the project itself, and since Eric is a professional, especially the designing phase. Eric gave us some good hints and points to take into consideration when designing the product. Since none of us has done any product development before (I think...or have you guys?), I think we should really try to get all the useful information out of these professionals that seem to be glad to help us.
Later we returned at the department of mechanical engineering, where Eric's office is. We met some of his colleagues, including William Brace, who I think has also been following our project a little. The guys at the department promised we could borrow their legos (these guys play with them A LOT) when figuring out the possible design. When shall we have a play day?
All in all, it was a great meeting. Nice to see that things seem to start to work out little by little.
We also discussed the project itself, and since Eric is a professional, especially the designing phase. Eric gave us some good hints and points to take into consideration when designing the product. Since none of us has done any product development before (I think...or have you guys?), I think we should really try to get all the useful information out of these professionals that seem to be glad to help us.
Later we returned at the department of mechanical engineering, where Eric's office is. We met some of his colleagues, including William Brace, who I think has also been following our project a little. The guys at the department promised we could borrow their legos (these guys play with them A LOT) when figuring out the possible design. When shall we have a play day?
All in all, it was a great meeting. Nice to see that things seem to start to work out little by little.
Sunday, 14 February 2010
Monday Feb 1st Meeting
In our meeting on Monday Feb 1st, the whole group and mentors were present. We discussed the following points:
1. Blog
Everyone should participate in blog writing. After each lecture, one group member will be responsible for writing a more general entry including his/her own reflections, that others can comment on. Otherwise everyone is encouraged to write and discuss about anything related to the project.
2. Work plan
We discussed about the current work plan chapters and how they should be developed. The responsibilities were distributed as follows:
- Miina: Write a general introduction
- Eddie: Edit project scope and description chapters
- Majid: Write about information dissemination and sustainability of the project
- Irena: Project objectives and their indicators
- Teddy: Edit the timeline of the project.
3. Workshop
The upcoming workshop was also under discussion. We agreed that the workshop could work as forum where we could get fresh ideas about the general structure of the solar concentrator, focusing of panels, different applications etc.
4. Materials
We ended the meeting with some general discussion on the project. Possible materials were especially under discussion. Irena had a great thought about using CDs as reflectors. Other possibility that we talked about was aluminium foil. We agreed we would do some further research on the two reflector materials in terms of reflectivity, durability, focusing etc.
1. Blog
Everyone should participate in blog writing. After each lecture, one group member will be responsible for writing a more general entry including his/her own reflections, that others can comment on. Otherwise everyone is encouraged to write and discuss about anything related to the project.
2. Work plan
We discussed about the current work plan chapters and how they should be developed. The responsibilities were distributed as follows:
- Miina: Write a general introduction
- Eddie: Edit project scope and description chapters
- Majid: Write about information dissemination and sustainability of the project
- Irena: Project objectives and their indicators
- Teddy: Edit the timeline of the project.
3. Workshop
The upcoming workshop was also under discussion. We agreed that the workshop could work as forum where we could get fresh ideas about the general structure of the solar concentrator, focusing of panels, different applications etc.
4. Materials
We ended the meeting with some general discussion on the project. Possible materials were especially under discussion. Irena had a great thought about using CDs as reflectors. Other possibility that we talked about was aluminium foil. We agreed we would do some further research on the two reflector materials in terms of reflectivity, durability, focusing etc.
Reflections on 8.2 lecture
The presentations form Shalin, Nokia Siemens Netrworks and State of art prize won Ukumbi organization were idea-rich examples of successful development projects. The approach towards projects was something that our own SGT team should learn from. I feel that the key for the successfulness in all these cases is the learning part. Precise learning and observing the culture, everyday life and needs of the locals and recognising the different stakeholders makes sure that the projects are fully adopted by the locals. When the target individuals and the whole group understands and sees the benefits of the project the vital commitment is likely to happen. For the project planners adjusting minds from western to local ideology, humble attitude and not making naïve assumptions is of great worth. In development projects many things can go wrong and therefore constant learning requires learning from ones mistakes and self-criticism. Mika Skarp´s idea advice for designing projects and products was nicely compact and catchy: Availability, affordability, usability and sustainability.
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