MDP Week 02 (02 March 2020)
To start off the week, we did an ideation exercise in our Monday MDP class to see how far we had developed our research theme and research questions. For the exercise, we had to write down words we could associate with our proposed theme. My theme still revolved around E-Learning so the word pool I created was made up of terms relating to learning platforms, social aspects such as social marketing and social entrepreneurship, behavioural change (clearly, my word choices were influenced by Social Marketing @ Griffith's talk last week) and human-centred experience design.
We then had to fish out the key words from the pool and put them on Post-Its which would help us in forming our abstract.
After articulating to the class my idea of directing my research towards designing a strategy for a social enterprise and using social marketing to inform that design, I was cautioned by our instructor to be careful of my focus as fixating too much on social marketing would render my project to be more about business than design. Good point. Apart from this, I was having second thoughts about Learning Experience Design as my main topic. Pursuing LXD as a theme would entail being enrolled in some e-learning courses (some of which could only be availed via subscription) and going through the courses and platform myself. I could already see some red flags from the get-go.
To help those of us struggling with committing to a "semi-final" research theme, our instructor provided us with a helpful worksheet that asked three key questions:
What is your research area?
Why am I interested in this? (Motivation?)
How will I do the research ?
After the class, I accomplished my worksheet and opted to go for another more manageable topic given our time constraints. I lopped off LXD but kept Strategic Design (I'm interested in pursuing a career in this field), Social Innovation (it's only Week 02 but I'm thoroughly enjoying our Social Innovation class and feel that it will greatly inform my research), and UX/UI (for the design outcome) but added Environmental Conservation as it is something I'm intensely passionate about (I think *NGOs face even more complex challenges more now than ever and they need all the help they can get).
What I'm interested in finding out about this area can be summed up into three points:
Bridging the gap between creativity (design) and strategy (usually a business but in this case, an *NGO)?
Leveraging creative thinking in the *NGO sector instead of just in businesses sector
Using strategic design to inform UX/UI in the context of wild life conservation *NGO platforms. How can this/these design(s) enhance user experience and translate to enhanced sustainability of the *NGOs
I identified three potential problems in this area:
The untapped potential of strategic design in sustaining *NGOs and social enterprises.
*NGOs don’t diversify their resourcing as much or take entrepreneurial routes (e.g. market-driven social entrep)
Environmental conservation-geared *NGOs have limited-use platforms that don’t really have an interactive, collaborative element or participatory feature. How can users feel more involved and connected with the cause?
Existing literature, research or frameworks that may help me include:
Design Thinking for the Greater Good: Innovation in the Social Sector by Jeanne Liedtka, Randy Salzman, and Daisy Azer (suggested by my supervisor)
Dr. Philip Whiting’s insights on Design Strategy and sustainable business strategies
Travis Brown’s paper on Strategic design: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/drev.12160
Strategic planning for NGOs (a resource site): https://www.councilofnonprofits.org/tools-resources/strategic-planning-nonprofits
Non-profit “Judo”Case Studies on HBR: https://hbr.org/2018/08/what-the-best-nonprofits-know-about-strategy
NGO Resourcing of funds: https://www.intrac.org/sustainable-ngo-resourcing-matters/
Social Marketing @ Griffith’s CBE Process (how can I create a framework based on this?): https://socialmarketingdepartment.s3.amazonaws.com/CBE+Process/story.html
Behaviour Change for Conservation https://www.changewildlifeconsumers.org/change/behaviour-change-for-conservation-online-course/
How will I do the research?
Identify the key terms listed in the Research Area
Examine existing models and frameworks of how NGOs operate and source funding
Investigate how strategic design benefits businesses
The next steps would be identifying my research questions based on these preliminary sources and initial research.
*Changed to Not-for-Profits or NFPs after attending Social Innovation class. I realised that I had used the wrong terminology.
DRS Week 02 (05 March 2020)
This week we briefly discussed the all different research methods in order to get a sense of what might be the best one for our MDP. I think at this stage, most of us were already familiar with the methods and just needed to brush up on some of them.
In a nutshell, the two broad approaches are:
Quantitative Research - numeric, scientific data, usually involves a large group of subjects, uses Deductive Reasoning and is objective
Qualitative Research - in-depth information, humanistic, usually involves a small group of subjects, uses Inductive Reasoning and is subjective
The difference between Deductive and Inductive reasoning is comprehensively elaborated in this online article by LiveScience.
Quantitative Research methods include:
Descriptive study, experimental study, user research (Cheung, 2019)
Qualitative Research methods include:
Ethnographic research, market research (Cheung, 2019)
Other terms discussed:
Mixed Method Research - combines Quantitative and Qualitative methods
Triangulation - cross-checking/comparing findings
Grounded Theory - going in without any preconceived notions or ideas about a research topic; research built entirely from the ground-up
Paradigms - can be described as the way of approaching well-known research. It is an approach not a method (e.g. Constructivism, rationalism, etc.)
After the lecture, we went on to mind mapping whatever initial research themes we had in mind (mine had certainly shifted from LXD to Strategic Design mid-week).
Our instructor drew up a mind map using my topic as an example:
She advised that for our research literature, we could combine existing academic texts and articles (ideally not older than 2 years) to serve as the foundation and also include more recent insights and findings from current industry practitioners.
Drawing up a mind map would help us zero-in on our theme or research question and identify the sub-topics surrounding it. I already had a handful (listed in my MDP Worksheet) of research literature I could l read in order to pinpoint the important aspects of my research.
After presenting my mind map to the class, our instructor posed some questions and offered some suggestions:
The definitions of the term 'Design Thinking' are very broad and varied, what perspective or context do you intend to focus on? What will you use as a working definition?
By using the word 'sustaining' implies that NFPs are currently in a state of sustainability. Maybe use another more appropriate word like 'scaffold' or 'underpin or 'support' growth.
For case studies, take a look at an NFP org that involves people (philanthropic) and one that is focused on environmental conservation.
My reworded statement:
Strategic Design for Supporting Not-for-Profit Organisational Growth and Sustainability
My reworded research question:
How can Strategic Design Support Growth and Sustainability within the Not-for-Profit Sector?
For the specific environmental NFP organisation that I'd like to focus on for my study, I'm thinking of either Bats QLD, Bat Conservation and Rescue QLD, or maybe even the Mother Teresa of batdom herself, Denise Wade aka Batzilla the Bat.
Next steps:
Read initial research
Revisit the research question, is it defined properly this time?
Are the problems I identified with my topic REALLY problems?
Have a chat with Dr. Whiting next week (Thursday 12/03/2020 at QCA Cafe)
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