In recent podcasts I have discussed the concepts of Prototyping, Service Design, Design Thinking and Business Modeling.  Looking for different perspectives, I felt the field of architecture should be introduced. Zach does a wonderful job in the podcast adding both a view of the architect but takes a step further in how “Designers” think.  This is an excerpt from the podcast.

Joe:  I have always been intrigued by the modeling concept in architecture. How do you start with prototyping and modeling? And can you take us through a smaller project, with some modeling characteristics, steps that you go through with the customer?

Zachary: Architects are trained to think visually and many times young adults get involved in architecture because of their visual thinking skill. I think a lot of people who aren’t in architecture can do that but there are a many people that cannot visualize a three dimensional space in their mind so modeling becomes extremely important. We do drawings in two dimensions and three dimensions. Typically, the two dimensional drawings are for the construction drawings that are given to a contractor for building purposes and the other type of modeling is done digitally is 3D modeling. There are really two different reasons to do modeling. The first is for design intent. These can be digital or physical models that we do early in the design stages, especially when we’re doing the conceptualizing and brainstorming.

We use cardboard or foam cord boards. Sometimes it’s as crude as hot glue guns and cardboard to create something that you can turn, flip upside down, and hand to a client that helps us get a sense of what that space might feel like if they were inside of it, if it were a full‑size structure.

Digital models we use to convey design intent works well. There’s simple programs that can be used such as Google SketchUp and more complex 3D modeling software that is out there that we use. The real purpose of those is to allow the design team to work and coordinate a conceptualize design and convey that information to a client.

The second big type of digital modeling is typically use a little bit later, after a design at least has been approved conceptually and moves on to one of the middle stages of design that we call design development and is BIM. BIM stands for Building Information Modeling and has become very prevalent lately and is really the software of the future and process of the future where all of the building systems are put into a single digital model.

The structure is modeled, the mechanical system including all the ductwork and air handlers are modeled, all the architectural elements are modeled, the doors and corridors. Also all the written information, product information, design intent statements, can be included in it. It’s a single file, single model that contains all the information for that project. It can even be used by contractors to work off of during bidding and construction.

Disclaimer: Zach did not design any of the buildings in the picture. I wonder if they started with hot glue guns and cardboard?

Related Information:
A Product Marketers perspective on Prototyping
Service Design Thinking Podcast with Marc Stickdorn
What’s new in Business Model Generation? Customer Value Canvas and more
Service Design through the Eyes of a Design Thinker

But wait a minute, is there excess demand? We live in a world that has excess supply and as a result we have to start viewing the market from the demand side. Do the same rules apply? What happens if we start looking at waste as a resource versus a constraint? Could it create other opportunities?

For example, how much time, money and knowledge are spent optimizing the supply chain on the inbound side versus the outbound? Do you consider developing the supply chain for a market advantage? The organizations that have specifically, Amazon for example has created business opportunities for themselves looking at excess capacity as a resource and developed products around it (Amazon Prime, selling used books, buying back books, cloud computing). They even have started creating a publishing empire as an outgrowth of their ability to deliver digital products.

Does your supply chain shy away from encouraging mass customization? This is an old term that is re-emerging as a result of a response to create demand. Supply Chain Technology should be leading the way in creating new products opportunities not just looking at getting rid of waste. Why can’t the supply chain lead in defining new ways of mass customization, collaboration and co-creation opportunities within their existing customer base?

Administrative functions may be another untapped goldmine. Why not create opportunity there for customers to utilize your purchasing power for example? The untapped goldmine is on the demand side of the equation, that’s where the need is? Waste may be your most underutilized resource within a company, it can very often be a way to accelerate or increase demand. Extend your services that you are good at and use them to gain competitive advantage by extending them to your customer. If we don’t, we are forgetting to maximize all of our opportunities.

Consider things that you do well internally and how they may provide additional value to your customer. I think we forget sometimes how embedded the culture of our company is in our product or service. You will find that culture extending into your customer’s place of business. Your internally practices may not be as internal as you may think. Getting your engineers and operational people into your customers place of business or in Lean terms going to Gemba could provide some very interesting conversations and as a result opportunities.

What are you doing in your business that might have value for others?

Related information:
Value can no longer be defined as What a Customer will pay for!
Does Lean need to move beyond Deming?
Why won’t Lean commit to the Demand Chain the way it committed to the Supply chain?
Lean Marketing: Sales Quotas lead to Waste
Why should 50% of your marketing fail?

Matt has launched new products such as software applications, wireless devices, and websites. In addition, he has helped clients in a diverse number of industries that include photography equipment, auto accessories, soy candles, children’s clothing, sporting goods, digital art, and home décor. Matthew is the author of several articles, eBooks, kits, and the popular book Product Idea to Product Success: A Complete Step-by-Step Guide to Making Money from Your Idea .

Download Podcast: Click and choose options: Prototype or go to the Business901 iTunes Store.

Matt’s mission is to help inventors, entrepreneurs, and everyday people with ideas. He Says, “You might have an invention that can benefit society and make our lives easier. No one can do it alone. If you haven’t taken a product to the market before, you need a coach to help you get over the hurdles and past the many pitfalls. Be persistent, be smart, and gather the right information before you make your next move”. Mark can be found at http://productcoach.com.

Related Information:
Prototyping into a Working Form
Prototypes provide a Pathway for Connecting with Customers
Your First Prototype is with Pen and Paper
Why Prototype? Customer Interactivity is the Most Meaningful Part of Design

Related Information:
Quallaboration Podcast with Personal Kanban Founder
Jim Benson talks about quallaboration – YouTube
Successful Lean teams are iTeams
Teamwork Is an Individual Skill.

These concepts will be very familiar to people knowledgeable with continuous improvement and more specifically Lean and Six Sigma. However, you do not have to be a practitioner to understand or read the book. When trade terms are used the authors explains them in simple everyday language without losing a beat. Few people other than Dan could have provided a book of this sort. His experience with Lean coupled with many years of providing guidance on individual performance has given him profound insight. There may be others with his depth of knowledge but few that can transfer it into simple, practical and useable information. I found myself reading a “how to” book like a novel. I had to remind myself more than once to bend a corner or mark a page for future reference.

Dan is also not shy about crediting or highlighting others when it fits the application. He spends time discussing Personal Kanban and how he looks at applying it. My favorite part of the book was the part on living in your calendar versus your inbox. That comment in itself added a few more minutes of productivity to my day. His A3, Value Map and Information 5S were absolutely flawless.

Are you going to get 2 hours a day of time saving tips from the book? I doubt it. What you will get is more productivity and feeling better about what and how you accomplished it. It was my New Year’s Day read and I have picked it up every day since then. Not saying you won’t be able to put it down but at this point it looks that way for me.

Related Information:
The SDCA Cycle Description for a Lean Engagement Team
The Resilience of PDCA
Lean Canvas for Lean EDCA-PDCA-SDCA
Successful Lean teams are iTeams

Appreciative Inquiry (AI) focuses on growing or increasing in value through exploration and discovery. It is a positive approach to change. It compliments Lean Thinking when you view Lean from a Value perspective versus a Waste Perspective. It is also relevant on how you use Lean. If you use Lean on the supply side of the equation ridding yourself of waste might be the predominant thought. If you use Lean on the demand side, you have a tendency to view it more as a value producing mechanism.

Lean vs Appreciative Inquiry

• Lean you identify key problems vs AI you look for best experience or practice.
• Lean analyzes causes vs AI create future vision.
• Lean finds possible solutions vs AI shares values through dialogue.
• Lean you create action plans vs AI creates the future.
• Lean lends itself to linear understanding vs AI "leans" toward circular understanding.

So what are your thoughts?

• What happens when you take a positive approach to Lean?
• Does the same problem solving methods work?
• Can Appreciative Inquiry co-exist with Lean?

I was introduced to Appreciative Inquiry by fellow blogger, Ankit Patel who can be found at The Lean Way Consulting.

Related Information:
Slideshow, I used for reference:
Value can no longer be defined as What a Customer will pay for!
Evolution of Standard Work in my Sales and Marketing
Prototypes provide a Pathway for Connecting with Customers