06/12/2019

Daily Buzz: Prototype Organizational Issues

To take proper action, potential solutions rely on correct data

How does your association troubleshoot and solve problems? If it’s like most organizations, it probably takes a reactive approach rather than a proactive one, says Shelby-lyn Miller from the Wicket blog. Instead, teams should be prototyping problems.

“Prototyping your problem allows your team to gain insights into ways your association can improve that may identify larger overarching challenges built in and around the initial problem you’re trying to solve,” Miller says. “Developing a prototype will help your association to think through your problem, mapping out a potential structured approach to your solution.”

To successfully prototype issues, start with looking at the data. If your problem is membership-based, what can current member data tell you about the services members are or aren’t using? Who renewed and who didn’t? All of this information helps paint the full picture of the issue.

From there, Miller says teams must contextualize the problem and their mission. “When you’re making self-improvements, you need to look inward to identify what your ethics are, where you stand on your values, and what you want and need to become a better person,” she says. “Take the same approach with your team when prototyping your problem.”

Based on these two steps, Miller says teams will have the correct information and understanding to guide potential solutions.

Please select this link to read the original article from Associations Now.