Have you ever felt like your business is a little like making toast? It sounds simple enough, but things can get pretty complicated when you start thinking about all the steps involved. This analogy might sound strange, but it’s at the heart of an exercise helping people worldwide solve complex problems. How does understanding “how to make toast” help entrepreneurs and managers scale their businesses effectively? Let’s explore this unique approach to assess process optimization and more.
In a TED Talk titled “Got a Wicked Problem? First, Tell Me How You Make Toast,” Tom Wujec introduces a simple design exercise that reveals unexpected truths about collaboration and problem-solving. By inviting people to draw the process of making toast, Wujec uncovers insights into how we tackle significant challenges in our work. This blog post will unpack these insights and demonstrate how they can be applied to scaling up in business.
Understanding the exercise
The exercise begins with a straightforward task that could be easily overlooked regarding its potential value. Participants are asked to draw how they make toast, using visuals and no words. Though seemingly trivial, this process is a profound tool for exploring complex problem-solving techniques. It starts with curiosity but gets everybody’s attention, breaks the ice efficiently, and eventually results in exciting results. The participants might be interested in how their attempt compares to everybody else’s.
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The exercise comprises three main parts. Initially, participants illustrate the toast-making process cleanly, focusing on nodes (the essential steps or components) and links (the connections between them). This visual method lays the groundwork for developing a systems model. The exercise then progresses to include sticky notes or cards, allowing for more detailed and flexible expressions of the same process. Finally, participants work in groups to create a unified representation, demonstrating the power of collaborative efforts.
Insights from toast drawings
What can we learn from these varied illustrations of making toast? Despite the apparent simplicity of the task, the differences and commonalities in these drawings speak volumes about our approaches to collaboration, communication, and problem-solving.
Task: draw how to make toast…our table winner Wendy did an excellent job with lots of detail @WendyPrater @N2Learning pic.twitter.com/tS0sjeNWOV
— Ginger Luther (@gluther11) January 30, 2024
Participants often depict the steps needed to create toast in distinct ways, highlighting different aspects of the process. Some focus on the bread and toaster, while others might emphasize the people involved or the supply chain leading back to the origin of the bread. These differences reveal individual perspectives and problem-solving approaches.
Most drawings feature nodes and links, with nodes representing tangible objects like the toaster or people and links illustrating the connections between these elements. This systems model sheds light on how people visualize their understanding of various processes.
Application in business and scaling up
How can these insights be applied in business settings? Business owners and managers can use this visual problem-solving technique to enhance processes, communication, and innovation. Let’s explore how it can be implemented in scaling up a business.
Suppose a startup is struggling to define its customer experience. By using this visual technique to map out the customer interaction process, team members can identify bottlenecks and areas for improvement, leading to a more streamlined service. Similarly, established companies can employ this method to re-evaluate their supply chain, optimizing efficiency and reducing costs.
Challenges and tips
While the exercise offers valuable insights, implementing it within a business context may present challenges. Resistance to change, lack of visual communication skills, and varying perspectives can create hurdles. How can organizations address these issues effectively?
Before you go: Unlocking Creativity – Transforming Teams into Innovation Hubs
Start by cultivating a culture of open-mindedness and encouraging employees to approach problems from diverse angles. Visual thinking and communication training can also enhance participants’ ability to convey their ideas.
How’s your toast?
The value of visual problem-solving in the business world is immense. By adopting this technique, entrepreneurs and managers can enhance their processes, communication, and effectiveness. Consider introducing this approach within your organization and observe its positive impact on problem-solving and growth.
We invite you to share your thoughts on this exercise in the comments below. Have you experienced success using visual techniques in your work environment? Let’s keep the conversation going and learn from one another’s experiences. For more insight from Tom Wujec of Autodesk, watch the video below or explore the How To Make Toast website.
YouTube: Tom Wujec – Got a wicked problem? First, tell me how you make toast
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Photo credit: The feature image has been done by Ryan Lash.
