Collaboration
in Organisations
How can we humanise collaboration in the workplace?
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UX Research
UX Desgin
ROLE
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UX Researcher,
Concept Development Designer​
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TOOLS
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Adobe Suite, Miro, G Suite,
iMovie, Canvas, Hand Sketch
DURATION
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August 2021 - May 2022
at Parsons School of Design, NY
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Design Research Process
Empathize​
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Research Rationale
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Primary Desk Research
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Ethnography
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Surveys
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Affinity Diagramming
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Infographic
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Observations
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Interviews (Expert + Users)
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Define​
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Goals + Objectives
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Refined Research Question
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Define Problem
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Discover Purpose
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System Maps
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Insight Generation
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Opportunity Map
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Ideate​
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Early Ideation
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Devise Solution
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Concept Iterations
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User Interviews
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Concept Visualisation
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Research Rationale
Challenging the status quo
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We are looking to research what collaboration looks like in action and what ingredients make up a successful collaboration that results in a strong and effective organisation. We want to understand how this success can be replicated, and leave space for innovation, inclusivity, growth and change, accepting and embracing diversity at the same time.
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We aim to understand the ethics, the tools, the learning methods, the access points and the space which provides safety, in an organisation and how these all may enhance or block collaboration. We will examine this using examples of failures and successes of different types of communities, and then dive into each example, observing the parts, the links and the general synthesis of each group.
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Team: Maria Kaliora, Gao Kabubi, Samantha Press
How can we move from collaboration as a buzzword to collaboration in action?
What do we need to put in place for us to have enjoyable nurturing work environment?
Why are we unable to have healthy boundaries with work?
How do we manage burnout?
How can we create work-life balance?
What needs to change for us to set healthy boundaries?
What systems can we put in place to ensure inclusivity in teams?
How do we reward collaborative teams?
Quantitative
Explorations
Desk research / Infographics / Affinity Diagramming




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We started by doing desk research and comparing the past and the present collaboration styles. We looked into different collaboration methods, groups and environments.
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We created thematic categories and we started identifying all the in between connections and relationships among the findings.
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We developed system maps and we concluded the desk research with infographics which helped us communicate the most significant findings and engage with people from different industries, experts and non experts during our exploration.
Observations
How do you experience collaboration in the workplace? ​
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PEOPLE INTERVIEWED: 24
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GOAL: We seek to explore the drivers for employee interaction, experience, and satisfaction for better engagement, with an aim of developing replicable interventions, which would ensure maximum collaboration serving both the employees and the company profitability through embracing inclusivity and diversity to propel growth, change and innovation.
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METHODS USED: We brought people together from different sectors and from three different continents, Europe, USA and Africa, connecting with them with field visits, video calls and in-person conversation.
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Public Sector, (Government, Education, Public Health), Consultants, ( Psychologist, Mindset Coach, Team Building Expert), Corporate, (HR Department, Operations, Management)
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How collaboration looks in real life ?
Emerging Themes
Communication
Relationships
Organisational structure
Scarcity-Sufficiency
THEME 1​
ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE
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OBSERVATION:
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The industry type & size of organization plays a huge role on the quality of employee interact -collaborate;
Smaller organisation turn to be doing better than big ones
Big organisations end up creating silo structures in their effort to mimic small organisation for better
Corporate ladder or progression can be detrimental to collaboration
Hiring process plays a crucial role in team collaboration
Siloed structures kills collaboration and creativity-productivity
Competitive workplace negatively affects collaboration within teams
THEME 2​
RELATIONSHIPS
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OBSERVATION:
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From country to country relationships outside the workplace are considered differently.
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Ultimately employees wants to feel a sense of belonging and happiness from the workplace
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Employees tied trust to time
Emotional well being of employees affects the ability of teams to collaborate
Trust is crucial for collaboration and the definition of trust varies from person to person
Employees tend to hold onto their ideas if the leader is not approachable
THEME 3​
COMMUNICATION​
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OBSERVATION:
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Where there is lack of open communication employees seemed to be more disgruntled
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Leading to more unresolved corridor talks and low performance
When there are no clear evaluation criteria employers lose motivation and passion for work
Remote work takes away the human touch which ultimately affects how soon team can build strong relationships
Transparency is key to collaboration
Employees want to be appreciated and recognised for their efforts

" We want to change the DNA of collaboration and the organisational system not
just merely work on the aesthetics "
Ideation
How might we humanise collaboration in the workplace? ​
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IDEATION WORKSHOPS + IDEATION INTERVIEWS
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GOAL: We seek to explore the drivers for employee interaction, experience, and satisfaction for better engagement, with an aim of developing replicable interventions, which would ensure maximum collaboration serving both the employees and the company profitability through embracing inclusivity and diversity to propel growth, change and innovation.
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METHODS USED: We brought people together from different backgrounds, either experts or non experts, from all over the world. We organised synchronous and asynchronous remote workshops in order to ideate in various ways.
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Public Sector, (Government, Education, Public Health), Consultants, ( Psychologist, Mindset Coach, Team Building Expert), Corporate, (HR Department, Operations, Management)
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Opportunity Map
Concept
Co-creating
innovative solutions leading to effective team
collaboration, productivity, efficiency and
fulfillment in the workplace
How might we humanise collaboration in the workplace?
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Design Process
Strategic Design​
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Concept Flyer
- Concept Iterations
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Contacts Matrix
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Concept Testing
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Feedback and Sense making
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Service Structure
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Functionalities & Actions
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Roadmap
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Test​
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Lo-Fi Prototyping & Testing Round 1
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Prototyping & Testing Round 2
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Activities Catalogue
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Prototyping Ideation Map ( Affinity Map + Venn Diagram )
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Research Audit Questions Ideation
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Market Research
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Final Concept Testing ( Love Break up Letter, Campfire Rose, Bud, Thorn, Quotes, Survival Guide)
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Build + Grow​
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Workshop Design & Facilitation
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Scale Evaluation
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Business Development Matrix
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Marketing Strategy
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Future Planning
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Concept Testing

















Development Matrix
