Sb unit 07_design_solution_ed2_v2r1_1455376237633

Design Solutions
UNIT 7:
Swami Vivekananda
Contributor Personality Program
An Group Initiative
by
for students and faculty of
Gujarat Technological University
University
Servicesi-become
JULY 2012 BATCH

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Contributors approach the various situations in their life and
workplace with a unique mindset. This mindset we call, the
‘Contributor Mindset’.
The first aspect of the Contributor Mindset is the Contributor’s
willingness and capacity to find solutions.
When faced with a challenge, the Contributor’s first response
is : “Can we find a solution?” This is unlike a Non-contributor
who may respond to the challenge by trying a little and giving
up, blaming others, or finding excuses to cover up the issue.
But this is not all. The Contributor also finds a solution. In
other words, the Contributor develops the capacity to find
solutions through continuous practice and learning from other
Contributors.
7.1 Exploring how to practice “designing solutions” pg. 2-5
7.2 Workplace application 1 pg. 6
7.3 Workplace application 2 pg. 7
7.4 Workplace application 3 pg. 8-9
7.5 Project Work pg. 10
What you can do next pg. 11
Swami Vivekananda speaks to you:
Stand on your own feet pg. 12-13
UNIT 7:
Developing a Contributor Personality
Design Solutions
[Contributor Practice 1]

UNIT 7: DESIGN SOLUTIONS
© JULY 2012 EDITION; ILLUMINE KNOWLEDGE RESOURCES PVT LTD; ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. DEVELOPED BY ILLUMINE FOR THE I-BECOME INITIATIVE
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This Non-contributor Administrator only follows the rules and
set procedures given to him. So when situations come up
that are different from the usual, he is unable to handle them,
does not know what to do and refuses to do anything about
them. He does not care whether the goal is met or not – as
long as he is safely within the rules.
When asked to do something, this Non-contributor Team
Member first thinks of all the objections, obstacles, and
challenges that will come up that will prevent that project or
task from succeeding. He is always thinking of why it is too
difficult to succeed. And when things go wrong he says “I told
you so”. Result – he is a negative force within the team. Not
only is he demotivated, but he also demotivates others and
prevents them from accomplishing anything.
This Non-contributor Financial Adviser sees only the obvious
or known options that are regularly being used by him and
others. Even if someone else comes up with a new alternative,
he does not want to consider it. Result - his advice to clients
is limited and does not fully meet their needs.
This Contributor Administrator is focused on the goal that
needs to be achieved in the situation and he wants to achieve
that goal. So he takes the effort to find an appropriate way to
achieve that goal without breaking the rules.
When asked to do something, this Contributor Team Member
says “why not?” He accepts the goal upfront and then keeps
finding solutions as challenges come up on the way to
achieving that goal. He brings a “can-do” spirit into anything
the team takes up. Result – he is a positive force within the
team and others are inspired by him to find answers to get
to the goal.
This Contributor Financial Adviser looks for alternatives,
generates and tries out unusual ideas, goes deeper to
innovate and find a completely different solution that is “right”
for the case in hand. Result – his clients are happy with his
advice because it perfectly matches their needs.
continued ...
Study the following examples
2.
3.
The Non-contributor Financial Adviser who sees
only problems and not solutions
The Non-contributor Team Member who sees
1. The Non-contributor Administrator who sees
The Contributor Administrator who sees solutions
and not problems
The Contributor Financial Adviser who sees solutions
and not problems
The Contributor Team Member who sees solutions
and not problems
I don’t care if we don’t complete
on time or the quality is not good!
I follow strict procedures…
It has to be done this way!
Let us find a way to
achieve the goal…
We have only two options.
We must choose one of these.
There is no other way.
There are two obvious options…
but can we find a third way that
combines the best of both choices?
Can this be done? How is it possible sir?
Even if we want to do
it, there are too many
difficulties…
But…
But…
But…
But…
Can this be done?
Why not?! Let us find
a way to do it…
Non-contributors see problems not solutions. Contributors see solutions not problems.
? ?
7.1 Exploring how to practice “designing solutions”
[CONCEPT EXPLORATION]

SWAMI VIVEKANANDA CONTRIBUTOR PERSONALITY PROGRAM FOR GTU – JULY 2012 BATCH
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... continued
This Non-contributor Entrepreneur is afraid of taking up any
new venture because of the risks involved. Thus he ends
up being too conservative in his business decisions and his
business does not grow.
This Contributor Entrepreneur actively reduces the risks
involved in any new venture by experimenting and trying out
on a small scale – then if it works, he takes it to a larger scale; if
it doesn’t work, he either improves and retries or he learns from
the mistakes to move on. Thus his business keeps growing.
Group Worksheet 7.1:
Similarly (as shown in examples 1-4 above), imagine the following situations to visualize how
the contributors (who see solutions and not problems) would respond differently from the
non-contributors shown (who see problems and not solutions). Discuss to fill in.
1. It is the last day for submitting application forms. Mahesh has brought all required
documents. However, when Mahesh submits the form to the clerk…
One thing I can learn to practice, to “design solutions” in any challenging situation, in the way a
Contributor does –
continued ...
The Non-contributor Clerk’s response… What is the Contributor Clerk’s response?
4. The Non-contributor Entrepreneur who sees
The Contributor Entrepreneur who sees solutions and
not problems
But sir! Can’t you
help me find a
solution? I will
miss my admissions
if I can’t submit
this form!
I am sorry the size of your photograph is not
as per the stated requirement in our rules… I
cannot accept your form!
What if I fail?
I will lose
confidence.
I can’t even imagine
the consequences.
What will happen
to my image?
This is a challenge…
why not try it out?
Failure will become a
stepping stone to success.
Whether there is success or
failure, I will become stronger
and wiser through
the experiment.
This experience will help
us improve the project/
product.
I am sorry! Rules are rules…
I am only doing my duty…
[Imagine and fill in…]

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... continued
2. For this year’s science exhibition, the science teacher, as usual, assigns 3 projects and
asks students to make models for the given projects to display. However, Priya has been
working for a long time on the design of a cooling device that can run without electricity.
So she decides to present it at the science exhibition instead.
3. Axel Computing, an upcoming firm, has managed to get a very big client. However, the
client’s condition is that the project is to be bug-free and completed within an almost
impossible deadline. The Axel team knows that success will mean big future business
opportunities – however, if they fail it will ruin their reputation in the market and they will
lose a lot of business.
continued ...
The Non-contributor Science Teacher’s response…
The Non-contributor Development Team’s response…
What is the Contributor Science Teacher’s response?
What is the Contributor Development Team’s response?
I had told you to build a model for any 1 of the
3 projects! What you have done is out of the
syllabus! What a useless model you have built!
Why can’t you
students do things
in the way they are
supposed to be done?
It is not practical!
We don’t have enough of
staff… our machines also
don’t support all latest
technologies… programming
itself will take at least 4
weeks forget about the
testing… how is it possible to
ever complete this project in
this short time?

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4. Mohan is an engineer with the Public Works Department. He has been assigned
to supervise the building of a new bridge. This is the first time he is handling such a
big responsibility. He reads about a new better quality technology (tried and tested in
Germany), that could reduce project costs by almost half.
... continued
Reflection: People who “see solutions not problems” in any situation, are highly valued
in the work place. Why do you think this is so?
Mohan’s response as a Non-contributor Engineer… What would be Mohan’s response as a Contributor
Engineer?
Explore more on what it means to become a person who finds solutions in the face of challenges, on the
i-become
AND MORE ...
C1: What is the contributor’s
approach in “designing solutions”?
C3: Why to Why notC2: To begin designing solutions, first
define a purpose – a contributive purpose
[Log into your account on http://gtu.ibecome.in/ and select Unit 7: Designing Solutions Foundation Concept Exploration]
It is safer to keep quiet and do things in the same
old way… what if something goes wrong with this
technology? Then it will all fall on my head…
Moreover, getting a
new project passed
in this bureaucratic
department is too
risky…
my reputation is also at
stake!

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In 1968, Dr. Spencer Silver, a chemist with 3M, in his attempt to develop
a ‘strong adhesive’ managed to develop only a ‘weak adhesive’. Dr.
Spencer, instead of being embarrassed of his discovery, shared it with his
co-workers, to find a use for it. For 5 years he promoted it within 3M, but
without much success.
In 1974, a colleague of his, Art Fry, who had attended one of his seminars, found a
use of this weak adhesive – as bookmarks! After investing one more year in product
development, Fry was able to come up with the first version of what is now known as
‘Post-it’.
Dr. Spencer Silver
Art Fry
1977: 3m Launches the product in 4 cities, the response is disappointing.
1978: 3m Issues free samples. 95% of people using them said they would buy it.
1980: 3m Debuted in US stores as “post-it notes.”
1981: Post-its are launched in Canada & Europe.
Post-its went on to become a huge world success.
Story of the ‘Post-it’
If I had thought about it, I wouldn’t have
done the experiment. The literature was full
of examples that said, “you can’t do this”.
My mind was drifting back to music when I got that
flash of an idea. Eureka! I think I can make book marks
by applying Dr. Spencer’s adhesive, so they can be
stuck on and peeled off without spoiling the book.
Write of 3 things you can learn from Dr. Spencer Silver and Art Fry, about the way in which
“solution designers” think.
(For example: Despite failure, rather than giving up, trying out alternative applications that may work)
7.2 Workplace application 1
[CONCEPT APPLICATION]
CASE STORY

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Preventing Accidental Deaths
As a doctor, the usual goal Dr. Venkat could have seen for himself is “cure patients”. However,
from what happens in this story, we get to know that he defined his goal differently. How do you
think Dr. Venkat defined his goal, that led him to finding this solution?
What “practices or approaches” can you learn from Dr. Venkat’s way of thinking, that will help you
become a better “solution designer”?
Dr. Venkat was receiving many road accident cases
in his hospital. These accidents were happening
about a kilometer’s distance from his hospital.
1
One more
accidental death.
Though he tried all medical measures
to save the victims, there were still
a high number of deaths.
2
Dr. Venkat studied the factors affecting the
severity of accidents, to diagnose the causes.
3
The number of accidents came down
drastically.
The road outside his hospital did not have
a road divider. Having identified a root-
cause, Dr. Venkat worked closely with the
Traffic Police to get a divider installed.
4
I don’t think we have an answer
to this situation in the hospital.
When vehicles coming from opposite
directions collide, then the accidents are
bad. Most cases here are due to this.
Too many road accidents
are happening here. So
many deaths...
[Adapted from a true case story]
STORY

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Nikhil, a computer engineer, was on a visit
to his village. He was distressed to see
the people of his village being squeezed
by middle-men. The farmers were not
getting fair price for their produce.
To get started, Nikhil passed the word around in the village,
calling for a meeting of all farmers. However…
Nikhil regrouped energies and readied himself for a long struggle. He began meeting farmers regularly –
individually and in groups. He also met some of the middlemen and shared with them ways in which they could
benefit from and support this effort. Seeing his persistence, more villagers joined in. They ran a pilot with 10
farmers using the technology to get connected to the mandi [market place]. These 10 farmers then became
advocates to other farmers in the village. The movement caught on… more and more people got involved...
Three years later, not only were most of the farmers in that village using this technology, but neighboring
villages had also begun replicating it.
Other than the local
coordinator, no one turned up
for the meeting.
Moreover, the middle-men
didn’t take the matter
lightly.
Nikhil was excited! He didn’t think this would
be too hard as he was a computer engineer!
Thinking this was a great idea at hand, he
worked out a complete business plan.
Why can’t we connect
farmers to the market-
place directly, using
technology? That will
eliminate the influence
of middlemen on
them.
This is terrible! Nothing
can be done here! I am
better off back in my
corporate job!
No! If I don’t make this vision happen
for my people, then who will?? It’s not
going to be easy – but I can & must
find a solution!
STORY

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In the workplace, any project journey is never going to be easy and smooth. Challenges
are always going to be there.
1. Learning from Nikhil’s attitude and way of thinking in this case story, write down 2 “practices
or approaches” that you would want to follow in any project you take up in the future – that will
help you respond positively to such challenging situations by finding solutions.
2. Think of some project that you or someone you know took up, that got stuck / stopped because
of some challenge(s). Answer the following about the project –
What was the project goal?
What happened in the project journey? Why did the project get stuck? What were the challenges?
Who were all the key people involved in the
project?
Brainstorm to imagine how each of these key people
could respond differently, if they adopted the thinking of
a contributor who is keen to find solutions to overcome
challenges and accomplish the goal.

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Field Work
7.5 Project Work
Project Goal: To identify how people (contributors) have found solutions to challenges they have faced,
and how they practiced “designing solutions”.
STEP 1: Identify any one “contributor” case where there was a challenge and the people involved designed
solutions to face and address the challenge. This case could be about –
l An incident or project you or someone you know has been part of.
l A public case or incident that you may have read / heard about (in newspapers / public
knowledge).
STEP 2: Decide how you are going to present your project. As a –
• Home-video project (recording a video of interviews etc. to make a short-film on the case), OR
• Slide presentation (with photographs, factual data, insights, sound / music, etc.), OR
• Poster presentation (with photographs, factual data, insights, etc.)
STEP 3: Do a research study to collect data (video, photographs, data, etc.) for your project presentation.
Your research can include –
• Primary research done by interviewing the people involved / beneficiaries in this case.
• Secondary research done by using the internet, going through newspapers and magazines, talking
to experienced people who know this case well.
In your research study, find out –
• What was the main challenge? How did the people involved define their goal?
• How did the people involved go about finding a solution to this challenge?
• In this case, find out specific examples / incidents from this experience that show us how the people
involved practiced “designing solutions”, i.e. how they –
– Stayed focused on the goals and found appropriate methods to achieve these goals
(within the framework of the system / rules)
– Considered new / alternate possibilities in their thinking
– Demonstrated a “can-do” attitude
– Overcame their “fear of failure”
STEP 4: Make your final presentation.
STEP 5: Present in the class.
OR do the above project (using the same 5 steps as a guideline) for any one of the true case stories on
i-become
[Log into your account on http://gtu.ibecome.in/ and select Unit 7: Design Solutions Foundation Concept Applications]
A1: How Rob McEwen found
a way to get the best brains to
work together to find a solution
to his company’s challenge
A2: How Philip, an Engineer,
did a plant erection within an
almost impossible deadline,
with a can-do attitude
A3: How Aravind Hospitals
made affordable eye-care
accessible to the rural
population of India
A4: How the Sternins (scholars
from Tufts University) found a
way to deal with the malnutrition
challenge in Vietnam’s villages
NOTE: Don’t just present these clips directly. Instead, study the contributor’s approach in the chosen clip, and then answer
the questions given in Step 3 above. Compile your answers to build your presentation.

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What you can do next:
Practice for Examinations on i-become
• Do the quizzes and practice tests to get an idea of what to expect in the examination.
• To access these –
– Log into your ActivGuide account on http://gtu.ibecome.in/
– Select Unit 7: Design Solutions Exam Revision
Attend the Contributor Classroom for Unit 7 (on Facebook )
• An online discussion session will be conducted for Unit 7, in the Contributor Classroom, to explore
the practice of “designing solutions”.
• Join students and faculty from across GTU as we discuss this topic.
• To participate –
– Go to https://www.facebook.com/groups/CPP.July2012/
– Log in with your own Facebook account (if you don’t have one already, create new)
– Click on “join group” button to join the Contributor Classroom
– Once the group moderator approves, you can attend these discussions
– Make sure you register early enough so that you don’t miss these sessions
• To know the schedules for this, check your email / the i-become Facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/ibecomeInitiative

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“
“
Does higher education mean mere study of material
sciences and turning out things of everyday use by
machinery? The use of higher education is to find out
how to solve the problems of life, and this is what is
engagingtheprofoundthoughtofthemoderncivilised
world, but it was solved in our country thousands
of years ago. The education which does not help the
common mass of people to equip themselves for the
struggle for life, which does not bring out strength of
character, a spirit of philanthropy, and the courage of
a lion – is it worth the name? Real education is that
which enables one to stand on one’s own legs. The
education that you are receiving now in schools and
colleges is only making you a race of dyspeptics. You
are working like machines merely, and living a jelly-fish
existence.
We want that education by which
character is formed, strength of
mind is increased, the intellect is
expanded and by which one can
stand on one’s own feet. Physical
weakness is the cause of at least
one-third of our miseries. We are
lazy; we cannot combine. We
speak of many things parrot-like
but never do them. Speaking and
not doing has become a habit with
us. What is the cause? Physical
weakness. This sort of weak brain
is not being able to do anything.
We must strengthen it. First of all
our young men must be strong,
my young friends, that is my
advice to you. You will be nearer
to Heaven through football than
through the study of the Gita. You
will understand Gita better with
your biceps, your muscles, a little
stronger.
Stand on your own feet
Contributors do not depend on others to give them “aid”. They take up the challenges in front
of them and develop their own solutions to these challenges.
“Ay, in this country of ours, the very birth-place of the
Vedanta, our masses have been hypnotised for ages
into that state. To touch them is pollution, to sit with
them is pollution! Hopeless they were born, hopeless
they must remain! And the result is that they have
been sinking, sinking, sinking, and have come to the
last stage to which a human being can come. For what
country is there in the world where man has to sleep
with the cattle? And for this, blame nobody else, do
not commit the mistake of the ignorant. The effect is
here and the cause is here too. We are to blame. Stand
up, be bold, and take the blame on your own shoulders.
Swami Vivekananda speaks to you

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“
“
A nation is advanced in proportion
as education and intelligence
spread among the masses. The chief
cause of India’s ruin has been the
monopolizingofthewholeeducation
and intelligence of the land, by dint
of pride and royal authority, among a
handful ofmen.Ifwearetoriseagain,
we shall have to do it in the same way,
i.e. by spreading education among the
masses. All the wealth of the world
cannot help one little Indian village
if the people are not taught to help
themselves.
Within man is all knowledge, and it
requires only an awakening, and that
much is the work of the teacher.
Swami Vivekananda at Junagadh – 3
In Junagadh, sometime in 1892, Swami Vivekananda
also came in contact with Chhaganlal H. Pandya
(b.1859, d.1936) of Nadiad, a great scholar,
educationist and well known in Gujarat’s literary world
as translator of Sanskrit classics like Kadambari.
He was deeply impressed by Swami Vivekananda’s
personality and in the introduction to his book
Christnu Anukaran, a Gujarati translation of The
Imitation of Christ, by Thomas A Kempis, published in
1915, Pandya gives a wonderful account of the days
he spent in Swami Vivekananda’s holy company.
Chhaganlal Pandya also gave a vivid description of
how Swami Vivekananda charmed and influenced
everybody by his spirituality, his catholicity of views,
his simplicity of life, his proficiency in music and
profound knowledge of various arts and sciences, his
stirring eloquence and not the least by his proficiency
in the art of cuisine.
Source: The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda
(Published by Advaita Ashrama, 5 Dehi Entally Road,
Kolkata 14, India)
Source: Shri Ramakrishna Ashrama, Rajkot,
website (www.rkmrajkot.org)

The material in this workbook is meant to be studied
along with the material available at gtu.ibecome.in
You will find videos, concept presentations, quizzes
to improve your understanding of the topic.
Workbook printed from I-Become ActivGuide

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