Personas for Community Problem Solving
What are Personas?
Overview of Personas in Community Problem-Solving
In the context of community problem-solving, personas refer to fictional characters or archetypes representing different categories of individuals who are stakeholders in the issue at hand. These personas help the designer better understand a community’s diverse perspectives, needs, and challenges. By tailoring questions based on these personas, the designer can gather more nuanced insights and design inclusive solutions that address the community’s varied concerns.
Here are three key interview personas to consider as a starting point, along with guidance on identifying individuals who fit those personas. Be sure to tailor these beyond these examples as it makes sense for each unique community problem dynamic.
Persona Details:
- Users (Direct Beneficiaries, Frontline Workers, Community Members): Those directly affected by the problem.
- Critical Instances (Maintenance staff, first responders): Individuals who have experienced the extremes of the problem, instances that highlight the urgency and severity of the problem. This might also be the users, but it could also be unique individuals called in to support when things are extreme.
- Stakeholders (Local Leaders, Organizations, Businesses): Individuals with influence or a vested interest in the community’s well-being or have a direct role in approving changes in your problem area.
As you proceed through the interview guide, refer to the persona details for guidance on adjusting your questions based on the specific category of the person you’re engaging with. This tailored approach will enrich your understanding of the community’s needs and contribute to creating solutions that resonate with diverse groups impacted and have the greatest likelihood of success in implementation.
1. User Persona
Characteristics:
- Direct Beneficiaries: Individuals directly affected by the community problem.
- First-hand Experience: Those who experience the challenge in their daily lives.
How to Identify:
- Look for community members living in close proximity to the issue.
- Identify individuals who rely on or are impacted by the current situation.
- Seek out those who have expressed concerns or have been vocal about the problem.
Example Questions:
- How does the current situation impact your daily life?
- Can you share specific instances where the existing challenge has caused difficulties for you personally?
2. Critical Instances Persona
Characteristics:
- Most Affected: Individuals who have dealt with emergencies or critical situations related to the problem.
- Insightful Narratives: Those who can provide detailed accounts of instances that highlight the severity of the issue.
How to Identify:
- Look for individuals who have witnessed or been involved in critical events. These might be the same individuals as those in the user group or have a limited understanding of only urgent situations and support.
- Speak with community members who have stories that underscore the problem’s urgency.
3. Stakeholder Persona
Characteristics:
- Leadership Roles: Individuals with influence in the community, such as local leaders, business owners, or organizational representatives.
- Vested Interest: Those with a significant interest in the community’s well-being.
How to Identify:
- Identify local leaders, business owners, administrators, or organizational figures.
- Attend community meetings or events to identify influential figures.
- Seek out individuals who have a vested interest in the community’s success.
Example Questions:
- As a community leader, how do you perceive the importance of addressing this challenge?
- What level of involvement or support is necessary from various stakeholders to implement a successful solution?
Example Interview Guide for the Kitchen Drain Solution Case Study Based on Persona Categories
- User Persona: Students, Kitchen Staff, Teachers
- Critical Instances Persona: Students, Facility Staff
- Stakeholder Persona: School Headmaster, Parents, Community Members
1. User Persona: Students, Kitchen Staff, Teachers
1. Introduction and Establishing Rapport:
- Can you share your role within the school community?
- How familiar are you with the current state of the kitchen drainage situation?
2. Understanding the Problem’s Importance:
- In your view, how significant is the issue of improper kitchen drainage for our school community?
- Can you share any specific instances where the current kitchen drainage system has caused challenges for you or others?
Follow-up Questions:
- How does this problem impact your daily activities within the school environment?
- Are there any safety concerns you’ve observed related to the current kitchen drainage?
3. Exploring Individual Impacts:
- How does the current kitchen drainage situation affect your day-to-day tasks or responsibilities?
- Can you describe any emotional or morale-related impacts you’ve noticed among the students or staff?
Follow-up Questions:
- What specific challenges have you faced due to the current kitchen drainage system?
- How does the existing situation influence the overall atmosphere in the school kitchen area?
4. Gathering Ideas for Solutions:
- Considering your role, do you have any ideas for improving the kitchen drainage situation in our school?
- Are there any innovative solutions you’ve come across or thought about that could work here?
Follow-up Questions:
- How feasible do you think your proposed solutions are for our school community?
- What resources or support would you need to implement these solutions?
2. Critical Instances Persona: Students, Facility Staff
Individuals who have experience with a critical instance example (e.g., mosquito infestation)
1. Introduction and Establishing Rapport:
- Can you share your experiences with critical instances related to the kitchen drainage issue?
- How did you handle emergencies or challenges resulting from the current drainage situation?
2. Understanding the Problem’s Importance:
- From your perspective, how have critical instances, such as mosquito infestation, emphasized the urgency of addressing the kitchen drainage problem?
- Are there any specific emergencies or health concerns directly related to the current drainage challenges?
Follow-up Questions:
- How did these critical instances impact the overall well-being of the school community?
- In your opinion, what immediate actions could have alleviated these critical situations?
3. Exploring Individual Impacts:
- Can you share stories or examples of individuals who faced challenges during critical instances related to the kitchen drainage?
- How did these critical instances affect the morale and resilience of the students and staff?
Follow-up Questions:
- In hindsight, what proactive measures could have been taken to prevent or mitigate these critical instances?
- How do you think the community would respond to a solution that addresses these emergency situations?
4. Gathering Ideas for Solutions:
- Based on your experiences with critical instances, do you have any ideas for solutions that could prevent or manage emergencies related to the kitchen drainage?
- Are there specific features or capabilities you believe a solution should have to be effective during critical instances?
Follow-up Questions:
- How can we ensure the proposed solution is resilient despite unforeseen challenges or emergencies?
- Are there any lessons learned from past critical instances that should inform the design of a new solution?
3. Stakeholder Persona: School Headmaster, Parents, Community Members
1. Introduction and Establishing Rapport:
- As a stakeholder in our school community, can you share your perspective on the importance of addressing the kitchen drainage issue?
- How do you see your role in improving the school’s infrastructure?
2. Understanding the Problem’s Importance:
- From your point of view, how does the kitchen drainage issue impact the overall well-being of the school community?
- As a stakeholder, what level of involvement or support do you think is necessary to address this problem effectively?
Follow-up Questions:
- Are there specific resources or expertise within the community that could contribute to the project’s success?
- How can stakeholders actively participate in developing and sustaining the proposed solutions?
3. Exploring Individual Impacts:
- As a stakeholder, how have you or others within the community been directly affected by the current kitchen drainage situation?
- How could an improved kitchen drainage system positively affect the broader community?
Follow-up Questions:
- Are there any additional challenges or concerns that you think should be considered in the context of improving kitchen drainage?
- How can we ensure that the proposed solution aligns with the broader goals and values of the community?
4. Gathering Ideas for Solutions:
- Considering your role as a stakeholder, do you have any ideas for solutions that would contribute to improving the kitchen drainage situation in our school?
- As a stakeholder, how do you think the community can come together to support and implement effective solutions?
Follow-up Questions:
- Do you foresee any potential challenges or barriers to implementing solutions as a stakeholder?
- How can we foster collaboration and coordination among different stakeholders to ensure the success of the proposed solutions?