Critiquing Strategies

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Core Versus Surface Questioning the Assumption Short Term Versus Long Term Relevance to Current Context General Versus Specific Practical Versus Ideal

A) Green Education Written Report Project Aim: To get children to care for the environment Proposed Strategy: To create an encyclopaedia software to teach children facts about the environment A&E Strategy: CORE VERSUS SURFACE Does the proposed strategy address the root cause of the problem or is the solution a superficial one? Explanation: Since the project aim is to get children to care for the environment, we need to examine the root cause of children not caring for the environment. Its probably because children dont understand the severity of the impact of environmental damage. Merely introducing them to new animal species will not help. What To Do Then: Students can modify the proposed strategy explain the role the dumbo octopus and blobfish play in the eco-system and how exactly their extinction might affect us if we do not do our part to care for the environment.

B) Anorexia Written Report Project Aim: To solve the problem of anorexia among teenagers Proposed Strategy: To create a role-playing game to educate teenagers about the negative impact of anorexia. A&E Strategy: QUESTIONING THE ASSUMPTION Are we taking some of our assumptions for granted? Explanation: We assume people are anorexic because they do not know the negative impact of anorexia. However, most people with anorexia are fully aware of its effects. The problem is that they might have underlying psychological and self-esteem issues. (You will need to back up this claim with research data). Thus, educating them about the effects of anorexia on health will not help. What To Do Then: Supplement the game strategy with a complementary strategy that deals with the psychological and self-esteem issues that people with anorexia typically suffer from.

C) Shark Fin Soup Written Report Project Aim: To get Singaporeans to stop eating shark fin soup Proposed Strategy: To create carnival games where people bind their limbs while playing these games to experience the same feeling of pain and helplessness sharks feel when their fins are cut off and they are thrown back into the sea. The objective of the strategy is to get Singaporeans to empathize with what sharks go through so that they stop eating shark fin soup. A&E Strategy: SHORT TERM VERSUS LONG TERM Does the proposed strategy only address the problem in the short term? Does it solve the problem permanently? Explanation: Perhaps there might be feelings of empathy generated but these might last only during the event. How to ensure that these feelings persist and translate into permanent abstinence from shark fin soup?

D) Flash Food Written Report Project Aim: To reduce queue time for fast food restaurants Proposed Strategy: To create a smartphone application for customers to make advanced orders online for fast food A&E Strategy #1: RELEVANCE TO CURRENT CONTEXT What are some unique characteristics associated with your target audience or the context of your project that might make your project work particularly well or fail miserably? Explanation #1: Singapores smartphone penetration rate is very high and fast food is a popular lunch option for many Singaporeans (You will need to back up these two claims with research data). Therefore this proposed strategy seems workable. A&E Strategy #2: GENERAL VERSUS SPECIFIC Will the strategy only work with a certain segment of your target audience? Explanation #2: The smartphone application strategy might only work with people who are comfortable with downloading and trying out new applications as well as people who are comfortable with mobile payment procedures. Elderly people resistant to change as well as those who feel uncomfortable with making purchases on a mobile platform might not support the application.

E) Carbon Extermination Written Report Project Aim: To reduce carbon emissions in Singapore Proposed Strategy: To create Tuas Carbon Recycling Plant. This involves the relocation of major emitters of carbon to a common site, installing physical pipes to funnel their carbon emissions into a single catchment point so as to convert carbon dioxide into methanol. A&E Strategy: PRACTICAL VERSUS IDEAL Is the idea too expensive, too far-fetched, too physically impossible, too dangerous, too implausible? Explanation: Huge emitters of carbon like ExxonMobil, Shell and Tuas Power have spent millions on current facilities and infrastructure. Will they seriously relocate?