Design Thinking and Innovative Thinking: A Self-Analysis

This article discusses the importance of design thinking and innovative thinking through self-analysis. It includes reflections on weekly workshops and activities, strengths and weaknesses, and actions for improvement. The conclusion emphasizes the need for schools and colleges to teach design thinking and innovative thinking to students.

Running head: DESIGN IT
Design It
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author’s Note:

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Introduction
Self-analysis is one of the most important tools that are being used by the students in this
modern day scenario for understanding their strengths and weaknesses. Self-analysis keeps the
students to develop a clear cut idea about the areas of their strengths and weaknesses. The
students must be taught the methods of applying the self-analysis skills in their personal and
professional lives as well. This will help them to find out the areas of their strengths and their
weaknesses (Uthaug, 2018). This is the best way through which the students can actually learn to
take different steps for improving their weaknesses. I have undertaken many workshops and
weekly activities that have helped me in finding out my backlogs. I will have to find out different
means for overcoming these errors and myself for becoming successful in the future. These
workshops were mainly about the methods of design thinking and innovative thinking.
Reflection of learning from the weekly blogs
I am really very thankful to my teachers that they arranged for the workshops on a
weekly basis and asked us to participate in the same. This has really helped me a lot to
understand my own personality. I have been able to understand the areas of my strengths and the
areas of my weaknesses. I have realized many unknown facts about my own personality. This
will surely help me in the long run. As I want to become a successful manager in the future, I
will have to inculcate some or then other kinds of qualities within myself. This has also been a
very good opportunity for developing a team spirit.
This is because I got many different viewpoints and opinions about myself from my
peers. In the week 1 workshop, I came to know about the entire course details. I was initially
worried and did not know the methods of design thinking. I was really getting afraid (Madore,

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Addis & Schacter, 2015). I did not know what to do and how to proceed in the work. However, I
could understand the details of the assignment as I started paying to make attention to the class
and started thinking deeply. In the week 2 workshop the concepts of design thinking started
becoming much clear to me. I realized that I have to be much more innovative. I need to develop
the divergent style of thinking. This will help me in finding out the solution to any particular
problem from many different angles (Sowden et al., 2015). This naturally helped me to widen
my range of thinking. I learned about the Unilever Water Purifier and Gillette Razor. I realized
that innovating thinking is indeed one of the most important tools. I also came to know about the
deep drive approach and the brainstorming methods. This is really very enlightening. I will try to
develop a very strong and deep innovative thinking capacity.
Week 3 was also very useful for me. I have always suffered from this problem of time
management. I often go by only one particular kind of thinking style and do not try to widen my
area of thinking. It is for this reason I was having a problem in learning about the Divergent and
Convergent thinking tools. I was also not quite sure about at the usage of all these tools.
However, as I started paying deep attention, I realized that it is not really that tough (Watson,
2015). I have to understand that in order to be a successful manager in the future, I have to be
much more creative. I think that some of the quotes that I came across during this session have
been very inspiring from me like “watch and learn”, ‘’Patience ‘’, ‘’Cross-disciplinary’’ and
many other such other sentences (Furnham, 2015). In the 4th week, I came to know about the
difference between problem-solving and problem finding.
I think that I have to learn a lot from this week activity. This is because I was trying to
find out problems in that which actually did not have any such problem. So, I need to utilize the
methods like visualization, spotting, Personas and many other such effective tools for

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understanding and analyzing a problem and reaching to its solution. Week 5 was again about
design thinking. This helped me to understand the different techniques of design thinking and
how to carry on the process of brainstorming and mind mapping (Rosciano, 2015). I realized that
I have to be less judgmental and say yes to any kinds of challenges. In other words, I have to
understand that I cannot stay biased. I have to make my ideas and my opinions much more open-
ended I realized that I have to start identifying and understanding each and every day to day
objects in an innovative manner. I learned about the usage of the mind mapping and the
brainstorming in the value chain analysis before delivering a particular product (Behm, Culvenor
& Dixon 2014). Before the launching a product in the market it is really very essential to see the
products properly through a value chain analysis (Madore, Jing & Schacter, 2016). This will help
in understanding the different effects that product might have after being launched into the
market. There are many activities like the inbound logistics, outbound logistics, operation,
marketing and sales, services and also many other such products (Baruah & Paulus, 2016).
This helps in understanding the different stages of mind mapping that through which we
can design the launch of a product in many different ways and see the best possible means. Week
7 has also been very beneficial for my career and my future development as well. If I get
appointed in any of the reputed firms in my future then I will have to produce many reports.
There are several methods that help in extracting the data and producing an error-free report.
There are steps like following a proper method either Qualitative or Quantitative Approaches,
using either the primary or the secondary data, carrying on the interviews, surveys, focus groups
and many other such things. I also learned that I will have to abide by the ethical considerations
while preparing any reports for an industry. In this week I came to know why ethics is one of the
most important parts of working in any position and in any industry.

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Week 8 was mainly about prototype testing. I am really very thankful to my teachers for
teaching us this particular method. This will help us in doing a very quick review and testing of
all the possible effects of launching any particular product in the market. This will help in
preventing the undue wastage of money, time, energy and other resources. I also learned about
early prototyping and the later rapid prototyping as well. I thought that this process is very useful
and easier. However, I also learned about the drawbacks like high customer expectations, lack of
sufficient budget, wireframing and others. So, I have learned that I need to go forward in a very
tactful manner and make sure that I am being able to meet the requirements of the customers.
Earlier I was always afraid of what people would think about any ideas or suggestions given by
me. However, after going through this activity, I have learned how to first analyze the
aftereffects of a chosen solution before launching it. This will surely help me a lot in the long
run.
On week 9, I came to know about the playtesting. This is one of the most crucial things
that I need to remember while launching any product in the market. I have to carry on many
brainstorming activities and find out different alternative plans that will help me in backing up
one plan with the other. We learned this process through the learning launch
Week 10 was the most awaited week where all of us had to make some presentations in
front of our lecturers and come up with their new ideas. I could learn a lot about the team
working methods. Apart from this, I felt that this really helped me a lot in increasing my
confidence level. Earlier I felt very nervous while presenting anything in front of a large group.
However, during the course of this group presentation, I have been able to get over the fear of
public speaking. I could also feel an increased level of confidence and zeal within myself. I also

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learned about the innovative ideas and the design thinking methods used by another team as well.
This was really a very knowledgeable experience.
Strengths and weaknesses (550)
STRENGTHS OPPORTUNITIES
One of my major strengths my ability to stay
open to the views and opinions of others. I
want to learn many new and innovative
techniques that will be helpful in shaping my
future career. I also consider myself to be a
patient and good listener. I have been given
this feedback by my teammates that I am one
of the most disciplined teammates and I know
how to listen to the ideas and opinions of
others.
I will try to be a part of all the design thinking
workshops that will be conducted in my
college. This will help me in gaining a clear
and vivid idea about the different mind
mapping, brainstorming, and other innovative
methods.
WEAKNESSES RESULTS
I think that one of the greatest weaknesses is
my rigid thinking style. Though I am patient
I want to see myself as a successful manager in
any of the leading MNCs in the future. In order
to do that I have to develop a positive approach

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in listening to the views of others, I often avoid
thinking from their point of view. I have to
widen my area of thinking. I need to use the
methods of brainstorming and mind mapping
in order to try all the alternative solutions for
one particular problem.
and face each and the problem without fear.

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Actions for improving the areas of weaknesses (500)
Activities Month 1 Month 2 Month 3 Month 4 Month 5 Month 6
Increasing
my
concentration
level
I will try to
work over
my
concentration
level and
make sure
that I am
being more
attentive in
the workshop
activities.
I will have
to work
over my
thinking
capacity
and make
it much
more
Innovative
.
I will
have to
increase
my
patience
level.
I will take
part in
many
quizzes
and
aptitude
test.
I will also be
working over
my listening
skills
I will be
able to
develop a
sound
thinking
capacity
and
thinking
approach.
I will try to
develop the
divergent
style of
thinking.
I will try to
get out of my
comfort zone
and take up
many new
challenges
that will help
in developing
my
I will start
analyzing
the notes
and the
other notes
that are
being
shared in
the
I will
take part
in all the
group
and team
activities
.
I will
make sure
that I am
being able
to
understan
d each
problem
I will be
using all the
processes like
a triple tool,
group
learning,
brainstorming
, and other
such
I will be
able to use
all these
thinking
tools and
develop
my
thinking

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brainstormin
g capacity
sand my
thinking style
as well.
workshops
.
before materials. style.
I will try to
be more
innovative
and make
sure that I am
I will be
working over
my level of
empathy
while
analyzing
any problem.
I will try
to observe
many
pictures
studies and
workshop
activities
I will try
to see
the
problem
and
analyze
it before
reaching
the
solution.
I will
make sure
to not rush
to any
particular
decision.
I will take
admission in
many of the
problem-
solving skill
tests so that I
can improve.
I will try
to develop
a sound
problem-
solving
skill and
make sure
that I am
developin
g a strong
and
I will try to
concentrate
more on the
brainstormin
g activities.
I will try to
develop a
varied and
wide range
of thinking
pattern
I will try
to accept
the views
and the
opinions
of others
in my
I will try
to be a
good
listener
and take
the
views
I will
make sure
that I am
creating
an open
mind to
accept the
I will try to
focus on the
innovative
ideas being
given by
others and
suggest my
I will be
able to
formulate
new, fresh
and
innovative
ideas

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team
before
giving out
my
suggestion
.
and
opinions
of others
views of
all my
team
members
as well.
own point of
view
Conclusion (100)
So, it can be concluded that design thinking is one of the most important tools that is used in the
modern workplaces. So, it is the duty of the schools and the colleges to start teaching their
students the methods of design thinking, brainstorming, mind mapping and other such tools. His
will help the students to develop a very positive and innovative approach towards all the
problems of their personal and professional lives as well. In order to become successful in the
future, I have to develop a sound innovative thinking style so that I can reach the solution of each
and every problem coming in my way.

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