Report on Design Thinking Concepts and Personal Skills

This report examines the application of design thinking in modern business environments, emphasizing the importance of creative ideas and innovation for organizational success. It explores the concepts and tools of design thinking, including visualization, journey mapping, mind mapping, assumption testing, and brainstorming, highlighting their role in problem-solving and concept development. The report also assesses the student's personal skills in relation to design thinking, identifying strengths such as emotional management and weaknesses in visualization and brainstorming. An action plan is presented to address developmental needs, aiming to improve the practical application of design thinking tools and concepts in operational activities, ultimately enhancing the ability to adapt to changing business dynamics and foster innovation. The report provides a detailed self-assessment based on weekly workshop activities and reflects on the significance of creative thinking in contemporary business practices.

Running head: MANAGEMENT
Management
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Table of Contents
Introduction:...............................................................................................................................3
Design Thinking:........................................................................................................................4
Personal Development:..............................................................................................................7
Action Plan:................................................................................................................................9
Conclusion:..............................................................................................................................11
References:...............................................................................................................................13

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Introduction:
The modern business organizations are observed to face the necessity of creative ideas
from the part of the stakeholders of the companies for increasing the ability of the companies
in managing the varying business environment. With a detailed emphasis on the changing
business dynamics, Rawlinson (2017), claimed that the success of the companies are
substantially dependent on the ability of the leaders in accumulating different and effective
ideas. At the same, the success of the companies in incorporating the much required sense of
innovation is observed to be significant for the improvement of the products and services that
they offer to their customers. The variety of the benefits of the design thinking is one of the
important aspect that made it undeniable for the modern professionals. However, the ability
to implement the design thinking notably depends on individual capabilities of the leaders
such as the ability of the leaders to manage their emotions, their rule consciousness and their
urge of finding out the correct solutions at all instances.
Hence, the application of the design thinking tools and concepts is observed to be
largely dependent on the skills of the professionals in managing their own impulses and the
professional skills. The paper primarily discusses regarding my learning of the design
thinking concepts and tools. Along with that, the paper specifically assesses my skills and
capabilities in implementing the lessons that I gathered through the weekly sessions. In
addition to this, the paper also identifies my strengths and weakness in executing the lessons
that I learnt from the weekly workshop activities. With effective identification of the
strengths and weakness, the paper delivers an action plan that has the capability to resolve my
developmental needs for an improved performances in case of applying the design thinking
tools and concepts in my operational activities.

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Design Thinking:
From the weekly activity, I was able to gather considerable amount of inputs
regarding the design thinking concepts. First of all, the session was significantly crucial for
me in gaining the importance of the design thinking or creative thinking in the modern
business context. I understood that the business environment or the context is changing each
day and under such situation, it becomes important for us to make sure that we align our
operational activities in accordance to the changing business environment. It is
understandable that the enhanced changes in the business environment influences the modern
professionals to be flexible in their approach in tackling the changes in their business
(Mumford et al., 2013). With a detailed emphasis on the necessity of the flexibility, I
achieved the importance of creative thinking in the modern business world.
With a precise focus on the tools presented in the weekly workshops, I learnt that the
success of the modern professionals in improving their flexibility depends on their capability
in developing a pool of solutions. The adaptability of the different solutions in accordance to
the parameters of changing business environment has the capability to contribute to the
success of the business professionals. I learnt that the efficiency of the modern professionals
in coming up with innovative ideas as a result of their participation in the design thinking
activities, is important in improving the ability of the professionals in enhancing the quality
of their services. The idea of developing a pool of solutions was significant for me as it
enabled me to have the flexibility in applying the solution as per the parameters of the
business environment. Hence, even if the hard and fast rule of applying a solution that is
recognized as correct, becomes invalid, I will be in an advantageous position for managing
the situation. Considering the session, I understood that the broad concept of the design
thinking is a combination of several activities starting from thinking, listening and framing
the possible solutions or the scenarios. The session was important for me to understand the

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fact that the effective listening is the input in the design thinking and the thinking is the
processing part whereas the development of the scenarios or the drawing of the possible
consequences is the output of the process (Johansson‐Sköldberg, Woodilla & Çetinkaya,
2013). The entire process requires to be considered as visualization. The concept of the
visualization is the base of design thinking as it is much required for the practice of all the
design thinking tools and activities. Considering the journey mapping, it would be correct to
comment that the concept is an important part of the business planning (Scott, 2015). With a
detailed emphasis on the journey mapping, it is understandable that the business leaders are
largely successful with appropriate anticipation of the actions that the buyers conduct prior to
a purchase (Rosenbaum, Otalora & Ramírez, 2017). I understood that the senior management
of majority of the companies are trying their level best to anticipate the psychology of their
customers and that influenced them towards visualizing the activities that a particular
customer is expected to conduct before purchasing a product. Hence, the introduction of the
journey mapping is pretty prominent.
It enabled the business organizations to have a precise understanding of the actions of
the customers and align their pre purchase activities in accordance to the psychology and
purchase intention of the customers. The concept is also present in the form of mind mapping
as it considered to be a schematic representation of the interlinking between the actions and
the thoughts of the customers (Buran & Filyukov, 2015). Having said that, the sessions
helped me to understand the need of assumptions in the process. Considering the concept of
the visualization, mind mapping or the journey mapping, I understood that it is important for
me to limit the wide span of thoughts so that it be easy for me to visualize the probable
scenarios. With a precise understanding of the fact, I was able to inherit the necessity of
forming assumptions and testing them to be sure about the existence and effectiveness of
them. This certainly improved my ability and effectiveness of visualizations in an efficient

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manner. Other than the assumption testing, I consider the brainstorming activities to be
significantly important for my success in creative thinking. With the help of the
brainstorming activities, I have the chance to meet my desired objective of creating a pool of
solutions for any particular solution. The concept of brainstorming allows the professionals to
discuss regarding a particular problem scenario and that enables the professionals to develop
different solutions amongst themselves. All the solutions developed in the brainstorming
sessions are considered to be unique and at the same time, they are different from others on
the basis of the parameters in which they can be applied (Wilson, 2013).
Hence, it is understandable that the brainstorming sessions are crucial for me in
developing a number of possible solutions and along with that, it is also significant in
involving the other professionals in decision making process of the organizations. The
brainstorming activities provide the required scope to each and every individuals to
contribute in the process. With the end of these sort of brainstorming sessions, the modern
professionals are observed to be left with unique and different solutions which can be used
for the concept development (Yilmaz & Daly, 2016). The concept development is primarily
linked with the assumption testing and the brainstorming activities. I understood that the
successful testing of the assumptions have a significant role in the development of the
concepts. At the same time, the brainstorming sessions are important for the individuals as
well as it provide the important insights and unique solutions for the much required
development of the concept. With the development of the concepts and the repetitive practice
of the same, I was able to understand the concept of prototype. The formation of the
prototypes are substantial for the success of the modern organizations as it enables the
companies to successfully anticipate the actions and psychology of the customers (Kuo & Su,
2013).

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Having said that, the success of the modern professionals, in design thinking, is
observed to be dependent on their creativity of visualizing the scenarios. From the weekly
sessions, I understood that the identification of the probable solutions and selecting the most
appropriate out of them for the implementation, is not necessarily the complete concept of the
visualization, rather the identification of the problems is seen to be equally important. With
the practice of the co creation and learning, I understood that the creative thinking is not
limited to the identification of the possible solutions and the companies are seen to gain
significant success, considering the identification of the problems to be the main base of their
innovative or creative thinking. For example, Apple under the leadership of Steve Jobs, were
seen to focus less on the development of the solutions as their primary focus was on the
identification of the problem (Apple.com, 2019). The company was observed to be reluctant
in meeting the developed demands amongst the customers rather, the company was largely
interested in developing the demands. The excellence of the innovative solutions of the
company enabled the senior management of the company to avoid the generalised marketing
and promotional activities for effectively educating the customers regarding their possible
needs. In a nut shell, the customers are enlightened about the need of the products from the
part of the company.
Personal Development:
With a detailed emphasis on my skills of design thinking, it is evident that my ability
in managing the emotions is required to be considered as one of the significant strengths of
mine. It is evident that the inappropriate management of the emotions has significant impact
on the success of the professionals in thinking creatively. More specifically, the excessive
flow of emotions has the potential to create a mental block and that affects the individuals in
thinking innovatively (Isbister, 2016). Hence, the ability of mine in managing my emotions in

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a professional manner, provides me substantial competitive advantage in comparison of
others for thinking creatively.
On the other hand, my incapability in practicing the techniques for the visualization is
a major spot of bother for me. I am significantly limited in practicing the visualization which
reduces the effectiveness of my creative thinking. This can be a major menace for me in
formulating the ideas that are helpful for me in developing innovative solutions.
One of the significant individual blocks for the modern professionals is considered to
be the rule consciousness. It is important for the professionals to avoid their interest in
identifying the sole “correct” solution for creative thinking. Considering the concept of the
creative thinking, the professionals are required to concentrate on the development of
multiple number of solutions as that increase their flexibility in maintaining the readiness for
the application of the appropriate solution on the basis of the parameters of the business
environment. Hence, to make sure that the professionals are ready with a pool of suitable
solutions, it is important for them to ignore their rule consciousness nature as that will
certainly limit the ability and the urge amongst the individuals in thinking creatively
(Youmans & Arciszewski, 2014). Having said that, I consider myself to be in a better
position as I am able to avoid my rule consciousness nature and that helps me in thinking
creatively.
On the other hand, I consider myself to be significantly limited in practicing the
brainstorming activities. I lack certain amount of urge in participating in the brainstorming
activities which reduces my capability in gaining important ideas regarding the modern trends
and the business management. Hence, this will certainly be a major developmental need for
me going forward.

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Other than this, I consider my skill of effective communication to be an important
strength of mine for achieving the desired success in creative thinking. Considering the
dynamics of the design thinking activities, it is evident that the communication holds a
greater significance for the modern professionals. As the schematic representation of the
visualization includes listening and drawing as important aspect of the process or more
specifically the input and output of the process, it is important for me to make sure that I do
not conduct any sort of mistakes in communicating what I learnt, anticipated and understood
through listening. Under such situation, my skill of effective communication has the
capability to help me in a substantial manner.
However, I think I have certain amount of scope of improvement in the visualization
with the help of software tools. I want to make sure that I have the adequate skills for
representing my thoughts in diagrammatic forms and in a professional manner so that it be
easy for the others to interact with it and understand the concept of my though process.
Hence, the mentioned aspect is also a major developmental need of mine that requires to be
resolved within a period of six months.
Action Plan:
Objective Activity Timeframe
Improvement of my skills of
physical form of
visualization practices
With an effective
understanding of my
weakness in practicing the
physical form of
visualization, it is evident I
need to be more professional
in my approach. For the
I consider three months of
time span to be perfect for
the successful achievement
of the mentioned objective.

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improvement of my skills in
the mentioned aspect, I
would like to start the
practice of post its. The
creation of post its will be
significant for me as it will
enable me in gathering my
thoughts and using them n
effective link up for the
development of innovative
solutions for the betterment
of the creative thinking.
Improvement of my skills of
participating in the
brainstorming activities.
Considering my weakness in
managing the brainstorming
activities, it is evident that I
am largely limited in
participating in the
brainstorming activities in a
professional manner. As that
affects my success in
creative thinking, I consider
my participation in various
brainstorming activities to
be much required for
resolving the developmental
I think six months of time
span will be sufficient for
the successful
accomplishment of the
mentioned objective.

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needs. I would like to
practice either of the Osborn
checklist or Six thinking hat
for the much required
improvement.
Improvement of my skills of
visualization (Mind
mapping)
With a precise focus on the
listed weakness of mine in
visualizing the scenarios and
presenting my thought
process to others for
effective understanding and
efficient implementation of
the same, I would like to
start practicing mind maps.
There are several software
available for practicing the
mind mapping or journey
mapping and under such
situation, the practice of the
same, will be significantly
helpful for my success in
improving my skills of
visualization.
The mentioned objective
requires some additional
care and time as it will be
completely new to me.
Hence, an approximate time
span of 6 months is expected
to be sufficient for me in
achieving the mentioned
objective.

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Conclusion:
On a concluding note, it is visible that the weekly workshop activities on the design
thinking have helped me in a significant manner in gaining the required knowledge on the
topic. At the same time, it provided me an appropriate knowledge regarding my strengths
such as efficient management of the emotions, rule consciousness and effective
communication. Having said that, the sessions also helped me to identify the weakness such
as the lack of participation in the brainstorming activities and in visualizations. However, the
effective accomplishment of the mentioned drawbacks are expected to improve my ability in
thinking creatively.

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References:
Apple.com (2019). Apple. [online] Available at: https://www.apple.com/
Buran, A., & Filyukov, A. (2015). Mind mapping technique in language learning. Procedia-
Social and Behavioral Sciences, 206, 215-218.
Isbister, K. (2016). How games move us: Emotion by design. Mit Press.
Johansson‐Sköldberg, U., Woodilla, J., & Çetinkaya, M. (2013). Design thinking: past,
present and possible futures. Creativity and innovation management, 22(2), 121-146.
Kuo, C. C., & Su, S. J. (2013). A simple method for improving surface quality of rapid
prototype.
Mumford, M. D., Giorgini, V., Gibson, C., & Mecca, J. (2013). Creative thinking: Processes,
strategies and knowledge. In Handbook of research on creativity. Edward Elgar
Publishing.
Rawlinson, J. G. (2017). Creative thinking and brainstorming. Routledge.
Rosenbaum, M. S., Otalora, M. L., & Ramírez, G. C. (2017). How to create a realistic
customer journey map. Business Horizons, 60(1), 143-150.
Scott, D. W. (2015). Multivariate density estimation: theory, practice, and visualization. John
Wiley & Sons.
Wilson, C. (2013). Brainstorming and beyond: a user-centered design method. Newnes.
Yilmaz, S., & Daly, S. R. (2016). Feedback in concept development: Comparing design
disciplines. Design Studies, 45, 137-158.

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Youmans, R. J., & Arciszewski, T. (2014). Design fixation: a cloak of many colors. In
Design computing and cognition'12 (pp. 115-129). Springer, Dordrecht.