Engineering Management: Design Thinking and Innovation Report

This report delves into the application of design thinking within the realm of engineering management, exploring its potential to foster innovation, creativity, and effective problem-solving. The assignment begins by defining design thinking and its core principles, emphasizing its role in developing innovative ideas and making informed decisions. It then examines the various theories and models underpinning design thinking, such as logic of reasoning, divergent and convergent thinking, and creative learning spirals. The report also outlines a framework for design thinking, detailing the process of DT, including empathize, define, ideate, prototype, and test stages. A case study of APEGA professional practices illustrates the practical application of design thinking in the engineering field, with an example in software engineering. The report concludes with a self-assessment of the author's knowledge and personal development in relation to the concepts discussed.

Running head: ENGINEERING MANAGEMENT 1
Engineering Management
Student’s Name
University’s Name

ENGINEERING MANAGEMENT 2
Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................2
Concept of DT.................................................................................................................................3
Theories and models underpinning DT:.......................................................................................5
Reflection – what is it, why do we need it and how can we do it?..................................................7
A Framework for Design Thinking..............................................................................................8
Process of DT...............................................................................................................................9
Example of professional practice in Engineering..........................................................................12
Development needs....................................................................................................................14
Self-Assessment on knowledge & Personal development.............................................................14
Learning.....................................................................................................................................14
Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................15
References......................................................................................................................................16

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Introduction
This assignment explains about the implementation of design thinking to find the solution
and creative ideas & innovation in professional management. Engineering management is the
profession where technological problem solving skills are required with organizational, planning
abilities and administrative management to analyze the operational performance in
entrepreneurship. Design thinking helps to develop innovative ideas, logical decision making,
process thing that eliminate operational waste (McCormick, 2008).
This assignment states about the learning of the conducted workshop during classes. This
study explains the concept and implications of design thinking and its model and theories that
help in brain storming and to find innovative ideas. In end, this assignment also discuss about the
learning of design thinking in our personal and professional development.
Concept of DT
Design thinking is known as methodology to solve complex problems & find desirable
solutions. It is not necessary that a designed mind set is only problem focused; it must be an
action oriented & solution focused towards creating preferred future. DT draws upon
imagination, logic, intuition & systemic reasoning to explore the possibilities of what & how
could be - & to create beneficial outcomes for the end users. It utilizes the elements from
designer’s toolkit like experimentation and empathy to arrive at creative and innovative
solutions. With the applications of design thinking, an individual can take decisions on the basis
of upcoming demand instead of relying on historical data and making risky bets on assumption
basis. It helps to take the stand on evidence basis (IDEO, 2017; Creativity at work, 2017).

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(Creativity at work, 2017)
Thinking like a designer: This statement motivate us to think as an artist or designer
whose creativity attracts others to watch their work. Here, work depicts the actual solution or
production for a particular field. Thinking like a designer transforms the way that develops
processes, products, services & strategy. This approach also designs thinking that brings together
what is needy or required from human point of view and technologically feasible &
economically viable. This method also allows individuals who aren't trained as designers to use
creative tools to address a vast range of challenges. (IDEO, 2017)
Now, we discussed about the basic principles of the design thinking and creative thinking
ideas and these are as follows.
Design thinking principles:
There are some basic principles which draw the structured format for design thinking &
these are as follows:
1. Solving ‘wicked’ problems: It referred as the wicked problems that are ill defined or
tricky in nature. For such wicked problems, general thrust of the problem can be clear,

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so considerable time & effort need to spend in order to clarify & analyze the
requirements. (Burnett, 2016)
2. Human centred and empathetic: this principle state that all the designed activity
should be social in nature and such social innovation bring this design thinking towards
human centric point of view. (Siang, 2017)
3. Observation: This one is the important principle of DT because without observation
no one can understand the actual problem and the reasons behind these problems.
Ultimately, observation provides the base for innovative and creative thinking.
4. Visualisation: After observation, it becomes important to visualise the situation to sort
out the solutions for the creating issue.
5. Prototyping: Prototyping in which designer create various solutions to overcome the
situation. Prototyping is the actual doing phase of the design thinking method. (Siang,
2017)
6. Experimentation and active learning: After the findings of solutions, this is the time
to experiment or implement with creative method and learning phase from the applied
method.
7. A ‘beginner’s mind set’: It is essential to innovate something that beginner’s mind
should be ready to follow the DT process to find the creative idea and innovate their
designing.
(Young, 2016)
Theories and models underpinning DT:
There are some important theories and models given which helps to make effective design
thinking process & these theories & models are as follows:

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 Logic of reasoning: Reasoning depends up to the applied logic during the thinking
process. So, it becomes easy to understand the created issue with the application of
appropriate logic.
Basic reasoning pattern:
WHAT + HOW = desired VALUE the ‘frame’
 Divergent and convergent thinking: Our thinking must be divergent & convergent
during the design thinking process. Otherwise, it will impact on our innovative ability
and creativity.
 Triple Loop Learning: Triple loop learning model is also called a transformational
learning model that involves learning method i.e. “how to learn” by reflecting that “how
we learn”.It also includes the enhancing ways to grasp and change our purpose &
developing better understanding of respond to the environment, and deep comprehension
of why we choose to do the things that we do. (Click4it, 2009)
(Click4it, 2009)
 Philosophical Worldview: Mostly philosophical ideas remained hidden in process but
they still effect & influence the practices of need to identify the issue and to create

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something innovative. This theory helps to choose the qualitative, quantitative & mixed
method to enhance the overall efficiency during design thinking process. (Sagepub, 2008)
 Action Research: This one is either research initiated to find the solution of immediate
problem. It is also a reflective procedure of progressive problem solving that led by
designers with others team member or it is a part of "community of practice" to enhance
efficiency & improve the way that address the issues & solve problems. (Research
Methodology, 2017)
 Creative Learning Spiral: Creative learning spiral helps to look for & discover new
issues or problems. Designers use spiral of creation, image, play, and share and reflect as
continuous loop that helps to frame the design thinking process. The important point of
such spiral in learning is that it encourages the continuous work i.e. both imaginative &
reflective. (Reich, 2017)
 Co-creation/co-design: Co-design is used as a powerful force for innovation, creativity
and collaboration in design thinking process. As we are involved in the tricky issues and
solutions, so co-creation & co-design is an important tool to create innovative ideas in
our profession. (Medium, 2016)
Reflection – what is it, why do we need it and how can we do it?
These question states about our actual doings and their requirements and our ability to do.
It express itself the whole process and situation in which design thinking process is being applied
i.e. the reflection of the design thinking process. It can be understand with brief explanation from
the given image of the design thinking procedure.

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(Creativity at work, 2017)
A Framework for Design Thinking
Framework for design thinking depicts about the structure for the whole process. It
covers whole journey of innovation and solutions for the created issue. It started with the
discovery of strategic topic in which solution is required and in which scope of innovation is
required then it became end with the appropriate outcome. Here, the given figure explains the
framework in Design thinking.

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(Creativity at work, 2017)
The above given framework integrates classic & creative problem solving with art & design
methodologies. Design thinking offers structured & appropriate framework for understand &
pursuing the innovative ideas. The cycle involves discover & observation unmet need within the
constraints & context of particular situation, opportunity & scope of innovation, idea generation
& testing to refine the solution.
Process of DT
Design thinking process is a solution based approach that solves the problem. It is extremely
useful process in tackling the complex problem that is unknown or ill-defined. It is the inclusion
of human needs that can be recognized by brainstorming session (SIANG, 5 stages of design
thinking, 2017). Basically, there are 5 stages of DT process which can be visualized from the
following figure.

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Here, these 5 important steps are being discussed & these are as follows:
1. Empathize:
This is the first stage of DT process that tries to gain an empathic overview and
understanding of problem that need to be solved. It involves the consultation of experts to
explore more about the concerned area through deep observation, engaging & empathizing to
have a deep understanding of the involved issue.

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2. Define (the problem):
In this stage, people putt all the collected information together during the Empathize stage.
It includes the analysis of observations & synthesizes it in order to explain the core problem
which has identified up to this point.
3. Ideate
During this stage, designers start to generate the ideas. As they have grown to understand
their users and their needs during Empathize stage & they analyzed it in define stage. With this
solid background they are able to think outside of the box & identify new solutions for the
specified problem.

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4. Prototype
The designer’s team is now ready to produce inexpensive & scaled down version with
specific features product or service plan. At the end of this stage, designer team has better idea of
constraints within the product.
5. Test
In this stage, Designers rigorously test the complete test or implemented solution with
required specific features. Sometimes, this stage is often used to redefine more problems which
create gap in the expectations & actual present result (Siang, 2017; Simon, 1996).
To understand the importance of professional practices of design thinking, we take the
example of APEGA institute that permits for professional practice to an organization for
practicing on engineering in Alberta. On the basis of the structured guidelines by APEGA an
organization must have a PPMP (Professional Practice Management Plan) i.e. appropriate for its
practices which is being followed by its professional members. It describes the process,