MGMT20140: Design Thinking Workshop Reflections and Learning Report

This report documents a student's learning journey through a series of design thinking workshops, focusing on the application of these concepts to entrepreneurship and innovation. The student reflects on various aspects of the innovation process, the importance of innovative thinking, and the key differences between entrepreneurship and innovation. The report details insights gained from workshops on design thinking models, problem-solving, and the application of design thinking principles in real-world scenarios. The student explores topics such as brainstorming, value chains, data collection ethics, rapid prototyping, and learning launch strategies. The reflections highlight the importance of design aesthetics, team building, and the deliberate planning process. The report demonstrates how design thinking supports innovative, creative, and entrepreneurial thinking, emphasizing the importance of a design-focused mindset in various contexts, including business and beyond.

Design It

Blog Entry-1
On (Date of workshop), workshop 1 started in which I learned about entrepreneurship. I was
always interested in this topic since my role models are successful entrepreneurs such as
Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos. During the workshop, I learned
about the model of the innovation process along with various aspects of innovation. I was
reflecting back on this topic after few days which made me realise that the growth of a
business is highly influenced by the model of innovation. We learned the importance of
innovative thinking and why it is important for businesses. We also learn about the key
difference between entrepreneurship and innovation and how these topics interlink with
each other. I believe that innovative businesses are more likely to succeed in the market
since they provide solutions to problems of customers.
Blog Entry-2
In the second workshop on (Date of workshop), I learned how inventors think and how the
design process model can assist them in solving a problem. Thinking like an innovator is
difficult, and it was outside my comfort zone, however, it showed me how to solve big
problems by thinking critically. I learned about the role of the Design Thinking process and
how it helps innovators in finding new solutions to problems. We also learned above various
innovative stories along with mind-set and core values of designers. We saw various
examples which showed us how Design Thinking works and how it is relevant in the real
world. After learning this information, I realised that innovators and successful
entrepreneurs apply these principles into their own businesses as well to solve big problems
which helps them expand their business.
Blog Entry-3
On (Date of workshop), workshop 3 started in which I learned about different theories such
as single-loop learning, triple loop learning, design logic, creative learning spiral and many
others. Furthermore, I learned the process of design thinking along with mind set and core
value of designers. After completing the workshop, I started implementing these values into
my lifestyle to think like a designer and push me outside my comfort zone. On (Data of

workshop), workshop 4 started in which I learned thoroughly about the design thinking
process model and problem-solving. I learned how to find the problem and find innovative
solutions for them by visualisation and complying with design process model. The core
values I learned in the previous workshop helped me in finding problems by looking at
obvious facts and thinking critically to provide solutions for them.
Blog Entry-4
On (Date of workshop), workshop five we were engaged in activities to reflect upon our
learning and finding solutions to different problems. I learned about brainstorming and
phrases which kill creativity. Tutor provides various examples for us to clearly understand
the process of brainstorming and finding solutions to problems. I also learned about the
relevance of journey mapping and needs analysis in design thinking. I also found some
examples of critical thinking on the internet and used the principles I learned to find out
solutions for these problems. I realised that these principles are universal, and they apply to
other situations as well based on which people can find solutions to different problems. I
found that the examples I learned in the workshop were very helpful, and they helped in
understand the topic clearly.
Blog Entry-5
In workshop six on (Date of workshop), we were introduced to the concept of the value
chain, and we evaluated various factors of a value network. We also learned about
alternative VC model, and then Tutor conducted a mini-activity to help us think outside the
box. I implemented various principles such as mind mapping, 5 Whys and value chain in
real-world situations to reflect upon my learning. I realised that successful corporations
have effective value chains which provide them a competitive advantage in the industry. The
concepts such as 5 Whys helps in dividing the information into various small parts which
assist in the process of brainstorming and finding out new solutions. Entrepreneurs and
innovators focus on various parts of a value chain, and they use these methods to find
relevant solutions to problems.

Blog Entry-6
On (Date of the workshop), we learned about sources of primacy data in workshop 7. We
also learned about secondary data and the key difference between primary and secondary
data. Furthermore, we learned about ethics and its importance in research. I learned that
ethics plays a crucial role in research and breach of ethical conduct can have negative
consequences. We learned how to plan ethically for research and the issues that we might
face during our research. The workshop helped me in learning the importance of ethics and
how to conduct ethical research. I learned how to interview people, and I used the tips I
learned in the workshop while interviewing people. I also learned about the participant and
non-participant observation, concept development and assumption testing. This workshop
was important since it taught me different ways to collect data and conduct ethical research
on my own.
Blog Entry-7
On (Date of workshop), I learned about the concept of rapid prototyping in workshop 8.
Rapid prototyping is important during research because it helps in evaluating the collected
data and tests our assumptions. I learned about early, later and alternative rapid
prototyping along with various prototyping techniques such as storyboarding, sketching and
wireframing. On (Date of Workshop), I learned about ‘learning launch’ in workshop nine
which is the last step of the design process. We learned about planning and execution of
learning launch and evaluate various examples to understand the topic. I also learned about
capturing relevant feedback from the launch and how to utilise such information to form
new or change business strategies. Both these workshops help me identify different ways to
prototype during research data and learning to launch the business. These steps are a
crucial part of the design step which assists in solving various problems.
Blog Entry-8
On (Date of workshop), a reflection on the learning in this unit was conducted in workshop
12. In this workshop, I learned that design is aesthetics and why appearance matter in
design. I learned that in order to maintain aesthetics in design, the implementation of the
Design Thinking approach is necessary. There are certain factors which contribute to the

aesthetics of a design which result in improving its effectiveness. Furthermore, I learned
how to design for growth and the importance of picking your Design Thinking team. We
evaluated various examples of companies such as Uber, Airbnb, and Kick-starter in order to
understand these topics. We also learned about the deliberate planning strategy process
and evaluate its elements. In conclusion, I realised that Design Thinking is a useful approach
which assists in supporting innovative, creative and entrepreneurial thinking. It helps in
learning about mind-set which is necessary to support innovating thinking and apply it
beyond the business world.