MGMT20140 Design Thinking Reflective Report: Personal Development

This report is a reflective analysis of a student's learning journey within a design thinking course, focusing on personal and professional development. The report begins with an executive summary highlighting the unique and engaging nature of the course, emphasizing the various activities undertaken and the insights gained. It then details the student's experiences with active listening and speaking skills, self-reflection, and presentation skills, offering a critical evaluation of their strengths and weaknesses in these areas. Furthermore, the report explores the student's knowledge development through activities like poster making, rapid prototyping, and value chain analysis. The student also discusses the importance of empathy in design thinking. The report concludes with a detailed action plan, outlining specific steps and timelines for addressing identified areas for improvement, supported by relevant academic literature and theory, and it is a requirement of the assignment brief that the report makes reference to the student's blog entries. The report aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the student's growth throughout the course and to provide a roadmap for continuous improvement.

Running Head: MANAGEMENT 0
DESIGN THINKING FOR MANAGERS

MANAGEMENT 1
Executive Summary
This study outline to reflect on my learning and personal development throughout the term
and it is very unique and different that help me to learn various new concepts and notions.
There are various activities that have been accomplished during the research and personally I
like all those activities.
In this research, I tried to explain my experience during the whole practice and after going all
through activities, various weakness and strengths are being identified specially for design
thinking. The weakness those has been identified are tried to match with action plan so as to
benefit me in the future.

MANAGEMENT 2
Table of Contents
Introduction...........................................................................................................................................3
Personal Development..........................................................................................................................3
Active speaking and listening skills....................................................................................................3
Presentation skills..............................................................................................................................4
Design thinking..................................................................................................................................5
Learning launch.................................................................................................................................5
Knowledge development.......................................................................................................................6
Prototyping and Journey Map...........................................................................................................6
Value chain........................................................................................................................................6
Empathy............................................................................................................................................7
Action plan............................................................................................................................................8
References...........................................................................................................................................10

MANAGEMENT 3
Introduction
In the recent time, I am pursuing master of management for engineers. When I made
the poster during the course of civil engineering, I came to know how to make posters. I also
came to know how to link the ideas. At the same time, this course has also given me
understanding regarding how to solve several problems by thinking in a unique way.
The main aim of the report is to get the knowledge, skills and achievement in my field
in order to excel myself in varied areas. In the recent time, design thinking plays an essential
role. In the design thinking process, it is significant to presents clear ideas and thoughts in
more creative and practical manner (Dolata & Schwabe, 2016). For the success of design
thinking, it is required to ensure reflection and thinking.
Personal Development
Active speaking and listening skills
It is true that listening skills play a significant role that helps the person to effectively
interact with number of people. At the time of communication, different skills are considered
such as way of talking, voice modulations, expressions, as well as listening skills (Kırkgoz,
2018). These things are significant for representing the ideas and thoughts effectively. In
addition to the speaking skills, it is also essential to ensure the effective listening while
communicating with other people. I also assure myself to do effective communication with
my colleagues so that a pool of better listening and speaking skills can be generated.
Although, I do share my ideas, and thoughts with my colleagues in order to get some better
ideas if they have. It is better to ensure the group meeting or face-to-face communication in
order to generate pol of innovative ideas from the people (McMillan, King & Tully, 2016). I
have seen that active listening tends to build deep trust among the members who work
together. Effective listening not only reduces the risk of mistakes and misunderstanding but
also saves money and time by ensuring the success of the task of communication (Madera,
Dawson & Neal, 2014). From this, I have learned that active listening is required for ensuring
effective communication. At the same time, significant speaking skills also play a significant
role while working with people in the group project (Hwang et al, 2016). Due to this, it is

MANAGEMENT 4
required by me to develop both of skills by working on different aspects and participating in
different activities such as seminars, group projects or games.
Self-reflection
It is said to be the creative practice where one describes the imaginary and real event,
memory, through by adding some personal reflection on the meaning of emotion, feeling, and
thoughts related to his or her life. It involves the thinking process of the person. It helps us in
getting better by learning from the mistakes as well as our own experience (Montroy et al,
2016). From the deep observation, I found that my area of strength is my self efficacy and
internal control. This helps in making positive control regarding several aspects. I always see
positivity in every situation. On the negative side, I have experienced several good things by
working in the group together. For me, it was seen as the news channel debates because both
the teams were given the time to ask normal as well as empathic question. I have seen that
both the groups were given the answer inappropriate manner. When I have started writing, I
have seen that I had to face several problems regarding the blog writing. Later on, I have
learned several things regarding blog writing that helped me in analysing the strengths and
weaknesses of mine. In was too much passionate about earning that helped me in various
aspects.
From this course, I properly came to know how to make poster. This has also given me
clear understanding regarding how to link the ideas. It plays a significant role when working
on different project. Idea generation technique will help me in a great way in my future
projects by exploring new and innovative ways embracing future potential (Goncalves,
Cardoso, & Badke-Schaub, 2014). Therefore, the best thing about poster making is the
linking of idea. I have therefore understood that these activities will definitely help me in
groom myself for the future which will help me in my future growth.
Presentation skills
At the time of good presentation, it is essential to keep the simple poster for
increasing sophistication. It plays a significant role in order to ensure the success of any
presentation. For ensuring the creativity at the time of presentation, it is essential to include
the right information so that reader can get the major outcome (Sternberg, 2015). In this way,
it can be stated that poster making is ultimately about planning, effective slide making and
delivering the best.

MANAGEMENT 5
In this unit, I have made a presentation on design thinking. After seeing some few people
presentation, I have also decided to work hard for our group presentation. I have given my
best during the presentation of my group. This has always motivated me to work hard and
give my best in everything I do. I have always pushed myself to work toward the positivity.
The positive approach during my group project has also helped me and my group member to
give best.
Design thinking
We have performed this activity on Wednesday, 4 September 2019. In this, we have
performed four activities. I took too much interest in design thinking. In the first activity, we
were given around third circles. In three minutes, we were given the task to fill those circle.
This activity was seen as too interesting and funny. Some students made cartoon, emojis as
well as some have drawn the road sign. Afterwards, we have been given several activities
where we have to combine items in order to make something unique. At the end of these
activities, we have learned how to solve problems as well as how to think differently. I also
learnt the basic rule of brainstorming during the group activity.
Learning launch
It was best experience for me as in this activity, two groups were placed together and
then started prototype. It looked like the news debate as both the groups were allowed to ask
cross questions. At the same time, both the groups have also answered the questions in a well
manner by understanding them properly.
At the time of this activity, we also recorded few of the questions, which are asked by
another group. This has helped all of us to make our prototype without any too much mistake.
At the same time, it was also easy to understand. We were also having feedback form to give
feedback to each other. Among the entire feedbacks, some of feedback is because of
misunderstanding. Due to this, we have also explained that portion very well and in concise
manner. Among those, some of the feedback is very useful for us because of that we improve
our prototype. From this activity, we learnt how to raise the questions how to give answer in
good manner. I personally learned feedback are very important to improve product or
services.

MANAGEMENT 6
Knowledge development
Design thinking follows several steps that starts from understanding and followed by
defining, conceiving, structuring, and ends at testing. It requires great focus on the part of a
person because it is directly related to the innovation as well as productive outcome
(Carlgren, Rauth & Elmquist, 2016). Different tools can also carry out this process. During
my units also, I have learned different tools that can be used to solve the problems related to
design thinking. Several creativity and creativities are learned by me during the unit. This
was the major thing that someone can learn from group activities. At the same time, it has
also given me confidence to work on several aspects.
Prototyping and Journey Map
In this session, we have learned about prototyping. By understanding about his
concept, I have learned that it can also be framework. It assists us in explaining the product to
our investor as well as customer easily. This model helps the students to learn about the
availability of jobs in NSW. In this way, it solves the problems of those students who do not
enough knowledge regarding jobs in NSW. This has especially helped me in several ways, as
I was able to get lots of information that will prove to be helpful. In the starting, I was not
having a clear idea about prototyping due to this I also got confused many types. Due to
several problems, I have also taken the help of my group members.
In addition to Prototyping, we also learned about the journey map. It tells us the
current journey. It is proved to be the most essential tool as it had created the recent journey
followed in the master program. The initial stage was started with the brainstorming. Every
group member was having different story due to difference in rules and regulation in each
country. After entering into the visualization field after high school, I have seen that it is not
much hard than one thinks. All the group members have given their best to work better in this
activity.
Value chain
In the entire group activity, value chain seemed to be the most interesting activity. It
is the most significant activity where organisations are required to undertake different
activities. We also come to know the structure that is required to follow by the organisation in

MANAGEMENT 7
supplying the product to final consumer. The major supply chain activities include
manufacturing, distribution, sales, and marketing services (Sodhi & Tang, 2014). We have
also analysed the supply chain activities of Virgin Australian Airline. I personally learned
how it utilises its activities in order to satisfy the customer’s needs and expectations. The
supply activities of Virgin airline include different activities such as flight, planning, fuel,
facilities as well as passenger services. Manufacturing includes the IT department, food
department, safety and security. In the distributing activity, it includes the food, ticket
collection. Afterwards, marketing and sales activity comes. It includes events, advertising,
promotion, travel agent as well as discount (Jarvinen & Taiminen, 2016). In the end, services
come including damage, baggage, pick up and drop services. In this way, it helped me in
understanding the value chain concept and how organisation make the customers satisfied by
ensuring timely delivery of the products.
Empathy
I have learnt that empathy is said to be the method of aligning as well as
understanding the problems and using the segmented target. We have given a particular topic.
The topic was “managers tend to fail in updating teams about the changes occurring in a
project.” by working on this activity, we have come across different opinions of the
employees regarding the work when they are not given any information regarding the
changes. One thing I have learnt that when changes are not discussed with the employees,
they are not able to carry out their further work effectively. In such a situation, they try to
solve the problem by understanding the situation on their own. Therefore, if they were given
the proper information, they will be able to perform the task in a proper manner. In this way,
I have learnt that empathy is the most significant part in the organisation to ensure effective
and efficient working at the organisation.

MANAGEMENT 8
Action plan
It is true that the present knowledge regarding design thinking tools is not enough.
Therefore it requires the proper action plan in order to work on the weaknesses. Therefore, I
need to work on several design thinking tools and projects in order to achieve my future
goals. By taking part in the master of management for engineers, I am required to work on
several areas in order to make me best in my course. I also believe that learning of non-
technical skills is also necessary to achieve the best in my course.
At the same time, I also need to learn several things so that I will work on the
following thinks in order to improve my weaknesses:
No. action plan Objective Benefits and
limitations
1. Participation in
group activities more
and more
The objective of
group activity is to
improve the
communication skills
It requires huge
participation and
time on the part of
group members.
2 Participation in
different seminars
It will help me in
leaning the effective
communication can
be done by attaining
a large number of
audience.
3 Using online sources
and books
This is used to get
more experience on
several design
thinking tools.
It can be achieved by
working and reading
a book. At the same
time, it can also
boost the career.
4 By taking meditation
classes
Meditation classes
proved to be
significant for
developing more
It will assist me in
making good or best
decisions at a point
of time.

MANAGEMENT 9
patience in myself.
5. Understanding
design thinking by
taking vocational
course
In order to learn
about the process of
design thinking as
well as implication
It will help me in
giving emphasis on
learning in less time.
6 More participation in
group activities
In order to interact
with more and more
people and gain
confidence
It will help me in
interacting with
many people at a
time.
By participating effectively in the action plan, I can work best in my career as well as
in my course. By working on the above mentioned things, I will be able to work on my
imperfection and achieve best.

MANAGEMENT 10
References
Carlgren, L., Rauth, I., & Elmquist, M. (2016). Framing design thinking: The concept in
idea and enactment. Creativity and Innovation Management, 25(1), 38-57.
Dolata, M., & Schwabe, G. (2016). Design Thinking in IS Research Projects. In Design
Thinking for Innovation (pp. 67-83). NewYork: Springer.
Gonçalves, M., Cardoso, C., & Badke-Schaub, P. (2014). What inspires designers?
Preferences on inspirational approaches during idea generation. Design
studies, 35(1), 29-53.
Hwang, W. Y., Shih, T. K., Ma, Z. H., Shadiev, R., & Chen, S. Y. (2016). Evaluating
listening and speaking skills in a mobile game-based learning environment with
situational contexts. Computer Assisted Language Learning, 29(4), 639-657.
Jarvinen, J., & Taiminen, H. (2016). Harnessing marketing automation for B2B content
marketing. Industrial Marketing Management, 54, 164-175.
Kırkgoz, Y. (2018). Fostering young learners’ listening and speaking skills. In The
Routledge Handbook of Teaching English to Young Learners (pp. 171-187).
Routledge.
Madera, J. M., Dawson, M., & Neal, J. A. (2014). Managing language barriers in the
workplace: The roles of job demands and resources on turnover
intentions. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 42(1), 117-125.
McMillan, S. S., King, M., & Tully, M. P. (2016). How to use the nominal group and
Delphi techniques. International journal of clinical pharmacy, 38(3), 655-662.
Montroy, J. J., Bowles, R. P., Skibbe, L. E., McClelland, M. M., & Morrison, F. J. (2016).
The development of self-regulation across early childhood. Developmental
Psychology, 52(11), 1744.
Sodhi, M. S., & Tang, C. S. (2014). Supply‐chain research opportunities with the poor as
suppliers or distributors in developing countries. Production and operations
management, 23(9), 1483-1494.

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Sternberg, R. J. (2015). Teaching for creativity: The sounds of silence. Psychology of
Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts, 9(2), 115.