Design Thinking for Managers: A Self-Reflective Report

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DESIGN THINKING FOR MANAGERS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Following report help in analyzing and understanding the different purpose and topics related to
Design thinking. Learning due to self-reflection and learnings are very effective. Hence in a
given report, the main focus is on self-reflection and action plan prepared. Overall course was
related to design thinking and thus different weekly workshops are introduced for this purpose.
The problems associated with design thinking and also different solutions related to them are
present in the given report. An action plan is also prepared in order to remove the difficulties that
arise during different situations. The action plan contains different solutions to these problems. It
also contains a stepwise method of removing the difficulties in order to achieve Design thinking.

Table of Contents
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY.............................................................................................................2
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................4
SELF ANALYSIS............................................................................................................................5
ACTION PLAN...............................................................................................................................8
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................10
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................11

INTRODUCTION
Design Thinking is the way of thinking properly and sufficiently in different topics. It helps in
thinking in different situations sufficiently and makes suitable outcomes. Thus, many
organizations are adopting this method in order to achieve Design Thinking so that organizations
can adapt well. The following report will help in understanding Design thinking more properly.
After the following report, it is easy to understand the different factors related to Design
Thinking. Weekly studies have been prepared in the given course. It is because it makes the topic
more clear, and efficient if the weekly observation is done. The following report mainly focuses
on self-reflection and learnings of the students. In order to remove any difficulties during the
study, an action plan is also prepared in the report. Stepwise solutions and their impacts on the
problems are also mentioned. This action plan will help in solving obstructions during the
course.

SELF ANALYSIS
The study helps me in learning of Design thinking. I am also able to learn different factors
related to design thinking and also lead to link the different factors involved in it. I am also able
to increase my skills in self-reflection and learning. The course helped in a clear reflection of my
point according to the given topic. In the first weak, the main aim of the course is to make us
understand the design process. I am able to elaborate on my learning about the design process.
The example of a shopping cart has been selected for this purpose (see week 2 blog entry, 15
May 2019). The principle of IT and its implementation on the market is also explained from the
given topic. The main aim of the week first is to increase our observational and learning skills.
Thus, week one helped me in understanding and increasing my observational and learning
skills.
The next module focuses on details and applications of design thinking. Following week helps in
understanding the role of design thinking in the development of organizations. I understood how
to use design thinking for the development of the organization. For a better understanding
example of the army, (see week 3 blog entry, 1 June 2019), functioning was selected. It helps in
understanding the progress and development of new techniques for the army with the help of
design thinking. This week focused on expanding the knowledge of design thinking and
applications of design thinking. Individual learning is done more properly in this week. I am able
to increase my visualizations of design thinking. I am able to improve my visualization skills in
this part of the course
Following module will help in understanding the problems associated with design thinking and
to find solutions to these problems. I am introduced to new methods which are used for solving
issues related to design thinking. There are five steps which are used to solve these issues and to
increase the strength, (see week 4 blog entry, 3 June 2019) of design thinking for future purpose.
These steps can be used to solve the other issues also related to design steps in future. This week
helps me an understanding of problems and to find solutions to these problems. From this week I
can solve problems related to various problems. Thus, I developed a skill of problem-solving and
can handle and solve the different problems. In this week I am able to increase my problem-
solving skill.

In this module, the focus is basically on developing new ideas related to design thinking. I am
able to learn the benefits, (see week 5 blog entry, 15 May 2019) of brainstorming and to make
new ideas. This workshop helped me in understanding the benefits of introducing new ideas for a
given topic. I am now able to introduce the use of brainstorming for solving different issues. I am
introduced to thinking values related to brainstorming and to make new ideas for solving
different issues. This study mainly focuses on introducing new ideas for a given purpose. Thus,
this study helped in developing the skill of producing new ideas and use of brainstorming.
According to me week 6 was the most difficult week for me. Its aim is to introduce students with
the skills required for developing design thinking. The concept of the Porters value chain was
used in order to better understanding of the whole concept. There were five components that are
distributed by the models in order to better research and thinking. An organization named IKEA
was selected for a better understanding of the system. With the help of the following study, (see
week 6 blog entry, 15 May 2019) I was able to understand that designed thinking is also useful in
order to introduce new ideas. With the help of course in this was able to research more for any
topic. Thus, this study helps me in developing better researching skill.
This module is very interesting for me as it taught ethics in the organization and the impact of
ethics on this particular idea. I am now able to understand that better ethics and its impact is on
the overall organization and also impacts the ideas. I understood the value of ethics in an
organization and for developing new ideas. The impact of positive ethics on the organization
leads to the better overall development of the organization. This was a good learning activity for
me as it taught about ethics and values. I was interested because the impact of ethics and values
is not on organization only (see week 7 blog entry, 16 May 2019), but they also lead to positive
impact outside the organization in personal and social life. I am now able to understand why
ethics and values are important for the organization. The given study helps me developing
analytical skills in my behavior in the organization as well an outside the organization.
Now, this module basically deals on the practical use and applications of skills. I am able to
understand that innovations in ideas, (see week 8 blog entry, 29 May 2019), are very important
for the overall development of the personality also. The prototype is a term I was introduced in
this module. I now understood that prototype can directly impact on the personality of the
individual and also leads to an increase in the confidence of the individual. I was surprised that

ideas and prototypes can make such a change or innovations in an individual. I also learned that
how prototypes effects developments of different peoples and the impact of new ideas on the
individual or on the organizations. This study makes me developing innovative ideas now. Hence
this study introduced innovative skills in me.
This module is a very serious module to be understood because it deals with the launching of
product in the market. In this study, I observed how to introduce the new product in the market. I
observed it is very, (see week 9 blog entry, 4 June 2019), important to know the reactions of the
customers n dif the failure occurs then it is very important to know the reasons behind its failure.
I also observed that it is very important to keep in mind the reasons behind the failure and to
imple3ment methods to remove these failure reasons. I also learned that the launching of the
product can be a failure if it leads to wrong brainstorming and wrong ideas are implemented. I
am now able to observe what ideas are required for the organization. This study helps me by
increasing my observational skills.
According to me, this module is the simplest and important. It leads to knowledge of self-
reflection and its uses. I observed that self-reflection is the process of analyzing the topics or
things that are learned by the person on its own. I pointed out that that self-reflection is a very
important process because it helps in understanding the changes, (see week 10 blog entry, 6 June
2019) or innovations to be done. I thought it also leads to a change in the ideas and the thinking
of an individual. I learned that with the help of self-reflection an individual can also increase its
confidence and can improve its method of working. With the help of this study, I was able to
develop a self-reflection skill in me.
This study is very innovative. It focuses on performing a task while thinking. I learned that
performing while thinking can increase the efficiency of an individual and can also lead to a
better outcome. It could be done only if the visualization of the whole process is completed.
From the study, I understood that if an individual only thinks and not performs then it leads to
increase the anxiety of the individual. I observed that from this study I acquired better
performance skill and habit for the organization.
This module focuses on design thinking. I learned that with the help of design thinking the
person can solve issues related to daily life. It makes thinking process more sufficient and also

leads to a better understanding of the process. Sufficient design thinking always results in the
growth of a person. I have observed in the study that design thinking is a multiple tasking tool
which can lead to an increase in the efficiency of individual as well as improves and boosts the
confidence of a person. In this case, I have learnt the Design Thinking skill.

ACTION PLAN
After thoroughly analyzed the above unit I have observed that my observational skills are not
sufficient. I am not able to understand, the complete study without focusing on it properly in a
number of times (Zhao, et. al., 2016). This is a serious issue as it relates to gaining knowledge
and points. According to me, observational skills should be such that the things could be
understood easily and an individual can pick points easily and quickly. For the overall purpose, it
has been observed that without sufficient knowledge and observational skills it is not possible to
think or achieve any particular idea (Denning, 2013). For this purpose, I have decided to take
part in a program for the development of observational skills.
According to Gobble, (2014) for increasing observational skills, it is very important to decide
any particular topic or to focus on a given topic. It increases the observational skill on a large
scale if an individual focus on a single topic. It is because the focus is on particular places and
the mind is not distracted. It is easy to observe for a person if it has the knowledge and is aware
of the topic on which work has to be done (Luotola, et. al., 2017). It makes the task more
specific, and clear, when the focus is on the introduced topic.
Shapira, et. al., (2017) mentioned that the observational skill can be increased if distractions are
removed from the way. It is not an easy task to be accomplished but requires lots of steps and
procedures to be followed for a particular reason. There are different ways of doing that like
working on a particular place or focusing on a particular task. It is not possible to accomplish this
task but if accomplished then it proves very beneficial for achieving the task of observational
skills. It is not an easy task to be performed (Ali, et. al., 2014). It requires time and proper steps
to focus on a particular problem. It is thus a procedure that has to be followed with patience and
with proper discipline.
Beverland, et. al., (2015) researched that for increasing observation it is very important that an
individual should perform different tasks. It is because new tasks increase the efficiency of the
person which leads to increase in observational skills also. It is also important that each task
should be given only when the previous task is accomplished. It is because it decreases the
chance of mixing tasks in mind. When new tasks are assigned to individuals then it increases
there efficiency to think. It expands their knowledge and thinking capacity. After some time the

individual will be able to think more about the different topics individually and will lead to an
increase in the observational skills of the organization (Bardi, 2013).
Activities Impact Duration Evaluation
Opting a course for
increasing
observational skills.
It will help in an
understanding
situation easily and
helps in developing
new ideas
3 months Grades achieved will
be my evaluation
Learning of basics of
observational skills to
begin the course.
Will help in starting
the focus on a given
situation.
2 months Ability to focus on
small topics and
situations.
Working on different
projects to increase
the capacity of
thinking and
analyzing different
situations.
Will start focusing on
multiple topics and
situations and leads to
an increase in the
ability to observe
better in different
situations.
1 month Ability to understand
and observe different
situations and topics
and then react
accordingly.
Practising
observations on a
regular basis.
In normal routine in
life observation
related to normal life
situation becomes
easy and clear.
1 month Observation in daily
routine life increases.
Reading the literature It will help in
focusing during
reading as well as
from different kinds
of literature
2 months Observation through
reading increases.
Strengthening
through performing
different tasks.
Increases
observational skill
even during
4 months. Observation is
sufficient even while
performing multiple

performing the
different task and also
lead to performing
various tasks easily.
situations.
Reading case studies It will be easy in
understanding and
learning of topics
with the reading of
case studies.
1 month There should be
sufficient answers for
any question related
to the topic and also
practical knowledge
must be increased.

CONCLUSION
From the above study, it has been thoroughly analyzing that it is very important to have design
thinking for the managers in an organization. There are different benefits to the purpose related
to design thinking. Different organizations adopt different ways of giving these design thinking
to there employees. With the help of self-analysis and learning, it is easy to understand the
concept of design thinking. Weekly workshops are organized in which different topics are
introduced and elaborated related to design thinking. The action plan is prepared in order to
remove any difficulty regarding design thinking. Thus the following report consists of design
thinking and also different factors related to the design factors. Weekly workshops and action
plans are prepared in order to achieve the task.