University Reflection: MGMT20140 Blog on Design Thinking

This report is a reflection on a student's blog entries created during a MGMT20140 course, focusing on design thinking. The paper provides a critical analysis of the blogs, highlighting the benefits of design thinking in fostering creative problem-solving and different ways of thinking. The blogs were based on the lectures and materials provided by the tutor, Dr. Singh. The report covers personal and knowledge development, discussing how design thinking enhances the ability to visualize, manage, and solve problems. It includes an action plan related to rapid prototyping, the learning process, and market knowledge. The report also discusses activities such as brainstorming, mapping, and group discussions. The student learned about ethics, empathy, and analysis. The student's experience with various activities and workshops is described, including the benefits of brainstorming and mapping exercises, as well as the application of design thinking in real-life scenarios.

Running head: MGMT20140
MGMT20140
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author note:

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Executive Summary
The paper is a reflection on the blogs that I have created during the course week. The
paper is a critical analysis of the blogs. Dr. Singh was our tutor, who has deliberately
provided us with learning materials. The paper is elaborated on the benefits of design
thinking and the way it has helped the students in thinking differently.

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Table of Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................3
Discussion..................................................................................................................................3
Personal Development...........................................................................................................3
Knowledge Development.......................................................................................................6
Action plan.............................................................................................................................7
Conclusion..................................................................................................................................8
References................................................................................................................................10

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Introduction
Design thinking is the strategic, cognitive and partial thinking that helps in the
development of the process of thinking. It is the designed concept of thinking that helps in the
development of the thought of the designer or the deigning team. Every artist in their life
once had used the process of design thinking to enhance their creativity for the creation of a
different and unique product that will attract millions (Bresciani, 2019). It is the iterative
process that helps to understand the user, redefine problems and challenge assumptions that
help in the identification of the strategies or ways of finding a solution. It is the solution-
based approach to solving problems. It is a different way of thinking and working with a
solution to any problem that may arise. It is an interesting process of understanding. It helps
in observing, develop empathy and the target user.
The blogs that I have created is based on the understanding of the classes that had
taken place in the last few weeks. Dr. Gurucharan Singh was our lecturer and had great
teaching skills, which helps in the detailed understanding of the classes that I have had
attended. Design thinking is crucial in this hectic life. It helps in a detailed understanding of
the situation and finds an easy solution to every problem (Kainzbauer & Lowe, 2018). In the
words of Dr. Gurucharan Singh, before finding a solution to the problem, try to find out the
reason for the problem. This helps in finding the solution faster and easier.
Discussion
Personal Development
We were taught that Design thinking gives us deep knowledge and the ability to
visualize the subject and manage thinks with skills. The way Dr. Singh taught us about
Design thinking, we developed a clear conception about the way of thinking (Bresciani,
2019). It is a psychological way of thinking that helps in the development of the solution to

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the problem. Continuous Design thinking will help in finding a solution to problems easily
and enhance the way of thinking. He made the subject quite easy and simple to understand.
The language in which he made us taught was very easy and understanding the language was
easy. This helped in a better understanding of the subject faster. He explained that Design
thinking is a simple way of thinking (Kainzbauer & Lowe, 2018). It is the way of visualizing
the situation in which you are and finding the solution to the situation. This will help in the
enhancement of Design thinking. The lecturer has also provided us with three examples that
helped in a better understanding of the subject. The examples made the situation more clear
and vivid to us. Dr. Singh also made us explain that Design thinking varies from person to
person. It depends on the way we think in that particular situation.
With different examples and interesting topics, Dr. Singh made the learning process
easier. In the class, a revision had taken place among the classmates. Dr. Singh illustrated the
aspect of Design thinking with some other examples (Yarlagadda & Kim, 2013). A general
discussion that took place in the class among the students and the teacher about the making of
the blog. The students shared their experiences, and the tutor was correcting some errors.
Later on, a detailed study of Design thinking continued. In this session, there was a detailed
explanation of the failure of Blackberry and the reason for its failure. A question and answer
session had taken place in the class. The session was arranged for the understanding of the
students' knowledge and how far they clearly understood the classes. The lecturer made us
show some of the posters for a better understanding of the chapter (Kuo & Chuang, 2013).
Our lecturer was a capable teacher, and I was able to understand the entire tutorial in detailed
because of an efficient teacher we had and solved all the confusion that I had primarily.
The third week, the lecturer has also focused on the way of blogging and its
application. The tutor would give me detailed feedback on the blog that I had already
submitted this excited me the most (Ayad, 2010). There were activities carried based on

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Design Thinking, and along with it, the lecturer had even portrayed deep information on
Design thinking. The tutor elaborately explained six different theories. However, initially, the
theories seemed to be the same, but the differences were later on explained along with its
aims. There were different confusion arising in the aspect of the Reflective structure of
writing. There was a workshop organized for the better understanding of Design thinking.
Herein, the workshop the students were made to understand the way of utilizing Design
thinking. There was a detailed lecture taken place wherein the way the designers use Design
thinking was explained. It helped us in understanding the way of reflecting Design thinking
in real life. The workshop consisted of video and brainstorming that helped in a better
understanding of the topic (Cahyadi & Prananto, 2015). The workshop had greatly benefitted
me with the design thinking process, design mindset and trial loop learning. Week three
focused especially on the way of Design thinking by common people and how it can affect
the working of the mind.
There were activities carried on, which was spotting and persona. The classes were
based on understanding the requirement for solving the issues. The tutor explained to us the
examples that helped us understand the situation of real-life and use design thinking (Gough,
Bednarz, Bérigny & Roberts, 2016). The lecturer explained that in spite of thinking about the
solution, the person must identify the reason for the problem. This makes interest develop
toward design thinking. The use of design thinking helps us find a solution to problems
earliest. There was an activity like a persona. There were sentences given by our tutor and
situations given that we have to think and complete. This helped in the development of design
thinking and with the game, there was a development of design thinking as well. This session
was designed to make the students understand the need for design thinking and find a
solution to a problem easily. The session also was made interesting when the thought process
of the classmates was understood (Aragon, Hearst, Marti & Sastry, 2004). This is the game

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that helped in the understanding of the way of reaction in the times of emergency and how I
will be handling the situation.
Knowledge Development
There were two different concepts taught brainstorming and mapping, apart from this
concept, other activities that involved different design thinking tools. The brainstorming
involved the activity of focusing on the aspects that were demonstrated at the time of the
classes taken. Every individual of the class has to explain the activities that had taken place
during the time of teaching. Another interesting game of elaborate description of a picture
that was provided to the students had taken place. This is also known as picture composition
(Bryson & Anderson, 2000). Later on, the students were demonstrated with the way of
mapping. This activity helped me in understanding my ability to react to a situation and how
fast a mind can respond. In the brainstorming, there was a topic provided to us wherein we
have to critically discuss the topic and find a solution to the problem. Dr. Singh had found
different attractive ways of making us understand the class and utilize design thinking in our
daily life (blElena, Vasilieva & Tatiana Gubina, 2017). I have been highly benefited from the
use of brainstorming and mapping. I have developed speaking skills and understanding the
way I can use my brain to find the best solution. These activities were created to intrigue the
mind and make it work according to the situation.
The most crucial aspects of design thinking were being taught ethics, empathy as
Analysis. There were even interview tips taught to us. The primary sources were being
explained elaborately in the classroom, along with its advantages and disadvantages. The
ethics were discussed in a group helping in the understanding of the issues that may occur
due to ethics. It was after the first activity that helped me understand the ethical issues of my
unit. The first two activities are the group activities that helped in the enhancement of the
imagination and the creativity of the students. The group activities also had helped in the

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development of the creativity of the person. The design thinking shows human a different
way or process of thinking, which was demonstrated in week six (Dellestrand & Kappen).
The activities also helped in the development of relationships among the classmates, as there
was an exchange of words during the group discussion. The activities were designed in a way
that increased communication among classmates and increased their interest in the topics.
Action plan
Here in it is explained about the assessment two wherein there was a discussion on
"rapid prototype." This blog is based on the discussion that took place in the seventh week.
The lecturer said that before the implementation of a plan, one must have a strategy
developed for the plan. In other word, the person must understand what will be the result of
the plan. There must be a blueprint of the decision, and the result must be pre-assumed. The
experts say that the design or the idea must be made in a prototype in a 2D or 3D model to
get the way of working of the decision. To make us understand the way of thinking, the tutor
had divided the class into several small groups wherein they were allotted with tasks. They
were provided with glue, paper, and materials that were required to make a model. The
groups were asked to create a prototype and the problem that would be solved from the
solution. Hence, there was great creativity observed among the students as the there
exchange of creativity among the people of the group. They created the prototype and found
the solution to their problem. The tutor from this activity wanted to portray that there must be
a prototype before creating a model.
The student was taught the learning launch, which seemed to be very interesting. The
topic helped in the understanding of the prototyping. Herein the students were critically
taught about learning launch and real launch. I was even taught about lunches with some
interesting activities. These activities were depended on the prototype and it was very
interesting to the students. The tutor for better learning and understanding of the topic

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discussed various important topics. Henceforth, the tutor taught about the basic prototypes
and the way it must be utilized in our life daily. There were various strategies discussed that
helped in the learning of the use of the prototype (Bruce, Margaret, Daly, Lucy, & Kahn,
Kenneth, 2007). During this session, I had learned the ways of launching and the ways it will
affect the prototype in the market. However, to be qualified and have a good sense of the
product launching, there is a requirement of practical knowledge as well as knowledge of the
market (ArtBrew, 2016). I have learned that for developing the knowledge of market and
product launching, there is a requirement of going through various articles and journals.
Watching videos can also increase the sense of market and product launching. There is an
action plan developed below based on the activities that needs to be completed in the next six
months:
Activities Month
Brainstorming Month 1
Mapping Month 2
Group Interaction Month 3
Creating prototypes Month 4
Finding the issues in the prototypes Month 5
Execution of the plan Month 6
Table 1: Action Plan
(Source: Created by the researcher)
Conclusion
The 9th blog is all about the presentation that had taken place. Based on the
presentation that the students had prepared, the tutor had given them feedback about the
presentation. From the presentation that the students prepared, I was gathering knowledge

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with which I can improve the way of presenting my presentation. Moreover, from the
presentation, I was also able to analyze the way I want to prepare my assessment and what
would help me develop the assessment. The presentation also helped in the understanding of
the tools in detail and provided me with deep knowledge. Design thinking is a great way of
thinking, which can be initiated with the use of tools. These tools not only help in achieving
design thinking but also helps in the increase as well as faster design thinking. Apart from the
presentation that has been displayed, the tutor also helped us in better understanding by
explaining to us situations with the use of tools. He ensured that every student had gathered
knowledge and can use design thinking in real life. The tutor had also reviewed my
presentation and provided me with feedback, which will be of great help in creating my
assessment.
Design thinking varies from people to people. Understanding of the Design thinking
enables in establishing a great bonding and relationship with people. It helps in the
understanding of the opposite people. It provides a solution to problems easily. In being a
designer, there is a requirement of Design thinking. Every artist had practiced the use of
Design thinking. It is essentially the problem-solving approach specifically designed. Design
thinking is the assessing of the problems and identification of the ambiguous or peripheral
factors that are the reason for the problem. Hence, Design thinking is the scientific approach
that helps in finding a better solution to the problem. It can be referred to as thinking out of
the box. This helps in the development of creativity that is being encouraged by designers. It
is the intention of thinking for improving products with interacting with the users and
investigation of the condition that is to be operated.
The paper is a critical understanding of the blogs that have been written based on the weekly
teaching of this semester. I have written the blogs, and there is a critical study of the blogs in
this reflective report. The blogs were being developed through the terms whereas the

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reflective report is based on the critical study of the blogs. The report had focused on the way
Design thinking has helped me in understanding the way of thinking. It is a self-analysis, the
ways the blogs had helped me in reflecting. Hence, I can conclude that the report is based on
the ways that had helped me in the understanding of Design thinking.

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References
Aragon, C., Hearst, Marti, & Sastry, Shankar. (2004). Improving Aviation Safety with
Information Visualization: Airflow Hazard Display for Helicopter Pilots, ProQuest
Dissertations and Theses.
ArtBrew Prepares to Launch as the World's Newest, Smartest Beer Brewing Appliance.
(2016). M2 Presswire, p. M2 Presswire, Feb 12, 2016
Ayad, A. (2010). Critical thinking and business process improvement. The Journal of
Management Development, 29(6), 556-564.
Elena V. Vasilieva, & Tatiana N. Gubina. (2017). Case "Service through the eyes of a
consumer " to study the methodology of customer development in the course of
"Internet business". Sovremennye Informacionnye Tehnologii I IT-
obrazovanie, 13(4), 197-206.
Bresciani, S. (2019). Visual Design Thinking: A Collaborative Dimensions framework to
profile visualisations. Design Studies, 63, 92-124.
Bruce, Margaret, Daly, Lucy, & Kahn, Kenneth B. (2007). Delineating Design Factors that
Influence the Global Product Launch Process.(Author abstract)(Report). Journal of
Product Innovation Management, 24(5), 456-470.
Bryson, J., & Anderson, S. (2000). Applying large-group interaction methods in the planning
and implementation of major change efforts. Public Administration Review, 60(2),
143-162.
Cahyadi, A., & Prananto, A. (2015). Reflecting design thinking: A case study of the process
of designing dashboards. Journal of Systems and Information Technology, 17(3), 286-
306.