Design Thinking for Managers: Reflection Report, MGMT20140, T2 2019

This report is a critical self-analysis and reflection on the learning experience within a Design Thinking course. The student analyzes their personal development and knowledge gained through various course activities, including blog posts on topics like ethics, empathy, and research methods. The report discusses strengths and weaknesses, personal development, and knowledge acquisition. It includes reflections on specific tools and techniques like innovation flowcharts, question ladders, design thinking toolkits, and IDEO design kits. The student reflects on the application of these tools and how they have enhanced their management skills. The report concludes with an action plan outlining steps for skill and knowledge development over the next six months, along with a discussion of the research methods and the course materials. The report also addresses the importance of the design thinking process and its impact on the student's ability to analyze and solve problems effectively. The student reflects on how the course has helped them develop skills and confidence in applying design thinking methodologies.

Running head: DESIGN THINKING FOR MANAGERS
DESIGN THINKING FOR MANAGERS
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author’s Note

DESIGN THINKING FOR MANAGERS
Table of Contents
Table of Contents.............................................................................................................................1
Executive Summary.........................................................................................................................2
Introduction:....................................................................................................................................3
Discussion:.......................................................................................................................................3
Self analysis along with reflection...............................................................................................3
Strength and weakness.....................................................................................................................9
Personal development......................................................................................................................9
Knowledge Development..............................................................................................................10
Action plan.....................................................................................................................................10
Conclusion:....................................................................................................................................12
References......................................................................................................................................13

DESIGN THINKING FOR MANAGERS
Executive Summary
The aim of the research paper is to present a critical self analysis and reflection of the learning as
a result of experiencing the Design Thinking Activity in the unit. The paper will discuss the
present self analysis and reflection considering the personal development as well as the
development of the knowledge in Design thinking topics. In the conclusion the paper will
provide an action plan of the key events and other activities which I will undertake over the next
6 months to acquire various types of knowledge and skills and important behavioral skills which
are identified in requiring development.

DESIGN THINKING FOR MANAGERS
Introduction:
I have previously done a course in the Design Thinking Management. It is very important
for the learning of several factors that a manager needs to adapt and adopt as well as while
working for a company and deliver according to the needs of the company. I have learnt a lot
while going through this course. This course has helped me in the developing my skills as a
manager and has successfully brought in change in my personality as well. This has highly
motivated me for bringing in changes and analyzing the type of work that will be in my domain.
The course included several topics have been covered in the assignment, like- Ethics, Empathy
and Analysis in Design Research, Research Skills for Design Thinking, Needs Analysis and
Problem Solving, Problem Finding and Needs Analysis, Design Theory, Design Process and
Design Thinking Workshop (Kolko 2015). In the assignment I will be reflecting on the blogs that
been written in regarding the various designing methods of management. Therefore, I will be
reviewing the articles and try to try to implement my own ideas regarding the feasibility on the
associated topic of the blogs. I will also be looking into the fact of the possible benefits of the
proposed strategies of each blog.
Discussion
Self analysis along with reflection
Innovation flowchart – The perfect place to start off with the project is by setting out the
stages, skills, and the risks which are relevant to the project which I am working on. I have come
to know regarding the fact of development of the ethics and analysis of the external factors that
may be considered to contribute for the development of the research, while going through the
post (1, 09/09/2019). The activity was named after the topic of the management that is Ethics,

DESIGN THINKING FOR MANAGERS
Empathy and Analysis in Design Research. I have learnt from the blog that there are various
types of the research methods that are being applied for the development of the project, those has
been developed by the succession of time. I have come across various types of research methods
that have been analyzed in the blog while analyzing it (Brown 2015). I also found the probable
success rate of the research methods that to be analyzed in the blog. Both the understanding and
analysis of the various research methods and their success rates are perceived relying on the
factor of the passage of time; so that the feasibility of the research methods can be analyzed
perfectly (1, 09/09/2019).
Question Ladders – discussing and also questioning the right question to the leader will
help us guide through the project work. I have come to know regarding the fact that the group
interviews, which were arranged, previously resulted into the developing of ideas for the
application of the research methods and contributed to the maximum amount of importance for
building up of the understanding of research work (1, 09/09/2019). I learned from the post while
encountering and going through the post, many facts and ideas regarding the various kinds of
research methodologies and learnt about their course of action (Carlgren, Rauth & Elmquist
2016). I perceived certain ethical codes of conduct as well while dealing with the post. I came to
know about how the empathy towards to the participants of the research contributes towards the
development of the research (1, 09/09/2019). I came to know to the fact that the interference of
the perceptions and the thought process must not interfere, the participant’s answer or opinion. I
felt this during the research as it was being conducted. After the conducting of the activity, more
research ideas and methodologies were analyzed and perceived by me (1, 09/09/2019). I came to
know regarding the application of the research methodologies and their functions as well. I did
some study for my own gaining of knowledge regarding this factor, learnt several scenarios, and

DESIGN THINKING FOR MANAGERS
analyzed them according to my own perceptions (Razzouk and Shute 2012). Finally, I analyzed
the mater that I should conduct ore such learning n research works to have a clearer idea
regarding the research work and thus I can be able to develop my ideas and learn more regarding
this factor (1, 09/09/2019) (Charlie 2016).
Design thinking tool kit – This toolkit was first designed to help the girls in developing
communities in problem solving situations. The tool was first designed by the company Frog
Design. The unit has been exploring the roles and the potential of the design and the structure of
the business course therefore the factor of the generation of the effective skills for the managerial
post of has been associated in the course structure and have been included in the curriculum(2,
09/09/2019). The generation of the effective skills and the inclusion of the activity of the
Research Skills for Design Thinking have made the course more relevant for me. According to
my skills and learning abilities, I have come to know that design thinking includes the research
skills are very important for enhancing the development of management skills (Yeager et al
2014). This has greatly helped me in analyzing the theories that I learnt in the course and also
has helped me in learning the lessons properly (Buehring & Liedtka 2018). I have learnt how to
use the mind mapping techniques and how to comprehend the supply chain and have
successfully understood the impact of mind mapping on an overall basis therefore the
development of the perceiving the ideas of the course has been perceived by me (Fu & Chao
2018, April). The matter seemed to be complicated to me in the first place. However, I did not
give up on understanding of the matter based on my first encounter of the matter (2, 09/09/2019).
Therefore, I kept faith in my learning and analyzing abilities. I gradually started to deal with the
matter in a gradual manner (Abdulla & Cramond 2018). This approach helped me in analyzing
of the learning outcomes of the proposed in the blog, the slowly I understood the factors and the

DESIGN THINKING FOR MANAGERS
matter became relatable to me (Roberts, Trowbridge & Bent 2016 March). With proper
guidance from my mentors and from my peers, I gradually started to analyze the facts of the
topic. The activities of my peers that they were doing in their workshops also contributed in the
developing of ideas of the topic and helped me in dealing with my problems and put an end to
my complications. (2, 09/09/2019)
IDEO design kit – The design tool kit is known to help and set up a step guide to the
elements of human centered design. It is mostly used by the NGO to give them a dept look of the
design thinking procedures Firstly, the topic seemed to be a lot complicated and appeared to be a
lot complex; hence, I was unable to proceed with the course and due to understanding it properly
(Callahan 2018, July). However, after I learnt about the fact I gradually came to know more
about the topic, it also appeared to me that is it is important to understand to develop my
concepts regarding the fact that it is important for analyzing a fact from varied angles and hence
develop the learning outcomes from different interpretations of the facts (Geissdoerfer, Bocken
& Hultink 2016) appeared to me that analyzing every fact from various angles and ideas, it
would help me analyze the facts, considering various reasonable numbers of solutions that it may
be relevant to the topic. Thus, the self-assessment factor generated in me while going through
this topic and also helped in me to develop ideas regarding the matter (Plattner, Meinel & Leif
2015). Therefore, I would like to practice analyzing several other matters in this process, which
will help me in realizing the other factors that I may face problems with while dealing with the
matter, consider revising my approach to study the matter, and try to frame my analysis in other
form and follow different approaches while dealing with other topics(2, 09/09/2019). This has
helped me to take up the solutions of other matter and seem to derive my solution skills on the
basis on the applied methodology in the course. The topic that has been implemented in the

DESIGN THINKING FOR MANAGERS
course has resulted in building up my confidence and this will definitely help me in using this
methodology in my personal career. (2, 09/09/2019)
Design thinking mix tapes – The design thinking tape is of much beneficial to the person
as because it helps the person to go to the in-depth analysis of the project. The different types of
tapes which are provided in the process help the person to think about different stage in design
thinking. The other factor that helped me in dealing with the understanding and developing in me
the inspiration which ultimately made me a lot more comfortable in the course is the inclusion of
the topic of the Needs Analysis and Problem Solving (Elsbach & Stigliani 2018). Therefore, the
factor of the using my intellect appeared to me as a very important and crucial factor that can be
implemented while studying (3, 01/09/2019). This somehow helped me to enhance my analyzing
skills and build up the factor of the generation of several ideas and concept that I have learned
from the previous course structures (Buehring & Liedtk 2018). The generation of multiple ideas
and including them in the learning of the course is a very effective way to study the factors and
to implement the ideas for bringing in success. The inspiration of the ideal design can be
achieved in any point of time of the course hence the methodology of implementing those ideas
in the work can be recommended (3, 01/09/2019).
I have definitely learned how to deal with several types of problems while going through
the course. It also helped me personally in developing various types of ideas and implementing
them successfully (Mahmoud-Jouini, Midler & Silberzah 2016). It helped to understand and
analyze the problem in a perfect manner and to analyze the situation and the root of the problem
(3, 01/09/2019). I personally learned how to deal with the problems and consider the factors that
will help me solving the problems according to my understanding (3, 01/09/2019). The factor of
the developing of the nature of the designer must be based on the need and the demand of the

DESIGN THINKING FOR MANAGERS
industry this will help me in analyzing the core problems with the designated team that I will be
working in (Oxman 2017). I learnt that the idea of the experimenting and analyzing is a very
important factor and this part of the course appealed to me a lot as there have been several cases
of manipulation of ideas and works of the activities. Thus, I will be able to understand and
develop new ideas by experimenting whatever I have known and thereby implementing those
according to my personal needs. (3, 01/09/2019)
WE THINKQ – Now that the whole planning process is set the application WE THINKQ
will be helping me to get the work done. It helps to design the thinking project into action. It is
the only stage which will help me to get the things done with the help of the team members
through the stages of design thinking. The important factors that were discussed after this topic
in the course are the Problem and the Needs Analysis (Oxman 2017). This topic highlighted the
fact that we tend to overlook the problems and also lack short in analyzing our problems and
finding out reason behind it (Brown 2015). Therefore the mode of the analysis of the problems
and arriving at a solution becomes problematic. I faced problems while dealing with typical or
any unsuitable situation but in this mode of solving out and carrying out the process of finding
the mode of the solution has been discussed and I have enabled myself in dealing with the
problematic and the unreliable situations(4, 01/09/2019).The workshop has been very helpful to
me as i have successfully understood and have known the methodologies that may be followed
while dealing with the problematic situations peacefully. Even though I may have learnt a lot of
methodologies and theories, I am not able to denote or analyze the mode of the problematic
situation has occurred. Therefore I have concluded that before arriving ta any type of conclusion
or resolution of a problem we must find out the actual reasons regarding the source to the present
scenarios, relying on the data or the information we have (4, 01/09/2019).

DESIGN THINKING FOR MANAGERS
Strength and weakness
I am able to analyze the existing visuals and the advertisements that are found to be ideal
in the context of the topic. And I have come to the conclusion of the fact that there have been the
analysis and the mode of studying the advertisement of somewhat derive the gaps in thus these
gaps are breached up by developing and finding out the solutions. Thus the advertisement seems
to be ideal matter in which problem finding and analyzing the needs can be done easily(4,
01/09/2019).
Personal development
The next topic that the course structure followed was the Personal development Design
Theory. This was based on the design and the organizing of the theory that has been based on
various factors and also contributed in developing my ideas regarding the course (5, 01/09/2019).
Knowledge Development
course structure has been developed and studied in the mode of workshops. It took place
in the workshop 3 (5, 01/09/2019). It helped in improving my skills and also the psychological
mind-set. I think I can lead well in my professional career by going through this course (5,
01/09/2019).
Action plan
Weakness Course to overcome
weakness
Where am I
studying
Duration of the
course
Slow learner Focusing more on small
wins
CQ University Australia 6 months
Communication Have clear objectives CQ University Australia 6 months

DESIGN THINKING FOR MANAGERS
and plan out to meet
with the employees
Disorganized Leverage the strengths CQ University Australia 6 months
Not adaptable to public
speaking
Speaking with team
mates most often
CQ University Australia 6 months
Fig 1. Represents the action plan to overcome the weakness
Source : Self Made
From this course I learned that after the creation of any type of visual, it reviewing must
be done so that the visual giving out the same meaning as it has been giving before or is the
visual irrelevant totally (5, 01/09/2019). This has to analyzed as well, therefore we can infer from
this that the number of the visualizations are not only important but also the application and the
use of the reasoning methods delivers a lot to the thinking process and analysis of a problem and
find the exact solutions. I will definitely go through my case studies and work on my studying of
the course (5, 01/09/2019).
Conclusion:
This course Design Thinking for Managers, have been a really successful event. It has
improved in the development of my abilities and also has made my belief strong that I am able to
perform well in my exams. Also this workshop has generated several qualities in me that has
given me confidence and I find myself motivated enough to carry on with the workshop and
develop certain factors so that I can prosper happily in my career. The factor of the development

DESIGN THINKING FOR MANAGERS
of the professional approach also made me more interested in the course structures and especially
the topics that has been chosen and included into the curriculum.