Design Thinking: Reflective Report on Personal & Knowledge Development

This report is a reflective analysis of personal and knowledge development through the lens of design thinking. It explores various tools like visualization, mind mapping, and value chain analysis to assess personality development. The report delves into the effectiveness of these tools, emphasizing the importance of self-evaluation and continuous improvement. It discusses knowledge development through brainstorming, concept development, and assumption testing. The report also includes an action plan for future development, outlining key activities to enhance skills and knowledge. The student uses academic literature to support the analysis and references their own blog as evidence, concluding that project mapping is most effective for personal development.

Running head: DESIGN IT
Reflective blog on personality development tools
Name of the student:
Name of the university:
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Table of contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................1
Discussion..................................................................................................................................1
Personal development............................................................................................................1
Knowledge development........................................................................................................3
Action plan.............................................................................................................................5
Conclusion..................................................................................................................................7
Bibliography...............................................................................................................................8

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Introduction
The individuals perform activities for attaining growth and development. After
performing the activities, evaluation helps them in assessing its effectiveness, appropriateness
and feasibility in terms of the identified and the specified goals. Maintaining consistency in
the execution of evaluation is assistance in terms of upgrading the standards and quality of
performance. There are various tools, which assist the individuals in evaluating the paths,
adopted for attaining the growth and development (David & Cobeanu, 2016). This
assignment would mainly focus on the tools of visualizations, mind mapping, value chain
analysis, journey mapping, concept development, assumption testing, and rapid prototyping
among others for examining the appropriateness of personality development.
Discussion
Personal development
Every individual prepares certain goals for themselves in terms of attaining personal
growth and development. The ways and means adopted for fulfilling the goals improves the
decision-making process for the individuals. There are various kinds of tools, which helps the
individuals in venturing into the path of growth and development. I think these tools are
effective in terms of executing SWOT analysis. As a matter of specification, visualizing the
paths adopted for attaining personal development (Faris, 2018). I personally feel that
picturizing the gained knowledge, skills and expertise helps me in gaining awareness about
the prospective sources of development. Typical examples of this can be mind mapping,
which would enhance the awareness about the prospective for the knowledge gained.
According to me, project mapping for the different sources, makes me aware of the prospects
associated with the skills, which I have attained till date.

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Journey mapping have helped me in achieving a deeper understanding about the
paths leading towards growth and development. Mapping the paths is effective for me in
terms of selecting the prospective offers for attaining development. I think picturization and
mapping seems fruitful for me in terms of enhancing my thought processes. If I refer to
external sources, my imagination and creativity is enhanced. Evaluation of the referred
sources is needed in terms of maintaining relevancy in the activities undertaken (Haber‐
Curran, Allen & Shankman, 2015). Lack of evaluation aggravates the complexities towards
enhancing the preconceived skills, expertise and knowledge. Moreover, absence of evaluation
means deprivation in terms of the avenues, which would drive me towards development.
According to Lejeune, Mercuri, Beausaert & Raemdonck, (2016), Value chain
analysis is one of the other tools, assisting me in attaining personal development. Typical
components of this analysis include inbound and outbound activities for executing the
activities. My focus while conducting this analysis is on seeking effective ways for
generating values. I think strategic approach in analysing the values of the experience and
gained knowledge is beneficial. This is in term of gaining positive outcomes. Internally, I
adopt goal setting theory for completion of the tasks according to the requirements. I evaluate
my performance at regular intervals in terms of assessing the effectiveness, appropriateness
and feasibility of my performance. This evaluation proves effective for me in terms of
examining the extent to which I have emerged successful in generating value through my
performance. If I get negative results, I need to work upon improving my performance in
order to reach to the benchmark level of performance.
Liedtka, (2015), opines that Mind mapping is one of effective tools in terms of
bringing to the forefront the self- skills, competencies and abilities. This mapping actually
involves my mental processes towards attaining personal growth and development. The
projections for the knowledge, skills and the experiences supports in projecting the possible

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avenues, which I can avail for the reaching to the identified and specified goals. The sub
projections are the sources through which I can reach to my targeted goals. One of the
common issues here is the external influences, which might deviate me from my focus. I
think evaluation is effective in terms of deciding the most prospective source, which would
act as an agent towards attaining personal growth and development. Maintaining frequency
helps me in bringing to the forefront the drawbacks, which are acting as obstacle in the path
of my personal development. I think spontaneity is needed while modifying the drawbacks.
This spontaneity is an important trait in terms of enhancing my personality. The aspect of
trait brings behavioural theory into the discussion (O’Brien & Lomas, 2017). I think
eagerness and willingness to evaluate the exposed performance is a planned and reasoned
action in terms of attaining personal growth and development.
Knowledge development
Brain storming relates to the ideas, which generate within me innovative ideas, as a
result of referring to the varied sources. I think that consulting with others enhances the scope
and arena of my thought processes. Discussing the gained skills, knowledge and expertise
with experienced personalities is beneficial in terms of upgrading the preconceived skills,
knowledge and expertise (Pais & Santos, 2014). This results in knowledge transfer between
the senior, experienced personalities and he junior ones. I feel that this knowledge transfer
mitigates the instances of conflicts, misunderstandings and harassments between the
employees. Engaging in discussions generates within me brainstorming ideas for fulfilling the
identified goals and objectives. I feel questioning the decisions of others supports me in
enhancing my critiquing skills. Mapping the ideas, which I have generated through reference
to the external sources, enhances my awareness about the effectiveness of the knowledge
gained.

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Concept development relates to my initiatives regarding the development of concepts
related to my personal development. These concepts are cognitive learning, classical
observation, and skills upgradation among others (Plattner, Meinel & Leifer, 2014). I think
preparing conceptual framework would enhance my awareness regarding the relationship
between the developmental concepts. Mapping this linkage would help me in projecting the
values it holds in terms of my personal development. For this, assistance from the senior and
the experienced members is beneficial for me in terms of avoiding the mistakes. Apart from
this, mapping the concepts is advantageous for me. This is because of gaining an insight into
the ways and means needed for enhancing the preconceived knowledge.
I think assumption testing is helpful for me in terms of assessing the effectiveness of
the proposed assumptions about my knowledge. In these tests, my personality is judged. I can
relate the personality tests here. The scores of the personality tests assists me in planning for
the changes, which I need to bring in my behaviour. Discussing the scores with the experts
proves beneficial in gaining an insight into the changes, enhances the scope and arena of my
thought process. Consulting external sources adds to my creativity and imagination. If I
practice critical writing, my thinking skills are upgraded. Maintaining consistency in the
undertaking the critical analysis activity is upgradation of my design thinking. Critical
analysis activities are the tools, which proves fruitful in formation of my design thinking.
Rapid prototyping helps me in 3D representation of the data like mind mapping,
journey mapping and assumption tests scores. These representations improve my vision
regarding my current performance regarding the acquired knowledge. Mapping of my
strengths, weakness, opportunities and threats helps me in proposing the changes, which I
need in terms of enhancing my personality. Technological assistance is also helpful for me in
terms of contacting the experts, who provide online coaching services. Evaluation of the
suggestions enables me to assess its effectiveness in terms of the goals, which I have

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identified for achieving development. Viewing it from the other perspective, 3D data projects
different angles of the perspective. I think, making 3D representations is effective in terms of
improving my perspectives regarding the attainment of personality development through the
knowledge development.
Customer co-creation relates to my initiatives regarding the identification of the
audience, playing major role in my knowledge development. I think creating value for the
customers is necessary in terms of acknowledging their efforts towards enhancing my
preconceived skills, knowledge and expertise. I feel evaluation is important in terms of
reaching to the prospective customers, who would contribute towards my personal
development. For this, consulting with numerous trainers is needed in terms of searching for
the appropriate one (Sangster, 2017). Project mapping for the trainers would be effective in
terms of developing my knowledge and expertise.
Launching the learning process bring the aspect of cognitive learning into the
discussion. Here also I can relate the concept of project mapping. This is because mapping
the concepts learned helps me in gaining an insight into their prospects in terms of the
identified and the specified goals. Taking the tests is assistance in terms of making practical
application of the learnt skills into the operations. Setting time limits for executing the tasks
improves my approach and confidence towards performing the tasks.
Action plan
Activities Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6 Week 7 Week 8
Mind
mapping
for self-
analysis

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Conductin
g
personalit
y tests
Referring
to external
sources for
enhancing
personalit
y
Consulting
senior and
the
experience
d faculties
Project
mapping
for the
knowledge
gained
Rapid
prototypin
g for the
mind
mapping

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Journey
mapping
Evaluation
Table 1: Action plan for personal development
(Source: Created by the author)
Conclusion
After reviewing the personality development tools, I can conclude that project
mapping is most effective in terms of enhancing my vision towards the personal
development. Mapping my skills, expertise and knowledge proves beneficial for me in terms
of gaining an insight into the prospective sources, which would help me in attaining the goals
and objectives. Discussing the mapped concepts with the senior and the experienced
members is assistance for me in terms of broadening the scope and arena of thinking skills.
Undertaking critical analysis tests and activities is a typical example of how I can improve
my thinking skills, creativity and imagination. However, mind mapping is also beneficial in
terms of making 3D representations of the mental skills and knowledge applied for attaining
personal development. This activity truly relates with the aspect of design thinking.

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Bibliography
David, O. A., & Cobeanu, O. (2016). Evidence-based training in cognitive-behavioural
coaching: can personal development bring less distress and better
performance?. British Journal of Guidance & Counselling, 44(1), 12-25.
Faris, J. (2018). Some reflections on process, relationship, and personal development in
supervision. In Perspectives on supervision (pp. 91-112). Routledge.
Haber‐Curran, P., Allen, S. J., & Shankman, M. L. (2015). Valuing human significance:
Connecting leadership development to personal competence, social competence, and
caring. New directions for student leadership, 2015(145), 59-70.
Lejeune, C., Mercuri, D., Beausaert, S., & Raemdonck, I. (2016). Personal development plans
supporting employee learning and perceived performance: the moderating role of self-
directedness. Human Resource Development International, 19(4), 307-328.
Liedtka, J. (2015). Perspective: Linking design thinking with innovation outcomes through
cognitive bias reduction. Journal of Product Innovation Management, 32(6), 925-938.
O’Brien, K., & Lomas, T. (2017). Developing a Growth Mindset through outdoor personal
development: can an intervention underpinned by psychology increase the impact of
an outdoor learning course for young people?. Journal of Adventure Education and
Outdoor Learning, 17(2), 133-147.
Pais, L., & Santos, N. R. D. (2014). Knowledge‐sharing, cooperation, and personal
development. The Wiley Blackwell Handbook of the Psychology of Training,
Development, and Performance Improvement, 278-302.
Plattner, H., Meinel, C., & Leifer, L. (Eds.). (2014). Design Thinking Research: Building
Innovators. Springer.

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Sangster, C. (2017). Planning and organizing personal and professional development.
Routledge.
Shapira, H., Ketchie, A., & Nehe, M. (2017). The integration of design thinking and strategic
sustainable development. Journal of Cleaner Production, 140, 277-287.
Urban, M. (2016). Differences between self-and other-rating and the influence on the
probability to take personal development actions. Ad Alta: Journal of
Interdisciplinary Research, 6(2), pp 300-340.
Wrigley, C., & Straker, K. (2017). Design thinking pedagogy: The educational design
ladder. Innovations in Education and Teaching International, 54(4), 374-385.