Reflection Report: MGMT20140 Design Thinking Workshop Analysis

This report presents a student's comprehensive reflection on a Design Thinking workshop, detailing the activities, lessons learned, and skill development. The student analyzes their experiences with visualization, critical thinking, strategizing, and communication skills, highlighting both strengths and areas for improvement. The report references specific workshop blogs to illustrate these points, such as visualization techniques, critical thinking through conceptualization, strategizing skills, and co-learning and communication. The student assesses their knowledge gaps and formulates a detailed action plan for future development, including strategies to enhance creativity, teamwork, and critical thinking abilities. The reflection incorporates academic literature and theoretical frameworks to support the analysis, providing a well-structured and insightful examination of the Design Thinking process and its impact on the student's learning and professional development. The report concludes with a summary of the key insights gained from the workshop and a forward-looking action plan. This document is available on Desklib, a platform offering study tools for students.

Running head: REFLECTION: DESIGN THINKING
REFLECTION: DESIGN THINKING
Name of the student
Name of the university
Author Note

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Executive Summary
The respective paper is a reflective report of the workshop on Design thinking that I had
attended and the outcome of the workshop, which includes the outcome of the lessons learnt
in the different classes taken in the workshop which was actively organized by the students
and faculty. The paper also assesses the areas of knowledge and skill gap that has been
experienced by me in the respective workshop. In order to meet the knowledge gaps, at the
end of the paper, I have also prepared an action plan that suggest what measures might be
taken by me.

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Table of Contents
Introduction...........................................................................................................................................3
Discussion.............................................................................................................................................3
Overview...........................................................................................................................................3
Reflection of My Experience in Workshop........................................................................................4
Learning and development action plan............................................................................................11
Conclusion...........................................................................................................................................13

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Introduction
The concept of Design thinking is multidimensional and multifaceted. Design
thinking can be precisely and concisely defined as cognitive, strategic and practical processes
or methodologies by which different kinds of design concepts are developed by the designers
and the design teams (Kolko, 2015). In the entrepreneual environment, design thinking is of
utmost importance because the entrepreneurs make an active and continuous effort to use
innovation to design as well as redesign the products and services of the business in order to
influence the consumers towards purchasing the products (Liedtka, 2015). The respective
paper is a reflection of the activities done and the lessons learnt from the workshop that I had
taken part in, which focused on design thinking and various activities related to the design
thinking skills and its development that was actively organized by the students and faculty.
The paper also provides with a thorough assessment of what I have learnt through the
workshop and what were the areas of knowledge and skill gap that has been experienced by
me in the respective workshop. In order to meet the knowledge gaps, at the end of the paper, I
have also prepared an action plan that suggest what measures might be taken by me.
Discussion
Overview
A workshop is generally conducted for the students/ learners/ trainees so that they
might be given knowledge (pragmatic and theoretical) about a particular subject, with the
help of bringing in new projects and methodologies of teaching in order to provide the best
learning for best possible learning outcomes (Moon, 2014).
The main aspects and spotlight of the respective workshop on Design thinking that I attended
and experienced are provided hereafter.

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1. The workshop that was conducted provided on design thinking the learners with the
primary as well as secondary learning skills and competencies that are needed for
design thinking. The different learning concepts and aspects of design thinking, such
as visualization of a particular design, the processes by which creativity can be
nurtured and utilized, the proper usage of rapid prototyping where we, in a team, had
to fabricate scale the physical models using different three dimensional techniques
(Glen et al., 2015). We also had intergroup activities, along with communication skills
with basic tools such as interview and group discussions, the aspects of “mind
mapping”, “value chain”, “brainstorming” and “journey mapping” were also taught
along with customer experience journey.
2. The workshop provided the learners with instrumental and intrinsic skill development
in the arena of design thinking and configuration. The basic and secondary
information was provided by the workshop that gave me an overview of what design
thinking actually is. The workshop provided me and the other learners (peers) a
portal, platform and stage to exhibit our capabilities.
Reflection of My Experience in Workshop
Self reflection can de identified as a process that gives the learners/ trainees/ students
opportunities to be reflective about the learning that has been conducted in order to measure
the manitude at which the learners have learnt the lessons and their drawbacks (Dweck,
2013). Self reflection refers to a learners’ experience and awareness as the way of self
development, both professionally and personally (Boud, Keogh & Walker, 2013).
As I have regularly attended the workshop, participated in it and learnt from the lessons
provided thereafter, I was able to create and inculcate different kinds of abilities within me.
As i was provided with different learning tools, machinaries and mechanisms in the
workshop, I got the intrinsic and instrumental information about my virtues, drawbacks and

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by boundaries of learning in the respective discipline. The learning outcomes and reflective
learning experiences of me are provided hereafter.
1. Visualization Skills (Blog 8): The workshop has provided me with the visualization
techniques by utilizing different learning tools and mechanisms. Visualization skills
create pictures in the mind of the learner or the visualizer in terms of carrying out
certain tasks and work. Visualization skills are of utmost importance because it makes
the visualizer get more connected to the material and create more personal
experiences (Huron et al., 2014, June). Thus, the practice also helps them to be
creative and utilize their imaginative power in their tasks.
 As far as my personal reflection is concerned, I have been provided with
different visualization techniques where I had to transform my creativity into
images in a paper/ portal. We were given instructions to break the visualized
image into simple aspects, and break the problems associated with the
visualization into simple components, such as, how much, when, how and
why. The information and data were provided to us and we had to form
images according to our imaginative capabilities. The activity was highly
optimized to creative and imaginative power. The activity was enjoyable and
also challenging in certain areas because it is difficult to physically draw what
kind of design and problems are exactly penetrated into the mind. Apart from
that, the breaking down of the problems in simple components were also
difficult initially because it needed patience and perseverence to a certain
extent in order to understand the basic concept of the problem that had risen.
However, the activity was also enjoyable because it is true that images are
more intriguing and mind arresting than the monotonous written information.

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As i am already a highly creative and an imaginative person, the activity intrigued
me and gave me a unique paradigm. The respctive activity not only developed
imaginative but thinking power in my mind as well. The visualization process
along with breaking of the problems into different segregated components
gave me a wider cognitive paradigm that enabled me to use my creative, artistic as
well as logical and rational skills in the desired direction of design thinking
(Huron et al., 2014, June). The outcome of such learning was that, I was able to
overcome the fear and reluctance I possessed regarding the subject Design
thinking which helped me to build my self confidence. I was also able to learn the
skill in a better way and visualization helped me to improve the skill which I
already possessed. Creativity is needed for a professional/ learner to survive and
thrive in the labor market because creative power and skills would allow the
individual to get unconventional and heretic ideas within himself and make him
differentially employable in the labor market as well (Serrat, 2017). As the
workplaces are wanting new and innovative teams to provide the organizations
with new ideas and approaches, therefore, I believe, with such creative practice, I
have sharpened my creativity, which would ensure me success in the future as a
design thinker.
2. Critical thinking and decision making through conceptualization (Blog 7):
Conceptualization is a skill in contemporary labor market which has become utterly
important as the workplaces and job designations are evolving day by day. The ability
to discover or formulate any idea or concept is called conceptualization, in academic
terms. However, it has to be understood that conceptualization is not about learning
theoretical frameworks, but also seeing, hearing and understanding pragmatic
situations wherein the concepts have been utilized.

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 The workshop has provided me with a clear conceptualization about the
subject and the discipline taught with the help of various innovation stories
activities. The Apple story of innovation in design thinking was analytically
and critically taught to us in the workshop where we came to know about the
different concepts that have been utilized by the company.
The story that was taught in the class gave me a strong sense of motivation within me as i am
able to get a critical knowledge about dealing with customers and design thinking concepts
(Carnevale & Smith, 2013). While listening to the stories, I actually realized what design
thinking is, or can be and how it can be implemented in different backgrounds, contexts and
situations. With the help of the lessons that I learnt through the thorough listening and
understanding of the stories, I have developed certain primary skills such as critical thinking
abilities and decision making abilities in the critical as well as complicated situations. With
the help of such critical thinking, I am ensured that I would perform satisfactorily in my
profession and would be able to perform logical deductions in design thinking. With critical
thinking, I would be able to understand the logical connection between ideas, and would also
be able to identify, construct and evaluate argumentative situations detect inconsistent aspects
and reshape the tasks provided to me all over again (Paul & Elder, 2019) . With the help of
effective critical thinking processes, I would be able to diagnose problems and inculcate
effective decision making for best possible solutions.
3. Strategizing skills and teamwork (Blog 6) : Stratregization is an important skill
needed for a professional in order to optimize and capitalize his competencies in
desirable way to get the best results in professional arena (Achtenhagen, Melin &
Naldi, 2013). The workshop provided me with strategization techniques of the
products in design thinking.

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 The workshop made us familiar with a mechanism known as rapid prototyping
that fabricates the scaled physical models with three dimensional design data.
We had to plan the structure of a boat and how we would be developing it. We
worked in a team for the activity.
The activity provided us with a deep insight about teamwork, collaboration, cooperation
and adjustment among each other in a team or a group work which has been a survival
strategy since the birth and evolution of mankind (Levi, 2015). There were confusions about
basic necessities and clashes of ideas but with the identification and acknowledgment of the
flaws, I was able to provide the team with my best efforts. With the workshop, I not only
understood the dynamics of strategizing through critical thinking, but also learnt the value of
teamwork which would help me to become a complete individual in my professional and
personal life in the near future.
4. Co learning and communication skills (Blog 4 and 5) Co learning and communication
skills are of utmost importance in today’s world. A good interpersonal communication
skill paired by proper skills of collaboration, cooperation and teamwork always
provides the best performance to the organizations.
 For co learning, we had been sharing ideas about the product which we
optimized. There had been clashes of ideas, perspectives and approaches. We
had been criticizing about the steps that might had been taken or could be
taken to build products. We acquired negative as well as positive approaches
towards strategization and development of the product.
 For communication skills, there had been interviews of each peers in the group
by selecting the topic “FOMO among children in digital media age” as the
topic of discussion. Since the interview was not colloquial conversation, so we
felt uncomfortable at times.

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Through the first activity of co learning, I was able to identify the less visited areas in me,
such as being unprejudiced, open to criticism, listening to all opinions and taking the most
appropriete one and control of behavioral issues such as anger which might as well, needed to
be revisited and rectified. With the clash of ideas and approaches, I also got a wide paradigm
of diversified thoughts and ideas, which might turn me unprejudiced observer in my
profession, ensuring survival and success (Davidson & Major, 2014).
The second activity of communication was moderately satisfactory as the discussion was a
casual and colloqiual one and did not appear like interview, which was not worth learning
and reflecting. However, through the interview, I have learnt the ways by which views are
shared and exchanged, which would further help me in enhancing my knowledge in every
field (Galegher, Kraut & Egido, 2014).
5. Basics of the subject (Blog 3):
 The activity was of “mind mapping” and “value chain”. The “mind mapping” is a
pictorial expression that visualizes organizing information. “Value chain” is a
group of activities (design, production, distribution and marketing) that brings a
product from concept to delivery (Liu et al., 2014).
However, the respective activities were not materialized and executed in the
workshop properly which had created confusion and ambiguity in my mind while
performing the activities. The activities were not well organized and less
comprehensive to me as I was not able to figure out the dynamics of the activities. So,
consequently, the activities were not prolific for my self development.
6. Customer management and leadership (Blog 2 and 1):
 On the activity of “Fictional representation on customer”, the activity of
“visualizing and defining a persona” was inculcated where visualization means

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aspects of an individual’s character that is percieved by the others and external
environment.
The activity of “visualization and defining a persona” is important for customer relation
and management because we need to understand the needs, psyche and behavioral aspects
and characteristics of customers in order to build and design products to fulfil their needs
(Revella, 2015). However, through the activity, I found that even though I have the abilities
calculate certain customer’s needs and predict the person’s problems,. I still need to rectify
and develop myself in the field of visualizing and understanding a persona so that I am able
to master the art of consumer perception, behavior and preferences (Cox, 2017). Such skill
would make me design the right kind of products and bring success in my career.
 The activity in Blog 1 focused on “brainstorming” and “journey mapping” where
brainstorming is producing different ideas and journey mapping is pictoral expression
showing different stages customers go through.
As my group and peers had different innovative ideas creeping up, we decided to have an
active questioning session among each peers in the group before coming into conclusion. By
performing such activities, I have learnt the lessons such as design making, leadership and
mutualism skills in team or groupwork. We had also taken the place of customers to
understand how to tackle customer needs and customer journey.The activity has given me
important lessons of self transformation, which is, the journey of thinking to accomplishing
goals. However, leadership qualities in me should be revisited and rectified because an
effective leadership quality would make me employable and assure me success and increment
in my profession.
Learning and development action plan
Serial Number Weakness spotted Action Plan Time needed

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1. Lack of leadership
qualities
To buy self help and
self- improvement
books on leadership
and management. To
practice discipline in
personal as well as
professional life.
Enroll in internships
on project
management and
teamwork to get
pragmatic skills on
leadership and
tackling people.
6 months
approximately
2. Lack in
understanding
customer persona and
psychology
I would go through
consumer behavior
and consumer
psychology books,
such as “Buyer
Personas: How to get
insights in your
customer’s
expectations, align
your market
strategies and win
4 months
approximately

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more” by Adele
Revella (Revella,
(2015). I would also
go through website
and newspaper
articles on customer
psychology and
watch YouTube
videos on the
respective issue.
3. Mind mapping and
value chain
I would go through
acedemic books and
magazines on mind
mapping and value
chain that are
available in Google
Scholar, Sagepub and
Wiley Online
Library. I would also
enroll in online mind
mapping courses
available. I will
enroll in value chain
management courses
available in the
12 months
approximately

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different universities
of Australia
Conclusion
The respective paper is a self reflection and evaluation report of the respective Design
thinking workshop I have attended and experienced. The paper discloses the different
activities performed in the workshop and the lessons I learnt from them, along with the areas
of flaws. At the end, there has been a learning and development action plan where I have
provided the areas of my shortcomings and actions taken by me at a particular time period to
rectify the shortcomings. I thank the professors to conduct the workshop and guide us with
such dedication.

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References:
Achtenhagen, L., Melin, L., & Naldi, L. (2013). Dynamics of business models–
strategizing, critical capabilities and activities for sustained value creation. Long
range planning, 46(6), 427-442.
Boud, D., Keogh, R., & Walker, D. (2013). Reflection: Turning experience into learning.
Routledge.
Carnevale, A. P., & Smith, N. (2013). Workplace basics: The skills employees need and
employers want.
Cox, R. (2017). your strategy matters. An Leabharlann, 26, 2.
Davidson, N., & Major, C. H. (2014). Boundary crossings: Cooperative learning,
collaborative learning, and problem-based learning. Journal on excellence in
college teaching, 25.
Dweck, C. S. (2013). Self-theories: Their role in motivation, personality, and
development. Psychology press.
Galegher, J., Kraut, R. E., & Egido, C. (Eds.). (2014). Intellectual teamwork: Social and
technological foundations of cooperative work. Psychology Press.
Glen, R., Suciu, C., Baughn, C. C., & Anson, R. (2015). Teaching design thinking in
business schools. The International Journal of Management Education, 13(2),
182-192.
Huron, S., Carpendale, S., Thudt, A., Tang, A., & Mauerer, M. (2014, June). Constructive
visualization. In Proceedings of the 2014 conference on Designing interactive
systems (pp. 433-442). ACM.

15REFLECTION: DESIGN THINKING
Kolko, J. (2015). Design thinking comes of age.
Levi, D. (2015). Group dynamics for teams. Sage Publications.
Liedtka, J. (2015). Perspective: Linking design thinking with innovation outcomes
through cognitive bias reduction. Journal of Product Innovation
Management, 32(6), 925-938.
Liu, Y., Zhao, G., Ma, G., & Bo, Y. (2014). The effect of mind mapping on teaching and
learning: A meta-analysis. Standard Journal of Education and Essay, 2(1), 17-31.
Moon, J. (2014). Short courses and workshops: Improving the impact of learning,
teaching and professional development. Routledge.
Paul, R., & Elder, L. (2019). The miniature guide to critical thinking concepts & tools.
Rowman & Littlefield.
Revella, A. (2015). Buyer personas: how to gain insight into your customer's
expectations, align your marketing strategies, and win more business. John Wiley
& Sons.
Serrat, O. (2017). Harnessing creativity and innovation in the workplace. In Knowledge
Solutions (pp. 903-910). Springer, Singapore.