MGMT20140: Design Thinking, Reflection, and Knowledge Growth

This reflective report delves into the concepts of design thinking, personal development, and knowledge management. It begins with a critical self-analysis of the author's personal development process during the course, highlighting the understanding of design thinking gained through weekly workshops. The report emphasizes the importance of recognizing personal strengths and weaknesses for effective self-improvement. It further discusses knowledge management and the practical application of acquired knowledge. The author reflects on the evolution of their understanding of design thinking, from initial uncertainty to a comprehensive grasp of its key processes, such as empathizing, defining, ideating, prototyping, and testing. The report concludes with an action plan outlining specific steps for continued knowledge acquisition and skill development in design thinking. The appendices contain the weekly blogs and reflections of the author during the course.

Running head: DESIGN THINKING AND REFLECTION
Design Thinking and Reflection
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author’s Note:

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Executive Summary
The reflective report intends to shed light on the concepts of designing, design thinking and
its various related aspects. The report at the same time stresses on the importance of the
processes of personal development and also the manner in which this particular concept can
help the individuals in the process of their development. More importantly, the effective
usage of this particular concept enables a particular individual to understand the key
competencies of their own character and also helps them to work on their weaknesses and
further fortify their strengths. In addition to this, the process of knowledge management also
helps the individuals in a significant manner by enabling them to gain the kind of knowledge
which will not only help them at the current moment but at the same time would help them in
the latter part of their professional lives as well. The report begins with an analysis of the
personal development process which I undertook for the process of this course work. The
report next discusses about the concept of knowledge management and also the manner I
gained a significant amount of knowledge from the various weekly workshops. Finally, the
report concludes with a discussion of the action plan for the attainment of relevant knowledge
regarding design thinking.

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Table of Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................4
Critical self-analysis and reflection on personal development..................................................4
Critical self-analysis and reflection on knowledge development..............................................7
Action Plan.................................................................................................................................9
Specific.................................................................................................................................10
Measurable...........................................................................................................................10
Attainable.............................................................................................................................10
Relevant................................................................................................................................10
Time-Bound.........................................................................................................................11
Conclusion................................................................................................................................11
References................................................................................................................................12
Appendix 1...............................................................................................................................14
Appendix 2...............................................................................................................................15
Appendix 3...............................................................................................................................16
Appendix 4...............................................................................................................................18
Appendix 5...............................................................................................................................19
Appendix 6...............................................................................................................................21
Appendix 7...............................................................................................................................23
Appendix 8...............................................................................................................................25
Appendix 9...............................................................................................................................27

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Introduction
The process of reflection and reflective writing has gained a significant amount of
prominence in the present times and provides an opportunity to the students and other
individuals to reflect on the things that had been taught to them over the entire course work
(Cottrell, 2015). The process of reflective writing, at the same time, provides the opportunity
to the students to not only understand the concepts or the things that had been taught to them
over the course of the entire course work but also provides them with the opportunity to
understand in an effective manner that the key concepts which have been understood by them
and the ones which have not been (Tattum & Tattum, 2017). This is important since by
gaining a knowledge about the areas that they have understood and the ones which they have
not the student get the chance to work on their weaknesses and fortify their strengths areas.
The effective usage of this particular process requires the students to undertake the
process of personal development since recent researches have shown that two processes are
directly related. For example, the machinery of personal development helps the students to
undertake personal development in the areas which are their weak points and also to further
improve their key areas of strength (Cottrell, 2015). This reflective report will discuss about
the strengths and the weaknesses of mine and also the process of personal development that I
undertook. Furthermore, the report will also take the help of the weekly blogs which were
provided by me by my professor during the course of our classes.
Critical self-analysis and reflection on personal development
The modern era is much more competitive than the societies of the earlier times and
this competition is being reflected not only in the educational sphere but in the other walks of
life as well (Liedtka, 2014). The net result of this is the fact that the individuals of the present

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times are not only required to have level of skill sets but at the same time are required to
display the kind of intelligence as well as understanding level which are not displayed by the
majority of the people (Bennett, Agostinho & Lockyer, 2017). I am personally of the
viewpoint that it is precisely here that the entity of personal development gains prominence.
The machinery of personal development provides a plethora of benefits to the individuals
who undertake or embark on such a process. The first major benefit which entices the
majority of the individuals to undertake this particular process is the opportunity of personal
growth as well as the development that the effective use of this particular process renders to
the concerned individuals (Cottrell, 2015). For example, recent studies have shown that the
individuals who undertake this particular process have a much enhanced chance of improving
their character or personality in comparison to the individuals who do not undertake such a
process (Tattum & Tattum, 2017). The process of personal development, at the same time,
helps the individuals to gain the kind of skill sets which helps them to distinguish themselves
from the other individuals and thereby afford them a higher chance of gaining success
(Tattum & Tattum, 2017). I am of the viewpoint that the tool of personal development by
helping an individual to overcome the weaknesses of their character and fortifying their key
strengths helps them to achieve this particular end.
The course which I undertook at our educational institution really helped me a lot in
the process of my own personal development. For example, I would like to say that before the
commencement of this particular I was not really familiar with the concepts of designing,
design thinking and its various related aspects. Furthermore, I would comment in this regard
that the concepts of designing and others appealed to me yet I had a very vague idea about the
same before the commencement of this particular course work. However, it was during the
course work and also through the numerous lectures that the professors provided in the class
that I gained a concrete idea about the various important aspects of the process of designing

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and its related entities. This particular aspect when viewed through the specific lens of the
machinery of personal development is likely to reveal insightful details. The primary idea
behind the process of personal development is help the individuals to gain a significant
amount of development over the other individuals and thereby help them to succeed in life. In
this regard I would like to say that at the beginning of the course work I did not have any
substantial competitive leverage or advantage over my peers and we all were in the same boat
or situation. However, through the course work and also the process of personal development
that I was required to undertake for the successful completion I gained the kind of knowledge
as well as personal skills that are likely to give me a competitive leverage or advantage over
my peers and other individuals.
In this regard, I would like to comment that the undertaking of the process of personal
development is not an easy one and requires the individuals to make various kinds of changes
that are not easily accepted by the concerned individual. For example, the process of personal
development that I was required to undertake during the entire course work was not an easy
one to make. I was firstly required to analyze the key strengths as well as the weaknesses of
my own character. For example, I found out that the areas of studies of design thinking, the
ability to use the concept of innovation as well as creativity were not my strength points and
thus I was required to work on these key areas so as to excel in the course work that I have
undertaken. On the other hand, I found out that the theoretical aspects as well as the
frameworks of designing came naturally to come and I did not have to spend a considerable
amount of energy or effort to understand these concepts. Thus, for the process of personal
development I was required to gain a thorough knowledge about the concept of design
thinking and its related aspects and at the same time to train my mind in an effective manner
so as to inculcate this particular skill. Furthermore, it needs to be said at this particular
juncture that I really needed to exert myself so as to acquire this particular skill.

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Critical self-analysis and reflection on knowledge development
Bennett, Agostinho and Lockyer (2017) have stated that the primary idea behind the
various kinds of course works or for that matter of the acquisition of knowledge is to gain the
kind of skill sets which will not only help the concerned individuals to gain a competitive
advantage over their peers but also in the later part of their lives. Needless to say that it was
with this particular objective that I undertook the course work under discussion here. My
primary concern at the time of enrolling into this particular course work was to find out the
manner in which “subject of designing will help me regarding my future and how it will play
a role in my life regarding the way of thinking” (Appendix 1). Thus, it can be said that just
the other students of our class I was not much sure about the kind of knowledge that I would
be gaining from this particular course. However, with the scant knowledge that I had of the
subject matter at the time of enrolling into the course work under discussion here I formed a
brief idea that the course work is related to the concept of designing and design thinking.
Design thinking forms an integral part of the entire concept of designing and is mainly
concerned with the five processes of “Empathize, Define, Ideate, Prototype and Test”
(Stephens & Boland, 2015). The weekly workshops and also the lectures helped me in a
significant manner to grasp the idea of design thinking. For example, during the second week
of the workshop that I attended “I observed how my thinking differs from designers.
Designer sees the problem (or any issue) and thinks it in different way (how it caused, whats
the reason behind it, how to sort out)” (Appendix 2). In this regard, I would also like to say
that the various weekly workshops that we were required to attend also help in the process of
my knowledge acquisition process in a significant manner. These workshops not only helped
me to gain the important information regarding the concept of designing and design thinking
but at the same time provided me an idea about the way in which these information or ideas
can be used in an effective manner. In this regard the third weekly workshop wherein

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“various answers have been given from our friends in an interesting manner such as
(Improve, intensity, analysis, explore, imagination, etc). I have learnt different types of
learning, they are ‘Single loop learning (actions and results), Double loop learning (thinking,
actions, results) and Triple loop learning” becomes very significant (Appendix 3).
The concept of design problem or the problem statement which dictates the entire
process of designing itself is an important one in the domain of engineering (Carlgren, Rauth
& Elmquist, 2016). Furthermore, the design problem needs to be in synchronicity with the
process of design which is being undertaken and also the purpose with which the designing
had been undertaken (Fischer, 2015). The concerned workshop raised important questions
like “Do we see problems or Do we see solutions?”, “A problem is only a problem if
someone’s interest to see as a problem” and others (Appendix 4). In addition to this, the
workshop at the same time discussed the fact that “Design Thinking Process involves the
steps ‘empathize, define, ideate, prototype, test’, for finding a solution to a problem”
(Appendix 4). I would like to say that I was able to gain significant amount of information
during these weekly workshops which contributed in a substantial manner towards the
process of my knowledge development.
The fifth weekly workshop, which started after our mid-term break, required us to
dwell on questions like “What are research skills for design thinking, what does mean by
value chain analysis?”, “why do we analyse the chain?" and others (Appendix 5). In addition
to this, the workshop at the same time also required us to understand the “primary activities
involved in a business are Research and Development, Production, Marketing and Sales,
Customer Service and where the secondary activities are HR, Infrastructure, Technology and
Procurement” (Appendix 5). In short, the weekly workshop essentially dealt with the entity of
Value chain and the manner in which its efficiency can be enhanced. This knowledge is very
important since it helps an individual to gain the kind of information that would really help in

8DESIGN THINKING AND REFLECTION
the latter part of my professional career in the business world (Cahyadi & Prananto, 2015).
The seventh weekly workshop was a mixed one for me since I felt happy as well as miserable
because of the choice of career that I have made. For example, in this week I “learnt many
things, changed my way of thinking and mindset” (Appendix 6).
The eight weekly workshop introduced us to the topic of “Prototyping and
Visualization of Ideas” (Appendix 7). This workshop was important since it helped me to
understand the manner in which effective designs are supposed to be created. The ninth
weekly material helped me to understand in an effective manner the way in which the
concept of design can be used for the launch of new ideas as well as products. Finally, the last
weekly material introduced us to the concept of the presenting the designs which have been
formulated in an effective manner before the audiences. Thus, it can be said that the
knowledge that I gained through these workshops and from the entire course work itself
helped me in a significant manner for the process of my knowledge development.
Action Plan
The various weekly workshops and also the course work that I have undertaken
helped me to understand the strengths and also the weaknesses of my own character. The
concept of design thinking is something that is really very important for an engineer and
helps him or her during the latter part of their professional career (Stimmel, 2015). In
addition to these, the effective utilisation of this particular concept is likely to help a
particular individual to design as well as create the kind of events and activities that can
further the prospects of their career (Geissdoerfer, Bocken & Hultink, 2016). In this regard, I
would like to say in the next six months I intend to undertake various kinds of events and
activities that are likely to help me to further the prospects of my professional career. Thus, in
this regard the concept of design thinking becomes very important for me.

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Specific
The specific goal which I have undertaken to achieve is the acquisition of a working
knowledge of the concept of design thinking which can really help in the next six months for
the events and the activities that I intend to undertake. Thus, for the effective development of
this particular skill I would like to take the help of workshops like the ones that were
provided to us by our educational institution. In addition to this, I would also like to take the
help of various kinds of online videos and also reading materials for the acquisition of this
particular skill.
Measurable
The extent to which I have been able to grasp this particular concept or for that matter
have been able to gain a working as well as effective knowledge about this particular will
become clear from the efficiency with which I will be able to design the various events and
activities that I intend to undertake in the next six months. In addition to this, I would also
undertake various kinds of learning assessments in the mean time which would provide me an
idea regarding the progress that I am making.
Attainable
The goal which I have set out to attain, that is, the acquisition of the knowledge
regarding the concept of design thing, is completely attainable. However, at the same time I
would like to mention that this is likely to take an effort on my part since I would have to
work really hard for the attainment of this particular goal.
Relevant
The goal which I have set out to attain is a completely relevant one and is likely to
help to organise the events and also the activities that I intend to organise in the coming six

10DESIGN THINKING AND REFLECTION
months. This will in turn help me to attain the broader goal which I am trying to attain, that
is, becoming an efficient engineer.
Time-Bound
I have given myself a time period of three months for the attainment of this particular
goal. I would like to mention at this particular juncture that I already have some basic
knowledge about the concept of design thinking and thus I am hoping that I will be able t
quickly learn about the different aspects of the process.
Conclusion
To conclude, the concepts of designing, design thinking and others form an important
part of the knowledge that the students gain in the engineering colleges. The students are
expected to have these basic skills so that they are being able to effectively design the various
events and other kind of activities that they would be required to in the latter of their
professional career. It is precisely with this particular objective that the various educational
institutions try to provide a concrete idea about these concepts to the students. Furthermore,
the students, at the same time, are required to indulge in the process of personal development
and also knowledge development in an effective manner so that they are not only being able
to identify the strengths and the weaknesses of their character but also to learn the things that
they are being taught to them in an effective manner.

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References
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understanding university teachers’ design work. Educational Technology Research
and Development, 65(1), 125-145.
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.
Carlgren, L., Rauth, I., & Elmquist, M. (2016). Framing design thinking: The concept in idea
and enactment. Creativity and Innovation Management, 25(1), 38-57.
Cottrell, S. (2015). Skills for success: Personal development and employability. Macmillan
International Higher Education.
Fischer, M. (2015). Design it! Solving sustainability problems by applying design
thinking. GAIA-Ecological Perspectives for Science and Society, 24(3), 174-178.
Geissdoerfer, M., Bocken, N. M., & Hultink, E. J. (2016). Design thinking to enhance the
sustainable business modelling process–A workshop based on a value mapping
process. Journal of Cleaner Production, 135, 1218-1232.
Glen, R., Suciu, C., & Baughn, C. (2014). The need for design thinking in business
schools. Academy of Management Learning & Education, 13(4), 653-667.
Koh, J. H. L., Chai, C. S., Benjamin, W., & Hong, H. Y. (2015). Technological Pedagogical
Content Knowledge (TPACK) and design thinking: A framework to support ICT
lesson design for 21st century learning. The Asia-Pacific Education
Researcher, 24(3), 535-543.