Assessment 3: Reflective Report on Design Thinking Skills Development

Verified

Added on 2024/07/01

AI Summary

This report provides a reflective analysis of design thinking skills acquired through weekly blogs and activities. It identifies personal strengths and weaknesses, focusing on areas such as innovation, motivation, communication, leadership, brainstorming, and mind mapping. An action plan is developed with a six-month timeframe to address these weaknesses through activities like case study analysis, meditation, motivational research, and improved communication strategies. The ultimate goal is to transform identified weaknesses into strengths, fostering a deeper understanding of design thinking processes and facilitating personal and professional growth. Desklib offers similar resources for students seeking academic support.

Assessment 3- Reflective Report
1

Paraphrase This Document

Need a fresh take? Get an instant paraphrase of this document with our AI Paraphraser

Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................3
Executive Summary.........................................................................................................................4
Self Analysis.................................................................................................................................... 5
Action Plan......................................................................................................................................8
Conclusion..................................................................................................................................... 14
Reference....................................................................................................................................... 15
2

Introduction
The report has been developed in order to study the blogs and various activities undertaken
throughout the courses. The report will reflect on the personal strengths and weaknesses with the
evaluation of the weekly blogs. The report will aim to develop an action plan in order to develop
the lack of identified skills and abilities. An action plan will be developed that will provide the
justification of the activities or actions to develop the identified skills and abilities. The report
will also demonstrate an effective understanding of the Design Thinking skills and processes. It
will also provide identification of certain actions that will foster for skill development.
3

Executive Summary
The report has focused on the concepts and aspects of Design Thinking. The report has been
developed with an aim to focus on the reflection from the weekly blogs undertaken in the course.
It will also aim at evaluating the activities undertaken in each blog of the course. The report will
furbish with the identification of certain strengths and weaknesses that enables to identify the
lack of activities which hampered effective understanding of the course activities and programs.
The report will also focus on the identification of strengths and weaknesses to justify the
development of an action plan. The report also entails an elaborative action plan that has
identified the weaknesses. This action plan has also provided with various solutions in the terms
of activities to be undertaken in order to sort the problems and weaknesses identified. The action
plan has provided with various activities such as discussions with the seniors and experts,
seeking professional guidance from the seniors etc. in order to overcome the problems. The
action plan has been developed with a time frame of six months. It aims to achieve the
weaknesses as strengths and develop effective understating of the Design IT Programs and
Processes.
4

Paraphrase This Document

Need a fresh take? Get an instant paraphrase of this document with our AI Paraphraser

Self Analysis
The weekly blogs enabled me to gather information and knowledge on various aspects of Design
IT. Each blog included different aspects and concepts of Design Information Technology. The
blogs created greater and effective interpretation of the lectures attended during the course. The
Design IT blogs created possibilities to create an effective interpretation of developing skills,
mind mapping, networking, brainstorming and designing skills etc. I learned about the concepts
such as value chain, value network and mapping. I learned about concepts related to design
process which reflected with a combination of various rules and regulations to develop as a
professional designer. I have also gained information related to value chain in which values are
attributed towards the products and services. It provides with opportunities to develop the
product and improve areas of issues and defects in the products or services. I also learned the
aspects of mind mapping which strengthened my abilities to think in a strategic and effective
manner (Week 6). Mind mapping is required to be developed in order to improve my decision
making power. As I lack in developing strategic and dynamic decisions in complex situations. I
analysed that the tool of mind mapping is necessary to gather different viewpoints on the same
problem and identify the most effective solution for the problem.
Further, I also learned about different designing tools to process the functions of innovation and
experimentation. I learned about the importance of feedback in an organisation to develop new
products and innovate in the existing product lines. This week lecture also enabled me to gather
information on how to react towards a feedback and develop a positive feedback. The blog
writing also enabled me to learn about the prototyping, sketching models, story boarding and
paper prototyping etc. I gained knowledge of the benefits of prototyping a business can derive
from the application of various prototyping activities and models. I observed weakness in the
applying the concepts of prototyping in the aspects of design processes and development of
different prototypes (Week 8). On the other hand, I learned the areas where improvements can be
identified and practised. In personal lives and experiences, it is necessary to accumulate
information or feedback from the different individuals to learn about the personal strengths and
weaknesses in the application of design thinking processes and activities.
5

I also learned and gained knowledge on various aspects such as Journey Mapping and
Brainstorming. I learned about different tools that can be used in order to develop creativity and
self-confidence in order to achieve career success and growth. The activity conducted provided
me with a brief description and background on the professional conduct of activity and problem-
solving techniques. I have observed that I lack in problem-solving skills thus it is required to
develop self-confidence and brainstorming skills in order to achieve the personal and
professional aims. On the other hand, I developed a greater ability to present and explain my
viewpoints and opinions to others. From the activities, my discussion powers and abilities have
strengthened. I have developed my communication skills and attributes which has aided to be
present myself in front of different people effectively.
Further with the succession of this course and weekly activities I learned about the models and
theories of designing problem thinking and principals. I learned about solving wicked problems
and design process activities or principals. I also gathered information about solving different
problems and action research in the lecture class. I observed that different types of theories and
designing principals are involved in the process of design thinking. The activities reflected that I
require learning about the advantages and disadvantages of these theories and their application in
the real life concepts and practices. The commencement of these activities covered various
articles and case studies which included real-life learning and exemplification of famous
personalities. I observed there is a need to develop greater understating and interpretation of
different design thinking policies and theories by the development of strategic thinking and
effective interpretation abilities.
The next week lecture included Five Dangerous Lessons to learn from Steve Jobs. I learned that
innovation and design thinking is necessary to sustain in the competitive and strategic business
environment. I observed I require developing various skills such as strategic decision making and
leadership in order to accomplish growth in both personal and professional ears of life. The
activities reflected upon five different lessons Steve Jobs learned from his life and his personal
experiences. After analysing and observing the learning from his personal experience and
comparing my personal attributes, I realised that the development of leadership skills and
effective decision making is required for my personal growth in the long term. I further observed
every type of experience is essential in life to develop the capability to overcome and learn from
6

different types of experiences. The variety in personal and professional experience enables to
inculcate and develop abilities to think strategically and develop innovative strategies and
thinking. I further depicted excitement to learn about Steve Jobs experience in different spheres
of life. I require developing my motivational skills and determination skills in order to gain
increased knowledge and information related to the dimensions and sphere of innovation and
design thinking in real life.
7

Paraphrase This Document

Need a fresh take? Get an instant paraphrase of this document with our AI Paraphraser

Action Plan
The action plan is a strategic development of a plan which enables to acknowledge the required
activities and actions that contributes towards personal and professional development plan. An
action plan is required to be developed in order to analyse the future and current development of
an individual. Action plans enable to justify the actions and activities identified and create
opportunities to develop the weaknesses. The action plan developed in this assessment is of time
duration for 6 months. A time of six months is identified to develop the skills and abilities lacked
by an individual. The skills and abilities which are identified above as weaknesses will be
developed and attributed as per the action plan developed (Harris-Keith, 2015). The action plan
also fosters constant monitoring and evaluation of the skill development processes and actions.
The action has identified weakness as motivation, communication skills, feedback, lack of
leadership skills, brainstorming and mind mapping will be developed in order to excel in the
present and future times of the personal and professional lives.
The action plan will provide with opportunities to identify the need for development and
identification of various actions and activities that are required to develop the skills and abilities
lacking in the current times. I have identified various issues and problems in the development of
innovation skills and understanding. I lagged behind in the understanding of innovation skills
and the development of innovative approaches in the business context and personal practices
(Hoang, et. al., 2017). I was unable to develop an effective understating of the innovation skills
and abilities, thus I will undertake various activities and actions in order to comprehend
innovation skills and abilities. For this, I will refer to various case studies and personal or
professional experiences of different personalities.
Further, I also determined a lack of concentration and motivation which hindered my personal
understanding and professional practice. Lack of motivation and concentration created various
such as disinterest it the workshops and lecturers during the courses. Thus I will undertake
meditation classes and self-analysing classes to develop my concentration during activities and
learning. In order to increase my motivation level and power, I will research various motivational
approaches and techniques (Developing the Leadership Skill Sets, 2017). These motivational
approaches such as Maslow’s motivational theory will enable me to identify my different needs
8

and objectives form life. This approach will create possibilities to examine my needs and their
fulfilment through certain activities. This will enable me to develop my motivational power and
values (Arslan, Emel, 2010). I lacked the understating of various concepts and notations during
the lectures of Design It. Thus I will apply the concepts and practices of Brainstorming and
Journey Mapping will which enable me to develop a better understanding of different innovation
and design thinking processes and policies.
I will also develop activities and actions in order to develop strategic decision-making abilities
and skills. This will enable me to develop effective decisions in an effective manner by
reviewing or overviewing different viewpoints and opinions of different individuals and team
members (Sri Utami, et. al., 2017). Also, the development of leadership skills is required to
foster the development of decision making in order to achieve the aims and objective. Decision
making and leadership skills are required to analyse the success and development of design
thinking and practices. Leadership skills and abilities will also provide with opportunities to
justify for the professional development (Chen, et. al., 2018). These skills will provide with an
explanation of the decision making strategies and approaches identified and learned in the
weekly blogs and activities executed. Further, the weakness of ineffective or lack of effective
communication will also be monitored through the action plan within a specific time period.
Engaging in formal and effective communication will aid in professional development and
personal growth of the future. The action plan has been developed as below:
9

Action Plan
Identification of
the Problem
(Lack of Skill)
Justification of
Problem
Description of
Activities and
Actions
undertaken
Time
Duration
Evaluation of the
Accomplishment
of Skill
Leadership Skills It is necessary
to develop the
leadership
skills in order
to undertake
strategic
decision
making and
motivating
individuals
(Harris-Keith,
2015).
I will undertake a
research and
evaluation of
various famous
personalities.
This research
will enable me to
identify my
scope of areas
requiring
improvement.
2 Months Leading and
Motivating
different
individuals and
teams.
Communication
Skills
Communication
is an essential
aspect of the
decision-
making skills
and design
processes. It is
required to
communicate
with the team
members about
Effective
communication
skills will be
developed by
engaging in
professional and
formal
communication
with my seniors
and colleagues. It
will enable me to
1 Month Evaluation will be
executed on the
basis of
interpretation and
understanding level
of the team
members and other
significant
individuals in the
designing
10

Paraphrase This Document

Need a fresh take? Get an instant paraphrase of this document with our AI Paraphraser

the designing
processes and
methods.
procure the
required form of
information and
knowledge
regarding the
communication
skill
development
(Arslan, Emel,
2010).
processes.
Decision Making
Skills
It is essential to
develop
decision-
making skills in
order to
identify the
most
appropriate
solution to the
issues and
problems.
In order to
develop my
decision-making
skills, I will
develop my
problem-solving
skills. I will
practice
justification and
identification of
solutions and
problems.
1 Month Decision-making
skills will be
analysed on basis
of justification of
problem-solving.
Brainstorming Brainstorming
is necessary in
order to
develop
effective
understating of
I will take the
assistance of
professionals and
experts in order
to develop my
discussion skills
1 Month I will analyse and
evaluate the
decision making
processes through
group discussions
with my senior and
11

the different
problems and
their solutions.
and
brainstorming
skills in an
effective manner
(Johnson, 2018).
professional
experts in the
specified areas.
Journey Mapping Journey
Mapping is
essential to
identify the
future goal path
and it is also
necessary to
identify the
future hurdles
and problems in
the course of
various actions.
I will undertake
an evaluation of
ideas and
opinions in order
to develop an
effective
understanding of
different ideas
and opinions (Sri
Utami, et. al.,
2017).
1 Month This specific issue
will be analysed
with the
identification and
verification of
certain ideas and
opinions and their
judgments on the
basis of pre-
identification of
results and
outcomes.
12