Weekly Activities and Lessons Learned
The blog analysis comprises of reflecting on self-experiences that are important for understanding the design thinking process that is required for success in the modern world. In the words of Goldschmidt (2016), reflective writing can help to determine various critics that can be associated with the knowledge and development which are faced while undertaking the course. The reflection involves a critical analysis of the self-knowledge I have obtained from the various weekly blogs. Each of the blogs are analysed in a critical manner, which can be used for understanding my strengths and weakness that I have faced during the course. An action plan is also provided that can help me in eliminating my weakness and convert it into strengths so that in future I can apply design thinking process in an effective manner.
I had been aspiring to know and learn about design thinking since my childhood and thus was excited to be a part of the course that provided proper guidance for designing of presentations required for my course. The experience gathered from the courses had helped to peak my interest on the subject and had been effective in my enrolling in the course associated with the subjects. However, I would conduct a critical self-analysis of the course that had been undertaken and at the same time, ensure the dominance of my strength over my weakness in the course.
During my second week (Blog Week 2) at the course I had been taught about various processes and tools associated with designing thinking. According to Kolko (2015), the design thinking consists of 10 tools, which can be used for enhancing the quality of the designs used on an everyday basis so that proper empowerment and application of the design tools can be made. In the class, I managed to learn about IDEO that is an international design-consulting firm located in California. The best part of the video was the starting part in which the designs that had failed were spoken about.
This indicates that failure is a part of the design thinking process and that various things can be learned via the failures encountered (Brown, 2015). At the same time, the video helped me to understand the application of four design-thinking tools that were used for the development of new shopping carts. It also helped me to understand the importance of brainstorming and the manner in which it can be used in an effective manner for design thinking. As observed by Liedtka (2015) brainstorming is one of the most prolific designs thinking approaches as it combines various ideas from different people and promote it as a single idea.
Challenging Weeks and Lessons Learned
Blog Week 3 had provided me with the knowledge related to the importance of integrated planning. The application of integrated planning and its use in the professional field had been discussed with the use of a video. According to Carlgren, Rauth and Elmquist (2016), integrated planning can be considered as the process that translates desired business outcomes into financial and operational resources. The video provided evidence about its use by the US army and thus the concept of integrated planning and its execution can be understood in an effective manner. Thus, the video had been inspiring in terms of understanding the importance of integrated planning and its use for military operations as well.
After the video, I was asked to sit with group members and discussion about mindset was analysed. It is here that I had developed anxiety stage as I needed to communicate with other group members and this had been a bad influence in my confidence. Mindset is the mentality that is developed by a person before presenting and formulating a plan of action (Buehring & Liedtka, 2018). At the end, I was briefed about reports related to blogging and the self-peer assessment that is required to be made.
Blog Week 4 had me involved in two activities in the class. The significance of the two activities was that practical experience could be gained from the use and application of design thinking. The learning experience that I had derived from the activity that each of the students had different mindsets. The discussion was made by considering each of the activities that were undertaken by us and based on it analysis of the application of design thinking in terms of being creative could be understood. Thus, the decisions made by each of the students were provided with the proper respect.
The second activity that was conducted consisted of brainstorming and the division was made into groups. Development of stories via pictures helped in the application of brainstorming. Therefore, brainstorming is also another factor that can be considered as one of the essential developments for design thinking. The pictures and the stories were aligned in a manner that helped in understanding the activities that can be associated with brainstorming and its perfect application for the development of design thinking. Thus, from this week I had managed to gain a practical understanding of the topic and the manner in which mindset of the people varies.
Reflecting on My Strengths and Weaknesses
Blog Week 6 also helped me to apply the practical implementation of design thinking. My activity in this week was to connect nine dots using four lines. In this practical application, I had struggled at the initial stage but had managed to gain success with random attempts. Therefore, the lesson learned in this case is that failure cannot be take into consideration while trying to implement design thinking. As stated by Geissdoerfer, Bocken and Hultink (2016) various serious attempts can help in the development of a successful design thinking initiative and have helped me to make proper arrangements of the activity provided.
The second activity had asked me to select airline companies and talk about the positive and negatives that can be associated with the problem in the airline. The analysis shows that problems in the airlines were said to be more than expected by the team. This provided an understanding of the importance of design thinking. Design thinking helps in enhancing the skills of anticipation so that studies and getting good grades can be achieved (Elsbach & Stigliani, 2018). The daily application of design thinking can be made in activities that do not concern organisational application and implementation. Thus, day-to-day activities can be considered as effective design thinking activity.
Blog Week 7 consisted of asking questions to the person sitting next to me. This activity was considered to understand the mentality of the people and the manner in which each of the people can have different opinion as well as set of questions for the clarification of any doubts. At the same time, the video played by the lecturer in the class was useful for understanding the problems that a regular day activity on a slightly different weather can have on the people. From my point of view, the activities that have been undertaken by the lecturers can help us in gaining perspective of the proper application of design thinking tools and the creative perspective that exists among individuals.
From the words of Oxman (2017) sometimes, seeing some visual problems can help in evolving the understanding of design thinking to a different level. Thus, it can be said that for the development of design thinking, the effective application can be made based on proper analysis of the problem as well as the effective use of questioning the methods of the people and the activities. Hence, the week had been effective in enhancing my level of imagination so that it matches the design thinking abilities as expected from me.
Conclusion
Blog Week 8 can be considered as most challenging for me as the activity was to create a prototype. According to Plattner, Meinel and Leifer (2015), the importance of prototype and the important application had been understood via the conduct of the lecture. The prototype can be considered as an early sample that is realised for gaining proper approval in the market and the target audience. In the words of Brenner and Uebernickel (2016), this can help in the prevention of loss and can add to the improvement of the original product in the market. Evaluation of a new design can be made via the application of the prototype.
However, one of the drawbacks that was seen from the lecture that despite being provided with the required resources, it was difficult to focus on the development of the prototype. The lack of understanding of the problem can be considered as the reason for the failure to develop the prototype and hence, the failure that had been gained can be considered as a learning curve for me. I understood the importance of understanding the problems and at the same time, the importance that prototype brings about in the art of applying design thinking. Thus, it can be said that this particular week helped me to gain importance about the application of prototype in the market.
The Blog Week 9 can be considered as the lecture in which I managed to identify my strengths and weakness. The importance of product launch in the design thinking process is provided in the lecture. The ideas were to communicate with one another and identify any negative and positives that can be used for the future. As stated by Shapira, Ketchie and Nehe (2017) product launch is the promotion of the products in the market so that it can gain the necessity publicity that exists. At the same time, as observed by Liedtka (2018) it can help in identifying the activities and characteristics that can be used for the launching of a successful product. Hence, from the lecture I managed to identify my weakness, which is being able to communicate freely with other people.
At the same time, I can understand the importance of working in a group so that I can continue with the effective application of design thinking. The lecture had helped me to understand my flaws and rectify things so that work can be improved. One of the rectifications that can be made is the improvement of the communication between the people so that I can be confident while speaking. This can help me to be fearless and ensure that development of proper communication can help me to identify the required improvement necessary for being positive while applying design thinking.
For Blog Week 10, the consideration was made to understand the manner in which presentation can be made. This week had not been effective for me, as I did not have to provide any presentation however, I had to gain ideas about the manner in which presentation was made and provided in front of a crowd or lecturer. It is in the activity of this week that I was able to understand the strength, which I possess. I had found out that I had possessed the strength of understanding the presentation and applied it in a manner that can be effective in gaining appreciation from the lecturers.
This also helped me to make changes in my approach towards making presentation so that I can understand and make analysis of the presentation that I am to provide. Thus, the lesson helped me to know the importance of observation and at the same time, ensure that communication can also be effective while trying to bring about knowledge for the development of presentation. In the words of Carlgren, Elmquist and Rauth (2016) for design, thinking to be applied in a proper manner it is necessary that a person be observant as well as be able to communicate in a positive manner.
In the final Blog Week 11, my time had come to provide the presentation. I had managed to prepare myself in a manner that can help me to bring about changes in my presentation. This was largely due to the attendance of the presentation the week before as it had helped me to understand the activities, changes and the manner in which proper presentation can be made. Thus, it can be said that this particular week was the ultimate test for me and based on the test I had managed to understand my weakness, which led me to develop my action plan.
Hence, I can say that I have been able to gain feedback regarding the application of my communication skills and my feeling of anxiety. An anxiety feeling can lead to negative consequences as it may have ill effect on the presentation (Serrat, 2017). Overall, it can be said that I need to consider the effectiveness of my activities in a manner, which can be capable of providing design thinking with proper implementation. An analysis of the strengths and weakness can be made to sum up the findings made.
The analysis of the critical self-analysis has helped me to understand the strengths and weakness that I possess. The analysis has showed me that my strength lies in the fact I am a good listener as well as have good observation skills. This is evidenced heavily from the blog week 10 in which I had observed and gained idea about the ways to make presentation so that it looks good. At the same time, the weakness that I have encountered is the fact that I have been suffering from anxiety. The anxiety had prevented me from providing good presentation and had made me gain negative comments from the lecturer. Thus, the action plan made is directed towards the improvement of the weakness so that it can be converted to strengths.
The action plan that I have developed for improving on my weakness includes the assessment of the symptoms for my anxiety to take place. The anxiety while providing presentation can be considered as a stage fright and despite my severe preparation to remain successful, I have not been able to formulate techniques for removing the disorder. Hence, the action plan undertaken for curing the anxiety disorder includes
|
Weakness |
Treatment |
Type |
Ill-effects |
Remedy |
Time required |
|
Developing anxiety |
Continuous communication mode |
Vocabulary exercise |
Inability to provide effective presentation and unable to remain active while communicating with others |
To be more vocal as well as to rehearse in front of mirrors to gain self confidence while speaking |
6 months |
Table: Action plan
(Source: Created by author)
Conclusion
From the reflective analysis conducted, I have been able to understand my strengths and the manner in which I can convert my weakness into strengths. The critical reflection have helped me to learn about my abilities so that my experience as a design thinker can be improved and based on the improvement I can device new ways to create designs and solve problems. Therefore, I can say that design thinking have helped me to create designs in different ways based on which I can understand the schedule that is required for converting my weakness into strengths. It has been seen that scheduling as well as constant progress towards attaining self-development can help me to overcome my weakness within a space of 6 months.
References
Brenner, W., & Uebernickel, F. (2016). Design thinking for innovation. Research and Practice.
Brown, T. (2015). When Everyone Is Doing Design Thinking, Is It Still a Competitive Advantage. Harvard Business Review Digital Articles, 27.
Buehring, J. H., & Liedtka, J. (2018). Embracing systematic futures thinking at the intersection of Strategic Planning, Foresight and Design. Journal of Innovation Management, 6(3), 134-152.
Carlgren, L., Elmquist, M., & Rauth, I. (2016). The challenges of using design thinking in industry–experiences from five large firms. Creativity and Innovation Management, 25(3), 344-362.
Carlgren, L., Rauth, I., & Elmquist, M. (2016). Framing design thinking: The concept in idea and enactment. Creativity and Innovation Management, 25(1), 38-57.
Elsbach, K. D., & Stigliani, I. (2018). Design thinking and organizational culture: A review and framework for future research. Journal of Management, 44(6), 2274-2306.
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.
Goldschmidt, G. (2016). Linkographic evidence for concurrent divergent and convergent thinking in creative design. Creativity research journal, 28(2), 115-122.
Kolko, J. (2015). Design thinking comes of age. Routeledge
Liedtka, J. (2015). Perspective: Linking design thinking with innovation outcomes through cognitive bias reduction. Journal of Product Innovation Management, 32(6), 925-938.
Liedtka, J. (2018). Why design thinking works. Harvard Business Review, 96(5), 72-79.
Oxman, R. (2017). Thinking difference: Theories and models of parametric design thinking. Design Studies, 52, 4-39.
Plattner, H., Meinel, C., & Leifer, L. (Eds.). (2015). Design thinking research: Making design thinking foundational. Springer.
Serrat, O. (2017). Design thinking. In Knowledge Solutions (pp. 129-134). Springer, Singapore.
Shapira, H., Ketchie, A., & Nehe, M. (2017). The integration of design thinking and strategic sustainable development. Journal of Cleaner Production, 140, 277-287.
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