In the world of business, decisions are made at virtually all hours of the working day. Some of these choices made will inevitably impact our goals. However, by putting your best foot forward, those goals will inevitably be reached. If you find that specific results are not being reached, it may be due to the inevitable creative ceiling being hit.
One of the best ways around this is to look for methods that drive innovation. By implementing new practises into your business, you open a plethora of doors for you and your team. Design thinking is one such process that fosters a culture of innovation in several ways.
Design thinking ensures that better, creative decisions can be made by coalescing. Every team member, or participant involved, will all have a say in how a decision can be reached. Normally, this will take an inordinate amount of time to reach. For the long term, however, you will be happy with the overwhelmingly, innovative solutions every time!
Here are the seven ways on how design thinking can be used for innovation:
Design thinking is value-driven
When it comes to making a business decision, no matter how small, value is inherently attached to it. Some choices may be meaningless, while others may be worth more than originally anticipated. To reach the latter, you’ll have to redefine how you perceive value in its entirety. This will allow you to reach new and innovative decision-making systems.
Design thinking forces each individual to think of a problem or goal on a holistic level. Every aspect of a challenge must be thought about from the ground up, if solutions are to be reached. Once this is understood, the process of designing around the issue can begin. The fruits of your labour will be immediately noticeable in the long run!
Design thinking evokes a culture change
Our modern day world of business is comprised of various techniques and philosophies. Some of those beliefs are rooted in tradition, which encourages everyone to work their hardest. While this may still ring true for a majority of us, it shouldn’t be seen as the only approach to business.
In fact, design thinking challenges this assumption entirely, and forces each person to think outside the box. This allows everyone to challenge biases and presumptions about their perceptions. After this is done, newer, and better, ways of solving problems will inevitably arise.
Design thinking leads to business model changes
Innovation is something that can only be reached if assumptions are let go. The business landscape should always be willing to think differently, if new targets are to be reached. Take a look at your current departments, such as HR and marketing. Are there any aspects of these areas that could be improved?
A design thinking-based solution forces each professional to think practically at the onset. Once this is carefully and meticulously laid out, efficiency in these areas can be discovered. Ultimately, this serves to only drive business, due in part to the shift in how business was previously conducted.
Design thinking helps you to understand consumer behaviour
At the end of the day, business can only succeed once consumers are dedicated to it. Developing a loyal base of consumers is difficult, and can be hard to build in the beginning of any new phase of business. However, it is imperative to continually inspect how consumers react to certain trends.
Even if trends are a dime a dozen, they will inevitably impact how a consumer behaves to certain areas. Design thinking capitalizes on this sentiment, and forces individuals in high-ranking positions to think differently. An explosion of success is the difference between monitoring consumer behaviour, or ignoring it!
Design thinking simplifies decisions
As mentioned previously, decisions are made at every point of the day. Some of these choices take a long amount of time to come about, especially if no one can agree on a solution. With a design thinking process behind an organization, these processes are thoroughly streamlined. A simple system results in more efficiency all around!
Design thinking can inspire staff
Although we will always put our best foot forward each day in our work, hitting a roadblock is bound to be encountered. This is not guaranteed, but everyone’s drive to continually innovate will wither. To inspire yourself, and your staff, it is imperative to use innovative models of business.
A design thinking model forces employees to think outside the box, in an effort to reach new, creative outputs. Once put into action, everyone will be reenergized, ready to take on any and all challenges.
Design thinking leads to better problem-solving
Despite complex, societal problems seemingly appearing impossible to tackle, solutions can be discovered. With design thinking behind an organization, a business will be able to develop sophisticated results. Areas, such as climate change, may not be immediately solvable. However, long term, innovative, answers can be found through this process!
