Design thinking can be used at two levels by PMs. The first is to help their team develop products or services which better fit the needs of stakeholders. The second is to improve the team's ability to resolve project issues.
Kiron Saving Changes...
Ian WhittinghamManaging Director| Calixo ConsultingGolden Cross, East Sussex, United Kingdom
Hi Luis,
In June 2019, PMI’s annual Talent & Technology Symposium opened with a keynote presentation from Doug Powell, Vice President of Design at IBM, who gave a very engaging presentation on the beneficial effect that design thinking can have on innovation projects. It is still available online here at https://www.projectmanagement.com/videos/5...the-Digital-Age
I used this as a starting point to investigate why design thinking, both as a process and a practice, yields such successful results in projects where there is any element of product design and delivery. What I found was that design thinking is beneficial because the techniques it uses are very effective at suppressing the effects of cognitive bias that so often result in poor or mediocre project outcomes.
Although the focus of the techniques described is mainly beneficial for product innovation and development projects, some of these can be adapted to aid, for example, project planning in general. You can read more about this here at https://www.projectmanagement.com/articles...-thinking-works Saving Changes...
When is the project manager engaged and what level of influence does the project manager have?
The ability to see/discover the big picture has always been an asset, on a personal level, but I've worked at a strong matrix company where I often wasn't brought onto the project until after design decisions were made. There were times when I was able to influence things for the better and there were times I wasn't.
I guess my point is that there aren't necessarily disadvantages to being able to apply design thinking principles and practices, but that as project managers we aren't always given the opportunity to leverage them. Saving Changes...
George FreemanThought Leader | Author | Architect| Florida, United States
Hi Luis,
The largest advantages are realized when “design thinking-based” approaches are interwoven into one’s leadership style, thus making it a normal aspect of everyday work-life. So, yes, it starts with “knowing,” but its value culminates when it becomes your “leadership engagement style.”
I wrote an article on this subject a couple of years ago called “What Can Challenge-Based Leadership Do for You?” which you can find on this platform. It portrays a style of leadership loosely based on “design thinking” that can be integrated into your practice.
Bottom Line: The perspectives and implementations of design thinking are numerous, and they are all valuable, but in my take, when you view it as a style and not just a tool, the value greatly increases. Saving Changes...
Markus KopkoAI Enabler for Project & Program Mgmt | Founder PMotion.ai / The PM
AI Coach| PMotion.aiHamburg, Hamburg, Germany
Dec 12, 2023 8:42 AM
Replying to Abolfazl Yousefi Darestani
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I agree with Kiron.
Nice Saving Changes...
Markus KopkoAI Enabler for Project & Program Mgmt | Founder PMotion.ai / The PM
AI Coach| PMotion.aiHamburg, Hamburg, Germany
Dear Luis,
Design thinking, as a problem-solving approach, offers several advantages to project managers, regardless of their industry or project type. Here are some key benefits of understanding and incorporating design thinking practices in project management:
1. Enhanced Problem-Solving Skills:
Creative Solutions: Design thinking encourages thinking outside the box, leading to more innovative and creative solutions to project challenges.
User-Centric Approach: It focuses on understanding the needs of the end-users, ensuring that solutions are tailored to their requirements.
2. Improved Team Collaboration and Engagement:
Collaborative Environment: Design thinking fosters a collaborative team environment where diverse ideas are valued and explored. This can lead to higher team engagement and morale.
Cross-Functional Involvement: It encourages the involvement of different stakeholders and team members with varied expertise, leading to more well-rounded solutions.
3. Better Risk Management:
Prototyping and Testing: Design thinking involves prototyping and testing ideas in the early stages, allowing for early identification and mitigation of potential risks.
Flexibility to Adapt: The iterative nature of design thinking makes it easier to adapt and pivot as new information or challenges arise.
4. Increased Customer and Stakeholder Satisfaction:
Meeting Real Needs: By focusing on the actual needs and experiences of users, design thinking ensures that project outcomes are more likely to satisfy customers and stakeholders.
Stakeholder Involvement: Regular stakeholder engagement throughout the design thinking process helps in aligning expectations and building consensus.
5. Efficient Use of Resources:
Avoiding Wasteful Efforts: Design thinking helps in identifying the most viable solutions early on, reducing time and resources spent on less effective ideas.
Iterative Refinement: Resources can be more effectively allocated as the project progresses through iterative refinement.
6. Facilitating Change Management:
Empathy and Understanding: Design thinking starts with empathy, helping project managers understand and address the concerns of those affected by change.
Innovative Approaches to Change: It provides tools for developing innovative approaches to managing and implementing change within organizations.
7. Building a Customer-Centric Culture:
Long-Term Value: Understanding design thinking can help project managers instill a customer-centric approach within their teams, leading to long-term value creation.
Brand Differentiation: Projects that effectively meet user needs can contribute to a stronger, more positive brand perception.
Conclusion:
For project managers, knowing design thinking practices is advantageous in enhancing problem-solving capabilities, fostering collaboration, managing risks effectively, and ensuring customer satisfaction. It equips them with a holistic and agile approach to project management, aligning project goals with user needs and market demands. As a result, project managers can deliver more successful, innovative, and user-centered project outcomes.
Senior Projects Manager | Field & Marten AssociatesNew Westminster, British Columbia, Canada
Luis, good question. The construction projects I currently manage, are mostly Senior Communities and Developments so knowing and incorporating design thinking throughout the project starting from the initiation phase does help us have a better understanding of the seniors needs, leading to more innovative and effective solutions in addition to more efficient problem solving and at the end it proved to increase end user or client satisfaction when the building addresses actual user needs and pain points from accessibility, mobility to amenity areas and green spaces. Saving Changes...
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