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Workshop: Design Thinking in Software Development

Leave this workshop with practical skills in using a structured Design Thinking process when developing software, products, AI services, or business processes.

WE HAVE TAUGHT

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This fast-paced workshop is taught by an expert enterprise coach with deep experience in both design thinking and enterprise technology product development. Upon completion, you'll be ready to apply design thinking principles to software development, complex technology products and problems, and AI feature/product development. Attendees will explore a rigorous, repeatable problem-solving process for realistic product investments, quick prototypes for AI features, fast testing, and, above all, human-centric solutions. The session focuses on understanding user/customer needs, designing technology products for them, and creating a space for shared "ah-ha" moments in the team.     Meet your instructor for this class.

After this workshop, you will be ready to:

 

  • Implement design thinking in technology-dependent products and projects: Utilize design thinking methodologies specifically tailored for complex technology environments.

  • Lead user-centric innovation: Create and use empathy maps, work with sponsor users, and gain a deeper understanding of your user experiences. Identify and articulate technology challenges precisely, distinguishing between symptoms and root causes.

  • Articulate clear problem definitions: Use divergent and convergent problem-solving techniques to zero in on root causes and write clear problem statements.

  • Facilitate creative ideation sessions: Identify and refine solution candidates quickly, using agile techniques to test technology solutions iteratively.

  • Use low-fidelity prototyping: Execute initial usability testing on prototypes, gathering and incorporating feedback for improvement.

  • Apply human-centric design principles at organizational scale: Learn to implement design thinking principles in large-scale, complex organizational structures..

  • Drive change with confidence: Return to your organization equipped with the knowledge and skills to spearhead design thinking initiatives and foster a culture of innovation in technology development.

Workshop Agenda

 

This workshop is crafted for individuals in roles related to software development, product management, AI features, UX/UI design, and anyone interested in improving their problem-solving skills in a high-tech environment. Attendees will leave with a strong foundation in Design Thinking and the confidence to apply these skills in their organizations.

 

1. Introduction to Design Thinking

  • Fundamental concepts and key terms

  • Importance in AI and technology solutions

  • Course goals: empathy, iterative processes, agile practices

 

Exercise: Setting the stage with an inventory of your technology challenges

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2. Design Thinking Overview

  • Principles and processes

  • The role of iterative processes and agile methodologies

  • Addressing technology-heavy systems and user-centric solutions

 

Exercise: Small groups will evaluate how user centricity is currently applied in their existing development processes.

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3. Empathy & Human-Centered Design

  • Understanding end-user needs and behaviors

  • Integrating user feedback into the design process

  • Developing empathy maps to visualize user needs

 

Breakout session: In your small group, you will practice developing an empathy map which you'll use as a source for problem definition and user stories.

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4. Defining Problems & Design Challenges

  • Distinguishing symptoms, problems, and root causes

  • Techniques for clear problem definition

  • Crafting problem statements and how to refine them

 

Exercise: Workshop groups will identify and use the tools we've discussed to define a real-world tech problem and the associated design challenge.

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5. Ideation and Creative Problem-Solving

  • Techniques for generating innovative ideas

  • Using divergent and convergent ideation tools

 

Exercise: Ideation session using Why-How laddering and the the "How Might We" (HMW) method

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6. Prototyping and Rapid Development

  • Low-fidelity prototypes in AI and tech product feature development

  • Gathering iterative testing and user feedback from low-fidelity prototyping

  • Prototyping tools and materials

 

Exercise: Develop low-fidelity prototypes for one of the brainstormed solutions

 

Testing & Iterating Solutions

  • Evaluating solutions in real-world scenarios

  • Fine-tuning based on user feedback and testing results

  • Learning to iterate based on feedback and test results

 

Design Thinking at Scale

  • Applying design thinking principles in large, complex organizations

  • Four strategies for overcoming scale challenges with design thinking

 

Group Discussion: Share experiences and strategies for implementing design thinking in large organizations. We'll catalog your challenges and produce a list of solution candidates.

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Conclusion and Final Assessment

  • Recap of key concepts and methodologies

  • Assessment to gauge understanding and application of course material

 

Final Group Exercise: Groups will present the results of their work throughout the workshop from problem identification to prototyping and testing plans and receive feedback on how to make measurable progress back at work.

All open-enrollment workshops are 6 hours, $299. You will leave with work products, canvases, and implementation templates.

Bring this workshop to your team.

Fill out the form, and we'll get in touch with options for teaching a private session of this class to your team.

We'll be in touch!

Design Thinking outline

This workshop is designed for:

  • Product Managers

  • User Experience (UX) Designers

  • Software Developers

  • Data Scientists and Analysts

  • Project Managers

  • AI Specialists

  • Business Analysts

  • IT Managers

  • Innovation Strategists

  • Digital Transformation Consultants

  • Technology Research and Development Leads

  • Organizational Change Managers

  • Customer Experience Strategists

  • Operations Managers in Tech Departments

  • Marketing Managers focusing on Tech Products

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