Design Thinking Training Course

The Design Thinking Mindset & Innovation Landscape

• The 5 Stages: A detailed exploration of Empathize, Define, Ideate, Prototype, and Test, each critical for government innovation.
• Innovation Theory: Understanding the interplay between Design Thinking (DT), disruptive innovation, and entrepreneurship in a public sector context.
• The Problem Space: Techniques for identifying patterns, defining problems accurately, and recognizing why finding the right problem is crucial before seeking solutions.
• Group Exercise: Differentiating "Why" from "How" — selecting and addressing a real-world complex issue throughout the session for government application.

Empathy, User Research & Problem Definition

• Empathy Mapping: Methods to gain insights into user pain points, needs, and motivations, essential for effective public service design.
• Stakeholder Mapping: Techniques for identifying affected parties and strategies for engaging them in the problem-solving process.
• The Persona: Creating detailed archetypes of the target audience to better tailor solutions for government.
• Defining the Problem: Crafting effective Problem Statements (Point-of-View statements) and "How Might We" (HMW) questions to clearly frame challenges for government initiatives.
• Workshop: Drafting personas and problem statements for a group-selected case study, tailored for government use.

Ideation & Divergent Thinking

• Generating Ideas: Techniques to overcome creative blocks, including SCAMPER, brainstorming rules, and the Worst Possible Idea method, specifically for government projects.
• Idea Selection: Methods for filtering and prioritizing ideas, such as dot voting and the Impact/Effort Matrix, to ensure practical solutions for government.
• Agile Estimation: Introducing basic techniques to estimate the viability of ideas in a government context.
• Group Exercise: A rapid ideation sprint to generate potential solutions for the defined problem, focusing on government applications.

Prototyping & The Art of Failing Fast

• Prototyping: Principles of rapid prototyping using tools like paper, cardboard, storyboarding, and role-play to test ideas quickly for government initiatives.
• Testing: Formulating a test plan and gathering meaningful feedback to refine solutions for government use.
• Iterative Approach: The "Build-Measure-Learn" cycle, emphasizing the importance of learning from failure in government projects.
• Tools: Introduction to Customer Journey Maps and Service Blueprints to visualize and enhance solutions for government.
• Workshop: Creating low-fidelity prototypes of the top solutions, with a focus on practical application for government.

Testing, Evaluation & Refinement

• Running the Test: Techniques for presenting prototypes and asking effective questions to gather valuable feedback for government initiatives.
• Feedback Loops: Distinguishing between constructive feedback and personal preferences to improve solutions for government.
• Model Drift: Recognizing when a solution diverges from the user's core needs, ensuring alignment with government objectives.
• Group Exercise: Peer testing of prototypes and refining solutions based on feedback, tailored for government use.

Scaling Impact & Leadership Readiness

• Business Model Innovation: Aligning the solution with the Business Model Canvas to ensure it is viable and sustainable for government operations.
• Critical Thinking & Leadership: Integrating the Design Thinking mindset into daily work and decision-making processes in government agencies.
• Cultural Implementation: Strategies for overcoming resistance to change and fostering a culture of psychological safety within government organizations.
• Final Reflection: Summarizing key takeaways, developing personal action plans, and closing the loop on the learning journey for government professionals.