Design Thinking Training in Iowa

Design Thinking is a human-centered approach for solving problems through empathy, definition, ideation, prototyping, and testing. This course places a strong emphasis on the Empathize stage, focusing on connecting previously identified pain points to the genuine needs of internal clients, and applying dynamic, collaborative activities to transform insights into actionable outcomes. This instructor-led, live training (online or onsite) is designed for beginner-level to intermediate-level teams and leaders who wish to enhance their empathy skills, build stronger relationships with internal clients, and translate pain points into meaningful opportunities for improvement. By the end of this training, participants will be able to: - Apply empathy-based techniques to uncover and validate client needs. - Translate mapped pain points into clear, actionable requirements. - Engage in dynamic role plays and simulations to practice client-centered conversations. - Collaboratively redefine problem statements from the client’s perspective. **Format of the Course** - Interactive lecture and guided discussions. - Dynamic, hands-on role plays and empathy exercises. - Group workshops for collaborative problem reframing. **Course Customization Options** - To request a customized version tailored to specific internal processes (e.g., procurement or equipment provisioning) for government, please contact us to arrange.

Design Thinking is a human-centered methodology for solving problems through empathy, definition, ideation, prototyping, and testing. By focusing on the first two stages — Empathize and Define — teams can better understand internal clients and accurately define the right problems to solve. This instructor-led, live training (online or onsite) is aimed at beginner-level to intermediate-level teams and leaders who wish to enhance their connection with internal clients, reduce resistance to change, and improve operational efficiency through practical, collaborative methods for government. By the end of this training, participants will be able to: - Use active listening and interviewing techniques to gather meaningful insights about internal clients. - Create empathy maps and capture user needs and pain points. - Differentiate real root problems from perceived issues using tools like the 5 Whys and problem trees. - Draft clear, actionable problem statements (POVs) that guide solution work. **Format of the Course** - Interactive lecture and discussion. - Practical, hands-on exercises and role-plays. - Group workshops and plenary feedback sessions. **Course Customization Options** - To request a customized version tailored to a specific internal process (e.g., procurement or equipment provisioning), please contact us to arrange.

This instructor-led, live training (available online or onsite) is designed for government professionals at the beginner to intermediate level who wish to understand and apply Design Thinking methodologies to drive innovation and improve business solutions. By the end of this training, participants will be able to: - Understand the core principles of Design Thinking and its role in fostering innovation. - Apply the five phases of Design Thinking to solve complex problems. - Utilize ideation techniques and tools to promote creativity. - Implement Design Thinking strategies to enhance processes and increase efficiency for government operations.

This instructor-led, live training in [location] (online or onsite) is designed for government employees at the beginner to intermediate level who wish to address everyday workplace challenges using gamification techniques. By the end of this training, participants will be able to: - Understand the principles of Design Thinking and their application to problem-solving for government. - Incorporate gamification techniques to enhance engagement and innovation in public sector workflows. - Develop creative and practical solutions to common workplace issues within government agencies. - Collaborate effectively across teams to implement robust problem-solving strategies. - Apply iterative approaches to refine solutions through feedback and experimentation, ensuring alignment with governance and accountability standards.

This instructor-led, live training (conducted either online or on-site) is designed for government leaders and human resources professionals at the beginner level who wish to learn and apply Design Thinking methodologies. The goal is to foster innovation, enhance problem-solving capabilities, and effectively engage teams. By the end of this training, participants will be able to: - Equip themselves with tools and methodologies to foster innovation and team engagement. - Develop skills in empathy mapping, ideation, and prototyping for addressing complex challenges. - Apply Design Thinking principles to leadership and HR scenarios within government settings. - Promote a culture of innovation within tech teams for government.

This instructor-led, live training (available online or onsite) is designed for government personnel and professionals who wish to learn how to conduct a successful design sprint within their organization. By the end of this training, participants will be able to: - Mitigate the risk associated with launching new products. - Collect valuable feedback from stakeholders on new concepts before development begins. - Foster creativity within teams to expedite critical decision-making processes.

In this instructor-led, live workshop training in [location] (online or onsite), participants will learn how to apply the five stages of Design Thinking to better understand the challenges faced by end-users of a product or service, and then develop effective solutions to address these issues. By the end of this training, participants will be able to: - Employ creative strategies to align customers' needs with technologically feasible solutions. - Develop a strategy to increase customer value and enhance product and service offerings for government.

Overview:

The Design Thinking (DT) process comprises five stages: empathize, define the problem, ideate, prototype, and test. In an increasingly complex world, addressing multifaceted challenges often requires specialized approaches. Design Thinking is a valuable methodology for tackling such complexities. By mastering design thinking, individuals can enhance their ability to manage intricate problems, communicate effectively, persuade stakeholders, improve business outcomes, and elevate both organizational and personal performance.

• How DT works: Engage with people and the problem, identify patterns, develop a model (including addressing model drift), test the model, evaluate its effectiveness, and refine as necessary.
• The relationship between Design Thinking, innovation, and entrepreneurship is crucial. These elements are interconnected, driving creative solutions and sustainable growth.
• DT methods and tools include persona development, stakeholder mapping, customer journey mapping, service blueprinting, and business model innovation.
• Applications of DT: Cultivate a design mindset, foster disruptive innovation, adopt an iterative approach, utilize agile estimation techniques, enhance critical thinking and problem-solving skills, promote teamwork, build leadership readiness, improve communication, become technology-savvy, think forward, develop intercultural and ethical competencies, enhance emotional intelligence, increase self-awareness, refine negotiating skills, and resolve conflicts effectively.

Objectives:

• To understand the foundational principles and nuances of Design Thinking for government.
• To explore key concepts, factors, theories, types, and models in DT.
• To engage in hands-on experimentation, experiential learning, and practical application of DT methods.

Delivery:

This is a 1-day (4-hour) training course that includes the following components:

• Lectures (40%): Presentation of theories, concepts, models, and interactive discussions.
• Group Exercises (30%): Group dynamics, games, group discussions, and mock conflict resolution exercises.
• Individual Activities (15%): Writing assignments, design tasks, and peer discussions.
• Other Activities (15%): Video presentations and assigned readings.

Note: Due to the interactive nature of this course, a minimum group size of 3 participants is required.

In an increasingly complex world, addressing challenges often requires specialized approaches. Design Thinking is a methodology that helps manage complex problems effectively. By mastering Design Thinking, individuals can enhance their ability to solve intricate issues, communicate more clearly, persuade stakeholders efficiently, improve organizational outcomes, and boost both personal and professional performance. ### Program Objectives: - Introduce the principles of Design Thinking and its application across various sectors, including for government. - Identify the benefits of Design Thinking and its significance in developing effective solutions. - Understand the central role of the customer in the Design Thinking process. - Learn about the tools used in Design Thinking and how to apply them in real-world scenarios.