In today’s fast-paced world, success in the workplace requires more than just technical expertise. It is essential for organizations and individuals to foster power skills like problem-solving skills across job roles, teams and leadership. 

Problem-solving not just enables a professional to handle difficult or unexpected situations. Also, brings a fresh perspective, better response to challenges, anticipates risks and makes informed decisions. 

Problem-solving not just improves communication but also management. For this, design thinking is an effective tool for identifying, comprehending and managing situations. 

This content piece will delve into the use of design thinking as a problem-solving tool. 

What Is Design Thinking?

There are multiple problem-solving approaches, from linear to human-centred. With changing times and requirements, a human-centred approach takes centre stage, with design thinking being one of them. 

It shifts the process of comprehending innovation of products, services and more. This approach is anchored on understanding customers’ needs, rapid prototyping, and generating creative ideas. 

It is different from other innovation processes in that it’s solution-based and user-centric rather than problem-based. 

Design Thinking Principles

Design thinking is centred around the user, of their pain points, preferences, inclinations, knowledge and more.  Thus, solving the pain points is at the core of the tool. In doing so, it brings together what is desirable from a human point of view with what is technologically feasible and economically viable for the organization.

Desirability: What makes sense to people and for people?

It is about learning from users about their needs, frustrations and expectations.

Feasibility: What is technically possible within the foreseeable future?

It is about the resources and capabilities that organizations have to develop solutions. 

Viability: Does the solution contribute to the long-term growth of the company? 

  It is about creating profitable and sustainable solutions

Using design thinking as a tool for problem-solving

Design thinking encourages teams to align with the audience, challenge assumptions, and approach challenges with fresh perspectives.

The first step of design thinking is building empathy with customers or users. By understanding the customer/client affected by a problem, organizations can find an impactful solution. Along with empathy, design thinking is centred on observing product interaction and drawing conclusions based on research.  The whole process ensures that the user remains the focus of the final implementation.

Design thinking is a non-linear, iterative process which is extremely useful to tackle complex problems. It serves to understand the human needs involved, reframe the problem in human-centric ways, create numerous ideas in brainstorming sessions and adopt a hands-on approach to prototyping and testing.

As a problem-solving tool, design thinking can be a value addition, irrespective of the industry. Zenfide builds skills and learning experiences for teams that are relevant, practical and can boost your business in the long run.