Wednesday, November 25, 2015    Design Thinking for Business Innovation Assignment: Reflection  on a Design Tool of Choice

1. Challenge.

I am a writer by profession, the Author of 13 books on topics  ranging from Philosophy of Mind, to Esoterica, to Parenting and  Self-Improvement and also Fiction and Poetry. Seeing as I am an  Author, who must also be a business person by marketing her own  work to the world and her own pen name to the world, it is obvious  that my choice of Design Tool would be the Storytelling Tool.          In particular, I have advanced my career over the past six years  since I became an Author, through influencing popular thought,  and in doing so, I have been hailed one of the greatest female  thinkers of our time (I use a pen name). To do this, requires Design  Thinking, and obviously, storytelling. To do this, requires me to  focus entirely on my readers, on what their stories are, so I can in  turn produce my own stories that empathize with them on an  innate and very personal level. I always say, that being a writer is  not about being a writer; rather, being a writer is about connecting  with the readers. Thanks to this frame of mind, I am also referred  to as, the grassroots author.          I am challenged, every day, to apply empathy to my workplace  (my workplace being the world and her people), in order to  connect my own stories with the stories of others, which causes me  to produce new and unique stories of my own. It is something like  a puzzle plus a puzzle, fitted together in my own unique way,  allowing me to produce a whole new different picture as a result.

2. Selection.

Storytelling as a Design Tool, can be understood in depth,  through our own lecture video found here:  https://www.coursera.org/learn/design-thinking- innovation/lecture/PAXCd/storytelling-tool         Storytelling is the act of placing focus on the people involved in  the nature and purpose of the Design Thinking process: giving  importance to their problems, their feelings, their thoughts and  their desires. It is, in essence, a way of enacting empathy. But then,  you must be able to take that empathic focus and be creative with

it, in order to turn it into something that others will want to hear  and listen to.          My favorite part of the storytelling process when applied to  business strategy, is that it can actually be put to good use  throughout the entire Design Thinking Process, as noted on this  very helpful website, called, “Design Research Techniques dot  com” :  http://designresearchtechniques.com/casestudies/storytelling/

3. Application

Storytelling is obviously applied to the profession of being an  author, as an integral and extremely important point in the whole  process of the career. I have applied this tool, in my becoming what  they have dubbed “the grassroots Author”, and to do that, I have  truly focused my career not on my own gain; but rather, on the  individual stories of my readers. I have been there for them,  answered every email, listened to their losses and their gains, and  from this I have drawn the ability to listen, care, and extrapolate  from the greater collection sentiment, in order to produce works  that connect to that greater collective sentiment in world society.  Of course, this sentiment changes, and along with those changes  also flow the changes evident in my works.

4. Insight

I have been able to see the work that I do, as a trade and  profession that is actually very dependent upon the Design Tool  called storytelling. And not only that, but I have been able to see  my work as an Author as being a profession needy of Design  Thinking skills, as a whole. It’s true that I have always seen my  profession as being a business (albeit only second to my passion),  but only now have I seen what an integral role these business skills  actually play in my style as an Author.

5. Approach

Seeing as I am taking my own profession as an Author as the  challenge to apply Design Thinking Tools to, I cannot really say  that I would do anything “differently next time.” Obviously, it is  not a single project that I am talking about; rather, I am talking  about a career as a whole. I suppose that my approach to applying  these tools will change as the times change, or as I change as an

individual of my profession, giving and adding to the Literary  Industry. Only time can tell.


Wednesday , November 25 , 2015 Design Thinking for Business Innovation Assignment : Reflection on a Design Tool of Choice 1 . Challenge . I am a writer by profession , the Author of 13 books on topics ranging from Philosophy of Mind , to Esoterica , to Parenting and Self - Improvement and also Fiction and Poetry . Seeing as I am an Author , who must also be a business person by marketing her own work to the world and her own pen name to the world , it is obvious that my choice of Design Tool would be the Storytelling Tool . In particular , I have advanced my career over the past six years since I became an Author , through influencing popular thought , and in doing so , I have been hailed one of the greatest female thinkers of our time ( I use a pen name ) . To do this , requires Design Thinking , and obviously , storytelling . To do this , requires me to focus entirely on my readers , on what their stories are , so I can in turn produce my own stories that empathize with them on an innate and very personal level . I always say , that being a writer is not about being a writer ; rather , being a writer is about connecting with the readers . Thanks to this frame of mind , I am also referred to as , the grassroots author . I am challenged , every day , to apply empathy to my workplace ( my workplace being the world and her people ) , in order to connect my own stories with the stories of others , which causes me to produce new and unique stories of my own . It is something like a puzzle plus a puzzle , fitted together in my own unique way , allowing me to produce a whole new different picture as a result . 2 . Selection . Storytelling as a Design Tool , can be understood in depth , through our own lecture video found here : https://www.coursera.org/learn/design-thinking- innovation / lecture / PAXCd / storytelling - tool Storytelling is the act of placing focus on the people involved in the nature and purpose of the Design Thinking process : giving importance to their problems , their feelings , their thoughts and their desires . It is , in essence , a way of enacting empathy . But then , you must be able to take that empathic focus and be creative with it , in order to turn it into something that others will want to hear and listen to . My favorite part of the storytelling process when applied to business strategy , is that it can actually be put to good use throughout the entire Design Thinking Process , as noted on this very helpful website , called , “ Design Research Techniques dot com ” : http://designresearchtechniques.com/casestudies/storytelling/ 3 . Application Storytelling is obviously applied to the profession of being an author , as an integral and extremely important point in the whole process of the career . I have applied this tool , in my becoming what they have dubbed “ the grassroots Author ” , and to do that , I have truly focused my career not on my own gain ; but rather , on the individual stories of my readers . I have been there for them , answered every email , listened to their losses and their gains , and from this I have drawn the ability to listen , care , and extrapolate from the greater collection sentiment , in order to produce works that connect to that greater collective sentiment in world society . Of course , this sentiment changes , and along with those changes also flow the changes evident in my works . 4 . Insight I have been able to see the work that I do , as a trade and profession that is actually very dependent upon the Design Tool called storytelling . And not only that , but I have been able to see my work as an Author as being a profession needy of Design Thinking skills , as a whole . It ’s true that I have always seen my profession as being a business ( albeit only second to my passion ) , but only now have I seen what an integral role these business skills actually play in my style as an Author . 5 . Approach Seeing as I am taking my own profession as an Author as the challenge to apply Design Thinking Tools to , I can not really say that I would do anything “ differently next time . ” Obviously , it is not a single project that I am talking about ; rather , I am talking about a career as a whole . I suppose that my approach to applying these tools will change as the times change , or as I change as an individual of my profession , giving and adding to the Literary Industry . Only time can tell .