1. Challenge: Describe your challenge, including all relevant information.

The challenge to which I applied a Design Thinking tool was reaching the goal of better clarity  around what our team, as internal consultants, could do to help others in our organization be able  to think more broadly and creatively about opportunities and problem sets, allowing us to facilitate -  and them to derive - better solutions to business challenges.

2. Selection: In your own words, briefly describe the tool you selected (e.g., what it is and why you

selected it for your challenge -- including any appropriate video lecture references).

For this assignment I selected the Mind Mapping tool - as a way to collect and the organize a wide  variety of input and knowledge about the design thinking methodology itself. Once collected, the  intention was to synthesize the material into a compelling case (or story, if you will) for this new  team of consultants to digest, and hopefully embrace as we begin to create an internal practice.

3. Application: Describe how you applied the tool you selected to your challenge (e.g., what you did

and how the tool was applied effectively or ineffectively).

As mentioned during selection (above), my first thoughts were to collect a variety of data myself,  present it to the team in the form of a Mind Map while describing the thinking process I used to sift  through the material, select the content that appeared to provide the best blend for our situation  and have them ask questions and discuss with me how the broader material collected (which was  shared and presented) ending up in the form shared as the collective Mind Map.

In retrospect, this was an ineffective application of the tool. As a result, there were too many

questions and too much disagreement even after what I thought was a persuasive case  presentation toward adopting the proposed outcome. After experience low engagement and  passive aggressive behavior by enough of the stakeholders, I recognized the need to step back  and allow them to participate in synthesizing the information through a “shared” mind map.

4. Insight: Describe the insight you gained from applying the tool you selected to your challenge (e.g.,

how an insight affected your thinking about the challenge and about design thinking more broadly).

My initial insight was that, in retrospect, this was an ineffective application of the tool.  As a result,  there were too many questions and too much disagreement even after what I thought was a  persuasive case presentation toward adopting the proposed outcome. After experience low  engagement and passive aggressive behavior by enough of the stakeholders, I recognized the need  to step back and allow them to participate in synthesizing the information interactively re-employing  the “Mind Map” only this time through a “shared” experience.

5. Approach: Describe what you might do differently next time -- applying the same tool you selected

or a different one -- and the reason(s) why.

As already mentioned, through my first experience (aka experiment) in using Mind Mapping the  Design Thinking way, I outlined my approach, my initial “learning” and my adjustment that ended  with better results. Specifically, employing the tool more as outlined in this course, the engagement  levels increased significantly, the pace of absorption was more rapid, and agreement was achieved  more overtly. While I would rate my experience a success overall, it was not without its mistakes and  learnings. I also anticipate using the method going forward will face continuing challenges as new  constituents enter into the circle of use without having experienced the process - and also due to the  typical mindset that drives us/business to move forward faster, rather than better.


1 . Challenge : Describe your challenge , including all relevant information . The challenge to which I applied a Design Thinking tool was reaching the goal of better clarity around what our team , as internal consultants , could do to help others in our organization be able to think more broadly and creatively about opportunities and problem sets , allowing us to facilitate - and them to derive - better solutions to business challenges . 2 . Selection : In your own words , briefly describe the tool you selected ( e.g. , what it is and why you selected it for your challenge -- including any appropriate video lecture references ) . For this assignment I selected the Mind Mapping tool - as a way to collect and the organize a wide variety of input and knowledge about the design thinking methodology itself . Once collected , the intention was to synthesize the material into a compelling case ( or story , if you will ) for this new team of consultants to digest , and hopefully embrace as we begin to create an internal practice . 3 . Application : Describe how you applied the tool you selected to your challenge ( e.g. , what you did and how the tool was applied effectively or ineffectively ) . As mentioned during selection ( above ) , my first thoughts were to collect a variety of data myself , present it to the team in the form of a Mind Map while describing the thinking process I used to sift through the material , select the content that appeared to provide the best blend for our situation and have them ask questions and discuss with me how the broader material collected ( which was shared and presented ) ending up in the form shared as the collective Mind Map . In retrospect , this was an ineffective application of the tool . As a result , there were too many questions and too much disagreement even after what I thought was a persuasive case presentation toward adopting the proposed outcome . After experience low engagement and passive aggressive behavior by enough of the stakeholders , I recognized the need to step back and allow them to participate in synthesizing the information through a “ shared ” mind map . 4 . Insight : Describe the insight you gained from applying the tool you selected to your challenge ( e.g. , how an insight affected your thinking about the challenge and about design thinking more broadly ) . My initial insight was that , in retrospect , this was an ineffective application of the tool . As a result , there were too many questions and too much disagreement even after what I thought was a persuasive case presentation toward adopting the proposed outcome . After experience low engagement and passive aggressive behavior by enough of the stakeholders , I recognized the need to step back and allow them to participate in synthesizing the information interactively re - employing the “ Mind Map ” only this time through a “ shared ” experience . 5 . Approach : Describe what you might do differently next time -- applying the same tool you selected or a different one -- and the reason(s ) why . As already mentioned , through my first experience ( aka experiment ) in using Mind Mapping the Design Thinking way , I outlined my approach , my initial “ learning ” and my adjustment that ended with better results . Specifically , employing the tool more as outlined in this course , the engagement levels increased significantly , the pace of absorption was more rapid , and agreement was achieved more overtly . While I would rate my experience a success overall , it was not without its mistakes and learnings . I also anticipate using the method going forward will face continuing challenges as new constituents enter into the circle of use without having experienced the process - and also due to the typical mindset that drives us / business to move forward faster , rather than better .