One scenario in which I had used the process of design thinking is in my recent work which had involved  a complete overhaul of a software application for an automotive company. The task assigned was  migration of the application – which catered to existing diesel vehicles – to that of a new set of  requirements for Electric ones.  In this design task the tools which helped me to come up with a solution   are a combination of Visualization and mind mapping.

Application:

Preparing the mind:

Before starting the task or the job,  I was new  to the automobile industry and knew had to create a  learning mindset  throughout  the task .  I was working with various people with domain expertise in the  automotive sector, I knew the only knowledge that I can contribute is that of a generic mobility user,  other than that the solution has to be developed only on listening to what the various team wanted , For  this  I had to maintain a learning mindset and hope that the solution will grow as I  discuss.

What is:

I felt the task had a too narrow definition – a conversion of software - which had eliminated the  possibility of seeking out solutions in other directions. Therefore I took a step back , and  wanted to  understand What is that the organization intends to do with the application , who are going to be its  customers, users. On discussion with the previous application developer and the  business unit head for  electric, the various personas were listed down. The list of various personas was quite a lot both  internally within the company and externally – people who buy / use the product-.

It is here the tool of visualization came to help , given a long list of personas making the eco-system of  extremely complex , the best way in which individual persona/stakeholder can contribute the list of  features they need in the application ,plus demand for what data/information they need from other  personas – i.e. the interaction they intend to have via the application - , is not by going and interviewing  each team and jotting down points , but by involving them in a more interactive way. So I took a  whiteboard made a diagram of the ecosystems, invited different teams and as we ran through different  stakeholders told them to write on a sticky note – what data they wanted – and paste it.  This process  had significantly reduced the time it took for me to run behind teams for inputs , and also gave me a  clear way to look at it , where the data flow / the needs were clearly visible .

What if :

Once the visualization part was complete, The end result was a big mind map in the white board, which  had set up the table for a good brain storming session. The initial task of conversion to new set of  requirements were done, however the question  was whether that what all the stakeholders wanted  just a simple application , on thinking I thought of the idea of a control room kind of solution was  needed for various teams to walk in and get the data they wanted – such as productivity , performance

of the vehicle – and not login to an application as they were. This idea / concept of a new control room  came out of only by brain storming on the visualization map laid out. What started out as a simple  conversion assignment, a new solution was developed. This on discussion with the management  was  the What wows solution . The initial trial or the Proto stage is on the way and till now the productivity of  teams and ease of operation has increased, thus garnering a good feedback. However an area for  improvement would be to efficiently manage and scale the control center quickly, which on gathering  more data would be implemented before the final roll out.

Insight and learnings :

On hindsight maintain a learning mindset is a great positive advantage while beginning a task and as you  carry forward the task, as the problem unveils itself. Visualization completely helped in breaking down a  complex problem and made interaction much easier. The visualization board created a mind map which  facilitated to brainstorm very effectively thus leading to a new solution. Thus, the whole design process  not only helps you to efficiently provide solution but also give an effective solution too.


One scenario in which I had used the process of design thinking is in my recent work which had involved a complete overhaul of a software application for an automotive company . The task assigned was migration of the application – which catered to existing diesel vehicles – to that of a new set of requirements for Electric ones . In this design task the tools which helped me to come up with a solution are a combination of Visualization and mind mapping . Application : Preparing the mind : Before starting the task or the job , I was new to the automobile industry and knew had to create a learning mindset throughout the task . I was working with various people with domain expertise in the automotive sector , I knew the only knowledge that I can contribute is that of a generic mobility user , other than that the solution has to be developed only on listening to what the various team wanted , For this I had to maintain a learning mindset and hope that the solution will grow as I discuss . What is : I felt the task had a too narrow definition – a conversion of software - which had eliminated the possibility of seeking out solutions in other directions . Therefore I took a step back , and wanted to understand What is that the organization intends to do with the application , who are going to be its customers , users . On discussion with the previous application developer and the business unit head for electric , the various personas were listed down . The list of various personas was quite a lot both internally within the company and externally – people who buy / use the product- . It is here the tool of visualization came to help , given a long list of personas making the eco - system of extremely complex , the best way in which individual persona / stakeholder can contribute the list of features they need in the application , plus demand for what data / information they need from other personas – i.e. the interaction they intend to have via the application - , is not by going and interviewing each team and jotting down points , but by involving them in a more interactive way . So I took a whiteboard made a diagram of the ecosystems , invited different teams and as we ran through different stakeholders told them to write on a sticky note – what data they wanted – and paste it . This process had significantly reduced the time it took for me to run behind teams for inputs , and also gave me a clear way to look at it , where the data flow / the needs were clearly visible . What if : Once the visualization part was complete , The end result was a big mind map in the white board , which had set up the table for a good brain storming session . The initial task of conversion to new set of requirements were done , however the question was whether that what all the stakeholders wanted just a simple application , on thinking I thought of the idea of a control room kind of solution was needed for various teams to walk in and get the data they wanted – such as productivity , performance of the vehicle – and not login to an application as they were . This idea / concept of a new control room came out of only by brain storming on the visualization map laid out . What started out as a simple conversion assignment , a new solution was developed . This on discussion with the management was the What wows solution . The initial trial or the Proto stage is on the way and till now the productivity of teams and ease of operation has increased , thus garnering a good feedback . However an area for improvement would be to efficiently manage and scale the control center quickly , which on gathering more data would be implemented before the final roll out . Insight and learnings : On hindsight maintain a learning mindset is a great positive advantage while beginning a task and as you carry forward the task , as the problem unveils itself . Visualization completely helped in breaking down a complex problem and made interaction much easier . The visualization board created a mind map which facilitated to brainstorm very effectively thus leading to a new solution . Thus , the whole design process not only helps you to efficiently provide solution but also give an effective solution too .