Design Thinking Workshop for Software Developers Training Course

Day 01

Introduction

• Customer-centric vs tech-driven innovation

Overview of Solution-based Thinking

• Structured thinking and the Design Thinking methodology

Tools for Design Thinkers

• Mind maps, idea generators, innovation matrix, what-if cards, etc.

Design Thinking for Product Development

• Identifying the real user of your product

Case study

• "Spying" on the customer

Gaining an Empathic Understanding of the Customer's Problem

• Drawing pictures of the customer's natural behavior
• Mapping the customer's actions on a timeline

Defining the Problem with the Current Solution

• Identifying the key problems experienced by the user of your product
• Categorizing, visualizing, and estimating the value of solving key problems

Exercise

• Customer journey: Creating a timeline with pictures, emails, quotes and actions.
• Analyzing the key problems
• Deciding which problems to solve
• Presenting your findings

Day 02

Generating Ideas

• Using visualization, mapping, and storytelling to create solutions

Prototyping a Solution

• Tools and methods for validating concepts rapidly

Testing and Iterating

• Real-time testing
• Validating, communicating, and releasing your innovation

Case study

• Fail often, fail fast

Using Design Thinking for Resolving Internal Issues within the Development Team

• Seeing conflict as a positive force for invention
• Managing conflict through debate and discussion
• Empathy as a key ingredient

Exercise

• Building ideas as a team
• Mocking up the prototypes
• Communicating your innovation
• Presenting your findings

Summary and Next Steps