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Design Thinking at Work: How Innovative Organizations are Embracing Design
The result of extensive international research with multinationals, governments and non-profits, Design Thinking at Work explores the challenges organizations face when developing creative strategies to innovate and solve problems. Noting how many organizations have embraced "design thinking" as a fresh approach to a fundamental problem, author David Dunne explores in this book how this approach can be applied in practice.
Design thinkers constantly run headlong into challenges in bureaucratic and hostile cultures. Through compelling examples and stories from the field, Dunne explains the challenges they face, how the best organizations, including Procter & Gamble and the Australian Tax Office, are dealing with these challenges and what lessons can be distilled from their experiences. Essential reading for anyone interested in how design works in the real world, Design Thinking at Work challenges many of the wild claims that have been made for design thinking, while offering a way forward.
Design thinkers constantly run headlong into challenges in bureaucratic and hostile cultures. Through compelling examples and stories from the field, Dunne explains the challenges they face, how the best organizations, including Procter & Gamble and the Australian Tax Office, are dealing with these challenges and what lessons can be distilled from their experiences. Essential reading for anyone interested in how design works in the real world, Design Thinking at Work challenges many of the wild claims that have been made for design thinking, while offering a way forward.
232 pages, Hardcover
Published November 2, 2018
5 people are currently reading
119 people want to read
About the author
David Dunne
1 book3 followersA former Marketing and Advertising executive with Unilever and Young & Rubicam, David Dunne holds a Ph.D. from the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management. He is currently Professor and Director, MBA Programs at the University of Victoria and Senior Lecturer Emeritus at Rotman.
His research and teaching blend theory and practice, focusing on problem solving through Design by applying insight, creativity and prototyping to challenging questions in society and business. He has published in Harvard Business Review, Academy of Management Learning & Education, and other journals.
He is an accomplished educator: his many awards include the prestigious 3M National Teaching Fellowship and the University of Toronto President’s Teaching Award. He consults on innovation and marketing to private- and public-sector organizations.
He is Board Chair of Academics Without Borders and volunteers as a leadership and educational consultant with a medical school in Kathmandu, Nepal. He lives in Vancouver, Canada.
His research and teaching blend theory and practice, focusing on problem solving through Design by applying insight, creativity and prototyping to challenging questions in society and business. He has published in Harvard Business Review, Academy of Management Learning & Education, and other journals.
He is an accomplished educator: his many awards include the prestigious 3M National Teaching Fellowship and the University of Toronto President’s Teaching Award. He consults on innovation and marketing to private- and public-sector organizations.
He is Board Chair of Academics Without Borders and volunteers as a leadership and educational consultant with a medical school in Kathmandu, Nepal. He lives in Vancouver, Canada.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
December 3, 2018
I'm glad that this book does not present design thinking as the ultimate solution to innovation and creativity in organizations. This book explores the basic tenets of design thinking and gives real-life insights into organizations and the challenges they face in applying these tenets. I love the practicality of it and how easy it is to relate to; from the examples of bureaucracy, reluctance to embrace innovation, financial hurdles and team dynamics.
I'd recommend it to organizations or teams who are interested in understanding, applying and getting the most out of design thinking.
Thank you Netgalley for the eARC.
I'd recommend it to organizations or teams who are interested in understanding, applying and getting the most out of design thinking.
Thank you Netgalley for the eARC.
November 18, 2018
Reconciling the distinctive process of design thinking to diverse organizations; Design Thinking At Work explores critical elements of the context for the creative process. Extensive research allows the author to have a realistic perspective on the challenges and offer genuine insight.
The book assumes an understanding of design thinking. It is not an introduction. Given the vulnerability of design labs to political and financial pressure this focus on organizational relationships makes a valuable contribution to the field.
It explores three major sources of tension: Inclusion, Disruption, and Perspective.
Inclusion refers to getting enough distance from the organization to develop original and valuable ideas, but at the same time being well enough integrated with the organization to have those ideas executed.
I worried the discussion of disruption would be one of the many discussions that are weakly defined and nieve, but the author does demonstrate a solid understanding of the subject and the challenges that surround the way it is understood. Major organizational conflicts are real and while they are hard to resolve, the book does open the discussion in a reasonable way.
The third major focus is the challenge of reframing problems that can be difficult for people "too close" the existing process yet critical to making breakthrough advances.
Some things I found particularly noteworthy included the discussion of organizational goals - culture and recruiting factors; the mindset of "escape, model & prototype"
I like how the importance of rigor is emphasized.
"Design thinking eludes definition."
"This is a field that has been built through practice; theory is scrambling to catch up."
Insightful and very well researched, the book is consistent with other sources but the examples come from a very broad set of organizations.
On a poignant note, the author has noted that MindLab, cited often in the book, has closed down. A reminder that while creativity tends to flourish in safe spaces, those safe spaces tend to be vulnerable.
https://apolitical.co/solution_articl...
The book assumes an understanding of design thinking. It is not an introduction. Given the vulnerability of design labs to political and financial pressure this focus on organizational relationships makes a valuable contribution to the field.
It explores three major sources of tension: Inclusion, Disruption, and Perspective.
Inclusion refers to getting enough distance from the organization to develop original and valuable ideas, but at the same time being well enough integrated with the organization to have those ideas executed.
I worried the discussion of disruption would be one of the many discussions that are weakly defined and nieve, but the author does demonstrate a solid understanding of the subject and the challenges that surround the way it is understood. Major organizational conflicts are real and while they are hard to resolve, the book does open the discussion in a reasonable way.
The third major focus is the challenge of reframing problems that can be difficult for people "too close" the existing process yet critical to making breakthrough advances.
Some things I found particularly noteworthy included the discussion of organizational goals - culture and recruiting factors; the mindset of "escape, model & prototype"
I like how the importance of rigor is emphasized.
"Design thinking eludes definition."
"This is a field that has been built through practice; theory is scrambling to catch up."
Insightful and very well researched, the book is consistent with other sources but the examples come from a very broad set of organizations.
On a poignant note, the author has noted that MindLab, cited often in the book, has closed down. A reminder that while creativity tends to flourish in safe spaces, those safe spaces tend to be vulnerable.
https://apolitical.co/solution_articl...
January 13, 2020
Design thinking works only if you understand it well and apply it with patience.
Involves identifying problems by seeing things that other people miss.
Allow an indefinite period for experimentation, prototyping, discussion and reflection.
Build credibility and support for your team by focusing first on quick wins.
Find initial projects that can result in quick wins, and herald those successes company-wide.
Involves identifying problems by seeing things that other people miss.
Allow an indefinite period for experimentation, prototyping, discussion and reflection.
Build credibility and support for your team by focusing first on quick wins.
Find initial projects that can result in quick wins, and herald those successes company-wide.
January 4, 2019
The book, Design Thinking At Work, by David Dunne is a well-written and thought-out treatise on what design thinking is and how it works in the real world. The description of it as a mindset that is playful, tolerant of ambiguity, and open to learning is very appropriate. There are some basic tools but these are secondary to the process and are “tools” not the activity.
Some businesses are better at this than other and there are examples given in the text where various iterations of design thinking can be seen. The initial example set in the Netherlands of Hoogendoorn and the creation of different styles of umbrellas shows the prototyping and out-of-the-box thinking aspects very well. Hoogendoorn used prototypes and tore apart various umbrellas, reassembled them in an effort to create one that did not get torn up in the windy conditions of Delft.
In design thinking the author notes that there are three aspects to consider. One is prototyping; two is deep understanding of the process; and three is creative reframing of the problem/issue. Businesses/inventors using design features in innovative labs work without boundaries. They are free-spirits given a license to explore boundaries that exist for the rest of the business. One example, not mentioned in the book, was the Division of Way Cool Technology that Apple Computer used in developing the iPod. This like most innovation efforts removed, as the Mindset Studio sign describes it: “Replace the fear of the unknown with curiosity.”
Three tensions exist in a design thinking process 1) inclusion (aka mindset); 2) disruption; and 3) perspective. If an organization can embrace these dynamic tensions in what might be a rather staid hierarchy there is a greater chance that the strategic focus can lead to operational decisions and make success and collaboration more likely.
Reading this treatise was quick from some aspects being only about 200 pages long but it was so deep that it can be pondered for days. It would be advisable for both innovation-minded administrators, engineering faculty and students as well as those individuals seeking to enhance and enlarge the company business in a successful and perhaps in some, as of yet, unthought of way. Definitely would recommend a read.
Some businesses are better at this than other and there are examples given in the text where various iterations of design thinking can be seen. The initial example set in the Netherlands of Hoogendoorn and the creation of different styles of umbrellas shows the prototyping and out-of-the-box thinking aspects very well. Hoogendoorn used prototypes and tore apart various umbrellas, reassembled them in an effort to create one that did not get torn up in the windy conditions of Delft.
In design thinking the author notes that there are three aspects to consider. One is prototyping; two is deep understanding of the process; and three is creative reframing of the problem/issue. Businesses/inventors using design features in innovative labs work without boundaries. They are free-spirits given a license to explore boundaries that exist for the rest of the business. One example, not mentioned in the book, was the Division of Way Cool Technology that Apple Computer used in developing the iPod. This like most innovation efforts removed, as the Mindset Studio sign describes it: “Replace the fear of the unknown with curiosity.”
Three tensions exist in a design thinking process 1) inclusion (aka mindset); 2) disruption; and 3) perspective. If an organization can embrace these dynamic tensions in what might be a rather staid hierarchy there is a greater chance that the strategic focus can lead to operational decisions and make success and collaboration more likely.
Reading this treatise was quick from some aspects being only about 200 pages long but it was so deep that it can be pondered for days. It would be advisable for both innovation-minded administrators, engineering faculty and students as well as those individuals seeking to enhance and enlarge the company business in a successful and perhaps in some, as of yet, unthought of way. Definitely would recommend a read.
kindle
January 14, 2019The author provided insight on how inclusion, disruption, and perspective can influence a work environment. This book is a great resource for anyone looking to set up a productive team and workspace!
February 10, 2019
The focus is on making design thinking work in large organisations. What is design thinking? The author describes it as, “...an integrated and disciplined innovation process that builds creative insight from deep knowledge.” “The idea is to think carefully about the problem before jumping to solutions, to ‘sit with the question.’ This can create tension as organisations like to move things forward quickly. Design thinking can take up significant resources and yet not guarantee a result, or even a timeline, and that can create a significant amount of discomfort. The adoption of design thinking, and inviting others to do the same, (as opposed to mandating it) by leadership is essential but in order to succeed it also needs to have support at ‘grassroots level’. The need to balance the product user perspective with the many other stakeholders, both within the organisation and outside of it, eg: social environmental concerns, is also explored in detail. The adoption of systems alongside design thinking also comes across as a dimension that can improve the odds of success.
It becomes evident that “it's complicated’, that adopting design thinking in large organisations is challenging. With so many variables and agendas, success is not likely to be easy, yet the author is optimistic, provides significant guidance and believes the effort is worthwhile.
With many thanks to the author, the publishers, University of Toronto Press, and NetGalley for my free copy to review.
It becomes evident that “it's complicated’, that adopting design thinking in large organisations is challenging. With so many variables and agendas, success is not likely to be easy, yet the author is optimistic, provides significant guidance and believes the effort is worthwhile.
With many thanks to the author, the publishers, University of Toronto Press, and NetGalley for my free copy to review.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews