Week by Week Activities

Reflection of the activities: 

Before making a discussion in detail regarding design thinking process, various design theory, design research, design problem, design prototype and so on I would like to give a brief analysis about the activities I have conducted in week by week while going through the course. Week 2 gave me an in-depth overview about the success and failure story of IDEO. The company has hired those employees within services who are creative and expertise in specific areas of work. After appointing those employees, the organization received the project of redesigning products to make a brand image and reputation. Before starting the project, IDEO has appointed their research and development team to collect data and information about current needs and demands of customers. Based on design research, the associated employees have identified the research problem. The customers market demand and their level of dissatisfaction is critically evaluated before designing a product. The departments are divided into different product categories like grocery, FMCG, retail and so on. After selecting the product design the business experts tend to make their prototype. Ultimately, the product design manager selects the best prototype and proceeds for designing the product. However, while collecting data and information about the current market demand the research and development team had to face innumerable challenges in order to get effective response from the customers. Psychology varies from one person to another. As a result, they have to face immense challenges in getting a collective response.

In week 3 I got an in-depth knowledge on how to implement the design prototype in product designing method and how to make its quality analysis. Design method is of two major types including constructive phase and application phase. After making the design prototype the product has to be constructed and the business experts then decides to apply the design on product to get a proper shape presentable in current market scenario.  Week 5 has given me an in-depth overview about the problems faced by IDEO.  In order to render different product innovation the business experts have faced immense challenges and difficulties.  The organization has implemented brainstorming strategy for resolving the issue as soon as possible. Brainstorming is a kind of group communication method, which is formulated in question of resolving sudden organizational crisis. Brainstorming is one of the most effective group communication method where employees from different departments are involved in order to give effective opinion so that raised issue can be overcome successfully.

Critical Analysis

However, week six has presented another business case scenario where issue is related to IKEA. In this activity, I have learnt that logistic sector is one of the most significant area where business innovation and design can be implemented effectively for rendering success. The company has implemented Porter’s value chain analysis where the entire supply chain procedure is constituted with five stages including inbound, operation, outbound, destination and marketing and sales. IKEA before making the product designed and manufactured follows innovative inbound process in warehouses by using advanced technology. On the other hand, operation is the procedure of maintaining the product and delivers the product to appropriate destination with the help of proper outbound process. In order to reduce operation cost organization intends to use advanced technology and green transpiration policy.  Green transportation is a business innovation, which enables the organization in maintaining ecological balance of environment. In addition, people in quest to creating brand awareness tend to follow effective platform for marketing and sales promotion. IKEA is the believer of social media marketing strategy with the help of which people from other geographical backgrounds and attitudes can be attracted towards services.

 In Week 7, I have acquired in-depth knowledge and experience about the various aspects of ethical research. Ethical research is nothing but avoiding negative aspects of research process. In order to conduct an effective research work researchers intend to follow proper ethics, values, culture and belief. Researcher should treat every participant with equal respect and dignity. As a result, the participants should feel free in dealing with the researcher. Week 9 has presented a vast vista about the reasons of strategic business failure and its various impacts. This activity has given me detailed analysis about the 40 ways on how product can be launched. However, the major issues that can create a sudden barrier on the overall product launch process include economic challenge. On the other hand, lack of knowledge and competency in business innovation is another significant reason due to which product launch strategy becomes failure.        

Critical analysis: 

In the part of critical analysis, I have made in-depth overview about the various concepts discussed on the business case scenarios of different recognizable institutions. While evaluating the concepts I have incorporated the point of views of different eminent scholars. I have collected proper data and information about the importance of different designing methods within business.

Design thinking process:

Design Thinking Process

Design thinking process is the systematic methods that designers use in ideation and development of product or services. In order to incorporate the design within product material the designers have to make in-depth research about the customers’ current market demands. Design thinking process of the activity and learning process of gathering knowledge on how the target customers are expecting to be designed the products (Lecocq, Ricart & Zott, 2015). This particular method is primarily used for those organizations where the business experts tend to implement innovation and technology within services.       

Design theory:

Design theory is primarily constituted with several theoretical approaches.  Before making in-depth research on particular product about its designs and prototypes the business experts tend to implement some of the most effective theoretical approaches as well (Union, 2014). Design theory is of two types mainly including explanatory and exploratory (França et al., 2017). Explanatory design theory evaluates the collected data about products and services without manipulation and interpretation. On the other hand, exploratory design theory always tries to explore new data and information from the collected research issue.    

Design problem and research:

Design problem and research is the stage where the executives have to identify and collect appropriate data which kind of design attracts the customers immensely. At the same time, the importance of making research on customers’ needs have also evaluated (Gundry, Ofstein & Kickul, 2014). Without having research the product managers do not get the scope of giving innovative designs within their services.    

Design prototype:

Design prototype is the early sample and model of the product, which is built before manufacturing the actual product (Hogan & Coote, 2014). After making the sample of a product the product designers intend to evaluate the positive and negative aspects from the point of view of customers. As a result, the business exporters can get the scope of evaluating the products from both point of view.   

Design the launch: 

If the evaluation of prototype becomes positive and the researcher instructs to manufacture the product by following this sample file, the next phase is to make an effective design for launching the product (Joyce & Paquin, 2016). In order to launch the product in market and create effective brand awareness the business experts have to take the help of media platform. As per current market scenario, new media platform is more useful to introduce the brand in global market (Lehoux et al., 2014). By using a media vehicle the business experts can multiply the messages of brand features and its USPs beyond going their regional backgrounds. In addition, the marketing and design team has to make proper budget plan for promoting the brand in different geographic areas. Collecting customers’ feedback is also one of the major parts of designing launch campaign.         

Design Theory

Design presentation and co-creation:

After making the launch program the business experts have to design the presentation and co-creation method based on which customers would be able to get detailed overview about the products, its specialties and its necessary benefits, facilities and durability (Martins, Rindova & Greenbaum, 2015). The marketing team has to design the content of audio-visual presentation. The content should be designed in a colorful and attractive manner so that customers show their interest in knowing about the products and its services. In addition, the presentation should be designed in such a way that customers belonging to various cultural and psychological backgrounds and attitudes can understand the presentation.     

Design the designer:   

Design the designer is one of the most important and effective stages without which the entire design method is meaningless. The organization should hire an efficient and competent designer who can guide and instruct the entire stages of product and service design (Peschl & Fundneider, 2014). That individual should have immense professional skill and experience so that team members can follow and work properly. In addition, the designer should have immense fluent communication skill with the help of which the person can maintain spontaneous flow of interaction with the people associated with the project (Spieth, Schneckenberg & Ricart, 2014). In addition, designer should have the knowledge of analyzing customers’ needs and expectation.

In the next part I am going to present an action plan due to which I need to identify my own drawback as a professional. These are as follows:

These areas of drawbacks are as follows:

• I do not have extraordinary communication skill based on which I can interact with the people of different cultural and religious backgrounds and attitudes. If I have to become an efficient professional I should have multi-lingual flexibility
• My designing method could have more creative and innovative. I prefer to focus on  theoretical approaches that always does not reflect on the practical field
• My managerial and decision making skill could have been improved with the help of which I can complete the work within stipulated deadline

I should be more flexible with inter-cultural employees associated with the workplace  

Action Plan: 

This specific action plan aims to provide detailed analysis about areas of improvement.

 

Activities	Implementation Plan	Duration	Time
Activity 1	I will approach my human resource manager for attention training session in order to enhance my communication skill.	1st November to 30th November	2.30 PM 3.30 PM
Activity 2	I will bring multi-lingual flexibility for dealing with the employees of various cultural backgrounds and attitudes  from this training session	1st December to 31st December	2.30 PM 3.30 PM
Activity 3	I will improve my innovative and creative skill with the help of another training session	1st January to 31st January	2.30 PM 3.30 PM
Activity 4	I will experiment enhanced innovation skill in the practical business field	1st February to 30th February	2.30 PM 3.30 PM
Activity 5	I will attend training on management skill as well	1st March to 30th March	2.30 PM 3.30 PM
Activity 6	I will implement my knowledge on the practical field	1st April to 30th May	2.30 PM 3.30 PM

Based on the action plan it can be summarized that attend session for enhancing communication skill. I would receive training for enhancing my thinking of creative design. I will render multi-lingual flexibility for dealing with the employees of various cultural backgrounds and attitudes. I need to arrange training hall along with an IT expert as well as communication trainer.

Future Scope:

The expected outcome of completing this design course is very much positive. I can see a good academic as well as professional career path for future.  Personally I can feel that I should render creative on my technology and accounting software as well. As a result, large number of multi-national organization would show their interest in hiring me as their employee. It is undeniable that design the designer is one of the most important and effective stages without which the entire design method is meaningless. The organization should hire an efficient and competent designer who can guide and instruct the entire stages of product and service design. If I can become an efficient designer by overcoming my identified flaws, I have bright future ahead. Enhancing communication skill would also help me in maintaining a good rapport with my organizational employees. In future, I will hire a good communicator who will instruct me how to interact with those people who have language barrier. I may have to face challenges to organize training due to the lack of economic capability. I have planned to overcome the identified within 5 years. From every perspective, design course is possessed with good future for making career progression plan.     

Design Problems and Research

Conclusion: 

In this particular study, I have provided detailed analysis on how innovation and creative design leaves major impact on the overall image of an organization. Based on design research, the associated employees have identified the research problem. The customers market demand and their level of dissatisfaction is critically evaluated before designing a product. While collecting data and information about the current market demand the research and development team had to face innumerable challenges in order to get effective response from the customers. Psychology varies from one person to another. Design method is of two major types including constructive phase and application phase. After making the design prototype the product has to be constructed and the business experts then decides to apply the design on product to get a proper shape presentable in current market scenario.  

The study has evaluated that brainstorming is one of the most effective group communication method where employees from different departments are involved in order to give effective opinion so that raised issue can be overcome successfully. Operation is the procedure of maintaining the product and delivers the product to appropriate destination with the help of proper outbound process. Ethical research is nothing but avoiding negative aspects of research process. In order to conduct an effective research work researchers intend to follow proper ethics, values, culture and belief. Researcher should treat every participant with equal respect and dignity.

At the end of study the entire research has focused to make detailed analysis about personal and professional development plan. By highlighting my drawbacks I have decided to make detailed analysis about the ways of improving my drawback along with making an action plan within SMART frameworkAs an individual, I have observed that as a professional product and service designer I have some of drawbacks, which needs to be improved for my personal and professional development. The future scope of the study has also been analyzed in this paper.

In this study, I am going to reflect various aspects of creative design course. It is a part of business innovation techniques. In a creative design course, I can render innovation and creative designs on my services as well as products. As a result, my brands and service can create an effective impression on the mind of customers. It can get the scope of gaining competitive advantage in the market. By reflecting weekly activities, I have provided detailed analysis on how innovation and creative design leaves major impact on the overall image of an organization. At the same time, I have gathered knowledge and experience on design thinking process, various design theory, design research, prototype and so on. With the help of an effective reflection and critical analysis technique, I have involved the opinion of some eminent scholars as well.    

References:

França, C. L., Broman, G., Robèrt, K. H., Basile, G., & Trygg, L. (2017). An approach to business model innovation and design for strategic sustainable development. Journal of Cleaner Production, 140, 155-166.

Gundry, L. K., Ofstein, L. F., & Kickul, J. R. (2014). Seeing around corners: How creativity skills in entrepreneurship education influence innovation in business. The International Journal of Management Education, 12(3), 529-538.

Hogan, S. J., & Coote, L. V. (2014). Organizational culture, innovation, and performance: A test of Schein’s model. Journal of Business Research, 67(8), 1609-1621.

Joyce, A., & Paquin, R. L. (2016). The triple layered business model canvas: A tool to design more sustainable business models. Journal of Cleaner Production, 135, 1474-1486.

Lecocq, X., Ricart, J. E., & Zott, C. (2015). Introduction to the SEJ special issue on business models: business models within the domain of strategic entrepreneurship. Strategic Entrepreneurship Journal, 9(1), 1-11.

Lehoux, P., Daudelin, G., Williams-Jones, B., Denis, J. L., & Longo, C. (2014). How do business model and health technology design influence each other? Insights from a longitudinal case study of three academic spin-offs. Research Policy, 43(6), 1025-1038.

Martins, L. L., Rindova, V. P., & Greenbaum, B. E. (2015). Unlocking the hidden value of concepts: a cognitive approach to business model innovation. Strategic Entrepreneurship Journal, 9(1), 99-117.

Peschl, M. F., & Fundneider, T. (2014). Designing and enabling spaces for collaborative knowledge creation and innovation: From managing to enabling innovation as socio-epistemological technology. Computers in Human Behavior, 37, 346-359.

Spieth, P., Schneckenberg, D., & Ricart, J. E. (2014). Business model innovation–state of the art and future challenges for the field. R&d Management, 44(3), 237-247.

Union, I. (2014). Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions. Brussels.