MGMT20140 Design Thinking For Managers

Introduction

The individuals perform activities for attaining growth and development. After performing the activities, evaluation helps them in assessing its effectiveness, appropriateness and feasibility in terms of the identified and the specified goals. Maintaining consistency in the execution of evaluation is assistance in terms of upgrading the standards and quality of performance. There are various tools, which assist the individuals in evaluating the paths, adopted for attaining the growth and development (David & Cobeanu, 2016). This assignment would mainly focus on the tools of visualizations, mind mapping, value chain analysis, journey mapping, concept development, assumption testing, and rapid prototyping among others for examining the appropriateness of personality development.

Personal development

Every individual prepares certain goals for themselves in terms of attaining personal growth and development. The ways and means adopted for fulfilling the goals improves the decision-making process for the individuals. There are various kinds of tools, which helps the individuals in venturing into the path of growth and development. I think these tools are effective in terms of executing SWOT analysis. As a matter of specification, visualizing the paths adopted for attaining personal development (Faris, 2018). I personally feel that picturizing the gained knowledge, skills and expertise helps me in gaining awareness about the prospective sources of development. Typical examples of this can be mind mapping, which would enhance the awareness about the prospective for the knowledge gained. According to me, project mapping for the different sources, makes me aware of the prospects associated with the skills, which I have attained till date.

Journey mapping have helped me in achieving a deeper understanding about the paths leading towards growth and development. Mapping the paths is effective for me in terms of selecting the prospective offers for attaining development. I think picturization and mapping seems fruitful for me in terms of enhancing my thought processes. If I refer to external sources, my imagination and creativity is enhanced. Evaluation of the referred sources is needed in terms of maintaining relevancy in the activities undertaken (Haber?Curran, Allen & Shankman, 2015). Lack of evaluation aggravates the complexities towards enhancing the preconceived skills, expertise and knowledge. Moreover, absence of evaluation means deprivation in terms of the avenues, which would drive me towards development.

According to Lejeune, Mercuri, Beausaert & Raemdonck, (2016), Value chain analysis is one of the other tools, assisting me in attaining personal development. Typical components of this analysis include inbound and outbound activities for executing the activities. My focus while conducting this analysis is on seeking effective ways for generating values. I think strategic approach in analysing the values of the experience and gained knowledge is beneficial. This is in term of gaining positive outcomes. Internally, I adopt goal setting theory for completion of the tasks according to the requirements. I evaluate my performance at regular intervals in terms of assessing the effectiveness, appropriateness and feasibility of my performance. This evaluation proves effective for me in terms of examining the extent to which I have emerged successful in generating value through my performance. If I get negative results, I need to work upon improving my performance in order to reach to the benchmark level of performance.

Liedtka, (2015), opines that Mind mapping is one of effective tools in terms of bringing to the forefront the self- skills, competencies and abilities. This mapping actually involves my mental processes towards attaining personal growth and development. The projections for the knowledge, skills and the experiences supports in projecting the possible avenues, which I can avail for the reaching to the identified and specified goals. The sub projections are the sources through which I can reach to my targeted goals. One of the common issues here is the external influences, which might deviate me from my focus. I think evaluation is effective in terms of deciding the most prospective source, which would act as an agent towards attaining personal growth and development. Maintaining frequency helps me in bringing to the forefront the drawbacks, which are acting as obstacle in the path of my personal development. I think spontaneity is needed while modifying the drawbacks. This spontaneity is an important trait in terms of enhancing my personality. The aspect of trait brings behavioural theory into the discussion (O’Brien & Lomas, 2017). I think eagerness and willingness to evaluate the exposed performance is a planned and reasoned action in terms of attaining personal growth and development.

Knowledge development

Brain storming relates to the ideas, which generate within me innovative ideas, as a result of referring to the varied sources. I think that consulting with others enhances the scope and arena of my thought processes. Discussing the gained skills, knowledge and expertise with experienced personalities is beneficial in terms of upgrading the preconceived skills, knowledge and expertise (Pais & Santos, 2014). This results in knowledge transfer between the senior, experienced personalities and he junior ones. I feel that this knowledge transfer mitigates the instances of conflicts, misunderstandings and harassments between the employees. Engaging in discussions generates within me brainstorming ideas for fulfilling the identified goals and objectives. I feel questioning the decisions of others supports me in enhancing my critiquing skills. Mapping the ideas, which I have generated through reference to the external sources, enhances my awareness about the effectiveness of the knowledge gained.

Concept development relates to my initiatives regarding the development of concepts related to my personal development. These concepts are cognitive learning, classical observation, and skills upgradation among others (Plattner, Meinel & Leifer, 2014). I think preparing conceptual framework would enhance my awareness regarding the relationship between the developmental concepts. Mapping this linkage would help me in projecting the values it holds in terms of my personal development. For this, assistance from the senior and the experienced members is beneficial for me in terms of avoiding the mistakes. Apart from this, mapping the concepts is advantageous for me. This is because of gaining an insight into the ways and means needed for enhancing the preconceived knowledge.

I think assumption testing is helpful for me in terms of assessing the effectiveness of the proposed assumptions about my knowledge. In these tests, my personality is judged. I can relate the personality tests here. The scores of the personality tests assists me in planning for the changes, which I need to bring in my behaviour. Discussing the scores with the experts proves beneficial in gaining an insight into the changes, enhances the scope and arena of my thought process. Consulting external sources adds to my creativity and imagination. If I practice critical writing, my thinking skills are upgraded. Maintaining consistency in the undertaking the critical analysis activity is upgradation of my design thinking. Critical analysis activities are the tools, which proves fruitful in formation of my design thinking.

Rapid prototyping helps me in 3D representation of the data like mind mapping, journey mapping and assumption tests scores. These representations improve my vision regarding my current performance regarding the acquired knowledge. Mapping of my strengths, weakness, opportunities and threats helps me in proposing the changes, which I need in terms of enhancing my personality. Technological assistance is also helpful for me in terms of contacting the experts, who provide online coaching services. Evaluation of the suggestions enables me to assess its effectiveness in terms of the goals, which I have identified for achieving development. Viewing it from the other perspective, 3D data projects different angles of the perspective. I think, making 3D representations is effective in terms of improving my perspectives regarding the attainment of personality development through the knowledge development.

Customer co-creation relates to my initiatives regarding the identification of the audience, playing major role in my knowledge development. I think creating value for the customers is necessary in terms of acknowledging their efforts towards enhancing my preconceived skills, knowledge and expertise. I feel evaluation is important in terms of reaching to the prospective customers, who would contribute towards my personal development. For this, consulting with numerous trainers is needed in terms of searching for the appropriate one (Sangster, 2017). Project mapping for the trainers would be effective in terms of developing my knowledge and expertise.

Launching the learning process bring the aspect of cognitive learning into the discussion. Here also I can relate the concept of project mapping. This is because mapping the concepts learned helps me in gaining an insight into their prospects in terms of the identified and the specified goals. Taking the tests is assistance in terms of making practical application of the learnt skills into the operations. Setting time limits for executing the tasks improves my approach and confidence towards performing the tasks.

Action plan

Table 1: Action plan for personal development

(Source: Created by the author)

Conclusion

After reviewing the personality development tools, I can conclude that project mapping is most effective in terms of enhancing my vision towards the personal development. Mapping my skills, expertise and knowledge proves beneficial for me in terms of gaining an insight into the prospective sources, which would help me in attaining the goals and objectives. Discussing the mapped concepts with the senior and the experienced members is assistance for me in terms of broadening the scope and arena of thinking skills. Undertaking critical analysis tests and activities is a typical example of how I can improve my thinking skills, creativity and imagination. However, mind mapping is also beneficial in terms of making 3D representations of the mental skills and knowledge applied for attaining personal development. This activity truly relates with the aspect of design thinking.

Bibliography

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