What's the idea behind Design Thinking?

Reliable vs Validation

Design thinking has been put forward as a counter measure to lack of competitiveness and eroding domestic markets. Management theorists have suggested that designers use less scientific models to achieve outcomes or that designers base their choices on more intuitive factors. They attempt trial or pilot projects and experimentation. They take risks that may involve exploration into new areas toward validation of opportunity and innovation. Design Thinking challenges those within organization to approach management with a perspective that weighs reliable factors next to validation factors. Competitive organizations will continue to measure their market position and performance against reliable frameworks. This process will continue to benchmark organization legacy. The challenge for organizations though is to break away from repetitive systems that have not led into more innovative outcomes. Organizations it is suggested must change the lens to future opportunities. The notion of design thinking specifically validation places into context emphasis on taking risk, gaining insight from those who are on the ground and allocating resources in areas that may lead to break through in areas completely unexpected or uncovered.


The logic can be applied in many areas including municipal projects working toward better methods for recycling, educational practices or resource management. The thinking and strategy can go to the core of what may be a destabilizing issue within a society such as poor retention and drop out rates in schooling or drug and alcohol abuse.


IDEO has prepared the document Human Centered Design to offer a framework specifically for people in developing countries. The steps outlined are consistent with how design has been implemented to achieve innovation, engage stakeholders in the process and ultimately gain consensus to get to validation of a positive outcome.


The challenge has been that CEO and others within corporate executive suite echelons are not accustom to engaging in less reliable bets. To that end status quo is accepted and circumstances remain consistent with what has gone on in the past.