Design Thinking - Disrupt the Patterns Training Course

This instructor-led, live training in Botswana (online or onsite) is aimed at beginner-level to intermediate-level participants who wish to solve everyday workplace challenges through gamification techniques.

By the end of this training, participants will be able to:

• Understand the principles of Design Thinking and its application to problem-solving.
• Incorporate gamification techniques to foster engagement and innovation.
• Develop creative and practical solutions to common workplace issues.
• Collaborate effectively across teams to implement problem-solving strategies.
• Apply iterative approaches to refine solutions through feedback and experimentation.

Design Thinking is a human-centred approach to problem-solving that relies on empathy, definition, ideation, prototyping, and testing. This course places particular emphasis on the Empathize stage, focusing on linking previously identified pain points to the actual needs of internal clients. It utilizes dynamic and collaborative activities to convert insights into tangible results.

This instructor-led, live training (available online or on-site) is designed for beginner to intermediate teams and leaders who wish to enhance their empathy skills, strengthen relationships with internal clients, and transform pain points into meaningful opportunities for improvement.

By the end of this training, participants will be able to:

• Apply empathy-based techniques to uncover and validate client needs.
• Translate mapped pain points into clear, actionable needs.
• Engage in dynamic role plays and simulations to practice client-centered conversations.
• Collaboratively redefine problem statements from the client’s perspective.

Course Format

• Interactive lectures and guided discussions.
• Dynamic, hands-on role plays and empathy exercises.
• Group workshops for collaborative problem reframing.

Course Customization Options

• To request a customized version tailored to a specific internal process (e.g., procurement or equipment provisioning), please contact us to arrange.

Design Thinking is a human-centered methodology for solving problems through empathy, definition, ideation, prototyping and testing. Focusing on the first two stages — Empathize and Define — helps teams better understand internal clients and define the right problems to solve.

This instructor-led, live training (online or onsite) is aimed at beginner-level to intermediate-level teams and leaders who wish to strengthen their connection with internal clients, reduce resistance to change, and improve operational efficiency through practical, collaborative methods.

By the end of this training, participants will be able to:

• Use active listening and interviewing techniques to gather meaningful insights about internal clients.
• Create empathy maps and capture user needs and pain points.
• Differentiate real root problems from perceived issues using tools like the 5 Whys and problem trees.
• Draft clear, actionable problem statements (POVs) that guide solution work.

Format of the Course

• Interactive lecture and discussion.
• Practical, hands-on exercises and role-plays.
• Group workshops and plenary feedback sessions.

Course Customization Options

• To request a customized version tailored to a specific internal process (e.g., procurement or equipment provisioning), please contact us to arrange.

In this instructor-led, live workshop training in Botswana (online or onsite), participants will learn how to apply the five stages of Design Thinking to gain a deeper understanding of the problems experienced by end-users of a product or service, and subsequently develop the most effective approach for resolving them.

By the end of this training, participants will be able to:

• Utilise creative strategies to align customers' needs with technologically feasible solutions.
• Formulate a strategy to increase customer value and enhance product and service offerings.

This guided live training in Botswana (online or in-person) targets beginner to intermediate level professionals who wish to understand and apply Design Thinking methodologies to drive innovation and improve business solutions.

By the end of this training, participants will be able to:

• Understand the core principles of Design Thinking and its role in innovation.
• Apply the five phases of Design Thinking to problem-solving.
• Utilize ideation techniques and tools to foster creativity.
• Implement Design Thinking strategies to improve processes and enhance efficiency.

This instructor-led, live training in Botswana (online or on-site) is designed for entry-level leaders and HR professionals who aim to learn and apply Design Thinking methodologies to nurture innovation, improve problem-solving skills, and engage teams effectively.

By the conclusion of this training, participants will be able to:

• Equip participants with tools and methodologies to foster innovation and team engagement.
• Develop skills in empathy mapping, ideation, and prototyping for solving complex challenges.
• Apply Design Thinking principles to leadership and HR scenarios.
• Promote a culture of innovation within tech teams.

Overview:

The Design Thinking (DT) methodology comprises five distinct stages: empathise, define the problem, ideate, prototype, and test.

In today's increasingly complex environment, we encounter challenges that often demand unconventional approaches. Design Thinking provides a structured framework for tackling these complex issues. By mastering design thinking, individuals can address complicated problems with greater effectiveness, improve communication, enhance persuasion skills, drive better business outcomes, and elevate both organisational and personal performance and behaviour.

• How DT functions: learning from users and the problem context, identifying patterns, developing a design model (accommodating model drift), testing the model, evaluating its efficacy, and re-engineering as necessary.
• The interplay between DT, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
• DT methods and tools: personas, stakeholder maps, customer journey maps, service blueprints, and business model innovation.
• Application of DT: cultivating a design mindset, driving disruptive innovation, applying iterative approaches, utilising agile estimation techniques, enhancing critical thinking, problem solving, teamwork, leadership readiness, communication skills, technological fluency, forward-thinking, intercultural and ethical competency, emotional intelligence, self-awareness, negotiating skills, and conflict resolution.

Objectives:

• To comprehend the fundamentals and nuances of DT.
• To explore key concepts, factors, theories, types, and models within DT.
• To experiment with, experience, and practice DT.

Delivery:

This is a one-day (4-hour) training course, structured as follows:

• Lectures (40% - presentation of theories, concepts, models, and interactions),
• Group exercises (30% - group dynamics, games, group discussion, and mock conflict resolution exercises),
• Individual activities (15% - writing, designing, and peer discussion)
• Other materials (15% - videos, reading).

Note: Due to the interactive nature of this course, a minimum group size of 3 participants is required.