Reduce risks
Workshops and Design Thinking help reduce risks.
The data
IBM’s Design Thinking practice reduces risk and increases portfolio profitability: $18.6 million
IBM found out that by using Design Thinking they reduce the risk of launching something that users don't want. Design Thinking includes the user from the start in the process. It's basically the first step of the Design Thinking "process" which is often called empathy.
By understanding what your users want and creating together solutions with the users (what we call co-creation) you will have tested your idea even before building it. This means that when you come out with a product, service or idea, your end users will already love it.
The personal experience
In my experience there a few elements that I include in workshops that help reduce risks.
Diverge
In a good workshop, you won't just come up with one idea or solution. You will find plenty and explore, what we call divergent thinking. This ensures that it's not the first dumb idea that gets selected but that you explore alternative ways of fixing the problem.
Iteration
In a good workshop, you won't select the first idea or solution. You usually iterate. Once you had an idea you improve it, again and again. Usually, you'll ask the team to show the weaknesses of the idea and then fix them right away.
Haters gonna fix
Within an organization, there are always "haters" or departments which aren't supportive. Workshops include these people as they are very critical. But instead of letting them just criticize, haters will have to fix the problem with the rest of the team. This usually makes it possible to transform haters into supporters.
Okay, you already discover 2 impacts of workshops. Let's now see two more 🚀
Diverge
In a good workshop, you won't just come up with one idea or solution. You will find plenty and explore, what we call divergent thinking. This ensures that it's not the first dumb idea that gets selected but that you explore alternative ways of fixing the problem.
Iteration
In a good workshop, you won't select the first idea or solution. You usually iterate. Once you had an idea you improve it, again and again. Usually, you'll ask the team to show the weaknesses of the idea and then fix them right away.
Haters gonna fix
Within an organization, there are always "haters" or departments which aren't supportive. Workshops include these people as they are very critical. But instead of letting them just criticize, haters will have to fix the problem with the rest of the team. This usually makes it possible to transform haters into supporters.
Okay, you already discover 2 impacts of workshops. Let's now see two more 🚀