design thinking

Setting the Table: The Making of Strategy

design, innovation, systems thinking / By

This final post on Strategic Design in the series outlines the integration of theory and practice, emphasizing its adaptability to complex environments. It describes critical steps including context setting, engagement, and envisioning futures. Strategic design fosters effective decision-making and learning, positioning organizations to thrive amid uncertainty through collaborative and informed approaches.

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Design-Driven Evaluation and Strategic Design

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As human systems grow increasingly complex, the need for learning and adaptation intensifies. Design-driven evaluation (DDE) merges design thinking with evaluation to enhance accountability and impact. By embedding evaluation within programs and prioritizing user feedback, DDE fosters continuous learning, enabling organizations to effectively navigate change and drive sustainable innovation.

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Strategic Design: Bridging Complexity, Planning, & Evaluation for Impact

design, education & learning, evaluation, systems thinking / By

In this latest in our series on strategic design in complex times, we look at the ways in which design methods, tools, and thinking can shape systems and channel our intentions. This is strategic design. For more information, check out the earlier posts on complexity, strategy and introductions to strategic design. The aim is to

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Design, Systems and The Settings That Influence Us

design, education & learning, evaluation, health, systems thinking / By

Space shapes systems, so systems change requires we understand space. In this post, I’m going to use two contexts to illustrate why and how settings affect so much of our lives and why any systems change must account for them if we are to be successful. Take two examples: education, and healthcare. In an educational

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Our Maps and Our Territory: Rethinking Human Centred Design

design, systems thinking / By

Our dependence on digital navigation tools like satnav maps may disconnect us from the broader landscape. Human-centered design, though important, falls short in addressing complex systemic issues. Embracing a shift towards design for living systems may offer better solutions. Relying solely on digital technology may lead to a loss of context and agency, demanding a redesign of design itself.

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The Neurodiversity of Work and Perils of Planning

design, education & learning, evaluation, psychology, systems thinking / By

When we recognize the diversity in our nervous systems, the problems with most organizational planning models become more evident, and we can start designing them for humans, not ideas. If you work with more than one other person — and how many of us don’t? — you encounter diversity. When we design systems to improve

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