How To Tackle Really Wicked Business Problems: Critical Design Thinking
The Old Ways Don’t Work
Traditional problem-solving approaches may not be effective in addressing wicked business problems. This is because wicked problems are complex, interconnected, and have no clear solution. They often involve multiple stakeholders with competing interests and values, making it difficult to find a definitive solution.
Something New(Er): Critical Design Thinking
Critical design thinking is an approach to problem-solving that emphasizes empathy, systems thinking, and a deep understanding of the problem at hand. When applied to solving wicked business problems, critical design thinking involves:
Empathy.
Systems thinking.
Reframing.
Prototyping.
Reflection.
Critical design thinking helps address wicked business problems holistically and adaptively and can lead to more creative and sustainable solutions. By taking a collaborative, empathetic, and systems-level approach, you can turn wicked problems into opportunities for growth and success.
What Can I Do?
Here are some steps you can take to change your approach to solving wicked business problems using critical design thinking:
Embrace a growth mindset.
Encourage collaboration.
Foster empathy.
Adopt systems thinking.
Embrace experimentation.
Continuously reflect.
By taking these steps, you can change your approach to solving wicked business problems and turn them into opportunities for growth and success. Remember, changing your approach is a process, and it's okay to start small and build from there.
Isn’t It Just Another Fad?
Understandably, some people may view critical design thinking as a fad. There are many approaches to solving problems; what works well for one business may not work well for another.
However, critical design thinking has been gaining traction as a valuable approach to solving complex and interrelated problems, such as wicked business problems. Taking a holistic, empathetic, and systems-level approach, it can help businesses to find more sustainable and creative solutions that may not have been possible with a more traditional problem-solving approach.
Of course, critical design thinking may not be the best fit for every business or problem, but it is worth considering as a valuable tool in your problem-solving toolkit. Whether it is a fad or here to stay, it is still worth exploring to see if it can help you address your business is wicked problems.
Try Something New
Traditional problem-solving approaches may not be effective in addressing wicked business problems. Critical design thinking helps address wicked business problems holistically and adaptively and can lead to more creative and sustainable solutions. Opportunities for growth and success follow, but you must take the first small steps.
Understandably, some people may view critical design thinking as a fad. Critical design thinking may not be the best fit for every business or problem, but it is still worth exploring to see if it can help you to address the wicked problems your business is facing.
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