Design Thinking is a solution-based approach to problem solving. It begins by gaining an empathetic understanding of the human needs in the problem to be solved. We do this by engaging, observing and conversing with our customers and clients. Based on evidence and understandings from this analysis, the problem is reframed and defined in human-centric ways.
Organizational leaders and participants need to spend some time thinking and talking with one another “outside the box” about what the real problem is and striving to avoid jumping to early solutions to perceived problems. Various authors refer to this as the “ideate phase”, the process of brainstorming and synthesizing ideas to generate potential solutions. The last phases in design thinking are prototyping the solution – generating low-fidelity representations of the solution idea – and seeing how customers and clients respond, before investing in a scalable model to hopefully solve the identified problem.
As Dana Mitroff Silvers puts it:
“Design thinking in the nonprofit world is inherently scalable and flexible and any nonprofit – regardless of mission, size, or operating budget – can implement this human-centered process of innovation. The beauty of design thinking is that it offers a toolbox of mindsets, skills and methodologies than can be adopted, adapted and incorporated, depending the project, team members and institution.” (See https://www.nten.org/article/design-thinking-a-powerful-tool-for-your-nonprofit/)
How well are nonprofits doing? Are we providing what our clients need and want – or are we just doing our best to balance implementation of our board’s mission with an overworked program staff and an underfunded budget? Do we need to rethink our mission? Or just the delivery of our mission? If we’ve got our mission right, and are doing pretty well on delivery, what are we doing to sustain our organization – its leaders, actors and clients? How do we know?
Consider using the Design Thinking toolkit to take a human-centric approach to your organization’s analysis of its effectiveness or its next staff problem-solving session.
Board Source’s Power of Possibility helps organizations use Design Thinking tools to consider different types of strategies and approaches and not be afraid to “Go Bold” in re-envisioning your organization. Reconnect with your organization’s core purpose through generative discussions among the Board, staff and clients. Consider some of the following questions:
- What is our core purpose? What problem are we trying to solve or what new reality are we trying to create?
- If we were to be founded today, what and who’s needs would we be trying to meet? Are there new players that are making our work more (or less) relevant?
- How do our results and reputation compare to other organizations that are working in a similar organizational space as ours? Do we have competitive advantages (or disadvantages) that should inform the way that we are thinking about the potential of a strategic alliance or restructuring?
- If we were to close our doors today, from whom would we hear and what would they say?
Design Thinking can help you engage in that work with a more open mind, being ready for new ideas and approaches to current problems.