Design Thinking

TEAM

Course Content for ENT3607 Innovation by Design - Syllabus

Design Thinking > How Might We > Team > Plan > Empathize > Synthesize > Reframe > Ideate > Select > Build > Pitch

Teaming refers to all considerations involved in assembling and managing a Design Thinking team.

The dynamics in a Design Thinking team can make or break a project. Careful consideration is given to team make-up based on

Skills - include team members with the combined skills needed to solve the problem.
Personality - include team members with varied personalities that combine for empathetic, positive, and productive work.
Perspective - include team members with a variety of viewpoints and experiences related to the design challenge.
Professional Role - If working in a business environment, include team members that cover the professional roles important to problem-solving. For example: marketing, customer service, product development, IT, finance, a facilitator and perhaps a key stakeholder.

A Design Thinking team is typically made up of between three and seven members with an ideal number often being five.

Interpersonal skills are sometimes referred to as “Soft Skills” and are some of the most highly desirable skills to employers.

Teaming has a number of important considerations that we discuss below:

Personalities and Chemistry
Emotional Intelligence
Reducing Bias
Leadership and Facilitation
Addressing Issues

Personality & Chemistry

It is important that team members are aware of their personality traits so that they can accentuate their strengths and work to overcome their weaknesses. There are many personality tests available. We use 16 Personalities as a test rooted in science (Myers-Briggs) with a fun twist - plus it’s free! Other popular tests include Big Five (OCEAN), the DISC assessment, and the Enneagram. Many organizations make use of personality tests in their hiring practice.

Are you easily stimulated, empathic, or sometimes overwhelmed by sensory input? Some people identify as Highly Sensitive. You can test yourself at the Highly Sensitive Person website. The more you know about your nature the better you can manage life and relationships.

When building teams, care should be taken to insure the inclusion of different personality types - introverts and extraverts, thinkers and feelers, intuitive and observant, judging and prospecting. This fuels creativity and innovation.

Team members should share their personality traits with their team to reduce the occurrence of misunderstandings. Then work to overcome personality limitations and leverage your strengths!

Emotional Intelligence

Emotional Intelligence is crucial for navigating relationships, leadership, and success in life and work. It refers to a person’s ability to understand and manage their own emotions, and recognize and influence the emotions of others. Key components include self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skills. A high emotional intelligence enables better communication, conflict resolution, and decision-making by responding thoughtfully to others rather than reacting impulsively.

There are many resources for Emotional Intelligence testing and training online. Most are quite expensive to access. We use the Psychology Today Emotional Intelligence Test which provides a useful basic analysis and feedback for free.

Design Thinking team members should take the test to identify their weaknesses then work to improve their emotional intelligence as they work through the Design Thinking process. Let your teammates know the areas that you would like to improve so that they can assist.

Reducing Bias

No matter who you are you will be bringing bias into the mix. We cannot help but be influenced by our upbringing, outdated belief systems, media, and sources of misinformation. We make an effort to neutralize the negative impact of bias by creating teams with a variety of backgrounds and perspectives. But you can help if you become aware of your bias, and work to expand your perception box. Check out this video:

Perception Box: https://youtu.be/-BBL5wJXN-A?si=lsPjmfdVoXUVhYIu

Leadership and Facilitation

Design Thinking team work provides rich opportunities to develop facilitation and leadership skills. Leadership and facilitation comes more easily to some personalities than others. As your team gets to know each other, you’ll discover individuals that naturally take leadership roles. This tendency can be useful in getting things accomplished. However, those with leadership and facilitation skills should be mindful to make sure you are not overly controlling. Leave space for others to express their ideas, and serve as leaders when useful. Conflicts around leadership should be addressed early through open, empathetic conversations. Check out the facilitation video listed at the bottom of this page.

Addressing Team Issues

Working in teams can be challenging. Each member has their own perspective, work ethic, and beliefs. Being able to resolve differences of opinion may be the most important soft skill one masters. We recommend the Non-violent Communication method for resolving conflict.

Non-violent Communication is a method for conflict resolution developed by world famous psychologist and mediator Marshall Rosenberg and explained in his book by the same name. In this practice, the participants experiencing the conflict take deep stock of their emotions and tie them to a basic human needs that are not being met (see this feelings and needs list). Rosenberg taught that conflict is the tragic result of unmet needs.

Non-violent communication begins with participants exploring their feelings and needs then sharing them and listening to each other with empathy. Through this practice they work towards a solution that meets the needs of all participants.

Find out more about non-violent communication by reading the book, or searching the web. The practice is globally embraced by many enthusiastic practitioners.

Activities

Individual Exploration and Discovery

The more you study the above on your own, the better your chances for success in life. For the sake of Design Thinking you should know your personality and EQ score. EQ refers to your Emotional Intelligence Quotient. Take time to discover these prior to engaging in Design Thinking.
Mapping Class Personalities

In class, using Miro, have students map their personality on a Personality Map like this one: https://miro.com/app/board/uXjVM5wK7es=/?share_link_id=185720977824
Discover the wide range of personalities in the class and discuss the strengths of all. Use this opportunity to learn the main tools in Miro.
Building Teams

Time to build teams for Design Thinking. A facilitator should collect participant information including personality type, interests, major, age, and other defining characteristics. Build teams of five with the goal of having the highest level of diversity in each team.
Team Introductions

Time for the teams’ first meeting to launch the Design Thinking project! Use the Design Thinking Template to create Miro boards for each team. Have participants complete the teaming exercise at the top. Take time for participants to fill in info about themselves including personality type and strengths and weaknesses from their emotional intelligence test. Then use that info for introductions around the table.

Check your understanding of Teaming

What four member qualities should be considered when building a team?
Interpersonal skills are sometimes referred to as ___________________ and are highly desirable in the workplace.
Why are team member personalities an important consideration when building teams?
______________________ refers to a person’s ability to understand and manage their own emotions, and recognize and influence the emotions of others.
No matter who you are you will bring the negative aspects of _________ into any conversation or project.
Groups benefit from having a strong __________________ who facilitates conversations and is not overly controlling and leaves space for others to express their ideas.
_________________________ is a method for conflict resolution that involves participants exploring their feelings and needs then sharing them and listening to each other with empathy.