Design Thinking: Innovation Methodologies Training Course

This instructor-led, live training in Portugal (online or in-person) targets beginner to intermediate participants seeking to address daily workplace challenges via gamification techniques.

By the end of this training, participants will be able to:

• Understand the principles of Design Thinking and its application to problem-solving.
• Incorporate gamification techniques to foster engagement and innovation.
• Develop creative and practical solutions to common workplace issues.
• Collaborate effectively across teams to implement problem-solving strategies.
• Apply iterative approaches to refine solutions through feedback and experimentation.

Design Thinking is a human-centric methodology for problem-solving through empathy, definition, ideation, prototyping, and testing. This course version places significant emphasis on the Empathize stage, focusing on linking previously identified pain points to the genuine needs of internal stakeholders and applying dynamic, collaborative activities to transform insights into actionable outcomes.

This instructor-led, live training (available online or onsite) is designed for beginner to intermediate teams and leaders who wish to enhance their empathy skills, strengthen relationships with internal stakeholders, and translate pain points into meaningful opportunities for improvement.

By the end of this training, participants will be able to:

• Apply empathy-based techniques to uncover and validate stakeholder needs.
• Translate mapped pain points into clear, actionable requirements.
• Engage in dynamic role plays and simulations to practice stakeholder-centered conversations.
• Collaboratively redefine problem statements from the stakeholder’s perspective.

Course Format

• Interactive lectures and guided discussions.
• Dynamic, hands-on role plays and empathy exercises.
• Group workshops for collaborative problem reframing.

Customization Options

• To request a customized version tailored to a specific internal process (e.g., procurement or equipment provisioning), please contact us to arrange.

Design Thinking is a human-centred methodology for solving problems through empathy, definition, ideation, prototyping and testing. Focusing on the first two stages — Empathise and Define — helps teams better understand internal clients and define the right problems to solve.

This instructor-led, live training (online or onsite) is aimed at beginner-level to intermediate-level teams and leaders who wish to strengthen their connection with internal clients, reduce resistance to change, and improve operational efficiency through practical, collaborative methods.

By the end of this training, participants will be able to:

• Use active listening and interviewing techniques to gather meaningful insights about internal clients.
• Create empathy maps and capture user needs and pain points.
• Differentiate real root problems from perceived issues using tools like the 5 Whys and problem trees.
• Draft clear, actionable problem statements (POVs) that guide solution work.

Format of the Course

• Interactive lecture and discussion.
• Practical, hands-on exercises and role-plays.
• Group workshops and plenary feedback sessions.

Course Customization Options

• To request a customized version tailored to a specific internal process (e.g., procurement or equipment provisioning), please contact us to arrange.

In this instructor-led live workshop training in Portugal (online or onsite), participants will learn how to apply the five stages of Design Thinking to better understand the problems experienced by end-users of a product or service, then develop the best approach for resolving them.

By the end of this training, participants will be able to:

• Use creative strategies to match customers' needs with technologically feasible solutions.
• Formulate a strategy to increase customer value and enhance product and service offerings.

This live, instructor-led training in Portugal (online or onsite) is aimed at beginner-level leaders and HR professionals who wish to learn and apply Design Thinking methodologies to foster innovation, enhance problem-solving capabilities, and engage teams effectively.

By the end of this training, participants will be able to:

• Equip participants with tools and methodologies to foster innovation and team engagement.
• Develop skills in empathy mapping, ideation, and prototyping for solving complex challenges.
• Apply Design Thinking principles to leadership and HR scenarios.
• Promote a culture of innovation within tech teams.

Overview:

The Design Thinking (DT) process comprises five distinct stages: empathize, define the problem, ideate, prototype, and test.

In today's increasingly complex world, we frequently encounter challenges that demand specialised approaches. Design Thinking provides the framework to navigate these complexities. By mastering design thinking, individuals can address intricate problems effectively, communicate with greater clarity, persuade more efficiently, drive improved business outcomes, and enhance both organizational and personal behaviour and performance.

• How DT functions: learn from people and the problem, identify patterns, design a model (understanding model drift), test the model, evaluate it, and re-engineer as necessary.
• The interplay between DT, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
• DT methods and tools: persona, stakeholder map, customer journey map, service blueprint, business model innovation.
• Application of DT: cultivating a design mindset, disruptive innovation, iterative approaches, agile estimation techniques, critical thinking, problem solving, teamwork, leadership readiness, communication skills, technological fluency, forward-thinking, intercultural and ethical competency, emotional intelligence, self-awareness, negotiating skills, and conflict resolution.

Objectives:

• To grasp the fundamentals and nuances of DT.
• To explore key concepts, factors, theories, types, and models within DT.
• To experiment with, experience, and practice DT.

Delivery:

This is a one-day (4-hour) training course comprising:

• Lectures (40% - presentation of theories, concepts, models, and interactions),
• Group exercises (30% - group dynamics, games, group discussion, and mock-conflict resolution exercises),
• Individual activities (15% - writing, designing, and peer discussion)
• And other activities (15% - videos, reading).

Note: Due to the nature of this course, a minimum group size of 3 participants is required.