Design Thinking for HR

Who is the course for?

This course is tailored for you who work with or support HR and personnel issues in the public and private sectors, such as:

• HR Managers
• HR Business partners
• HR Generalists
• HR Specialists
• Line Managers
• Operations managers
• Consulting managers

Course objectives

To provide knowledge of what Design Thinking entails and how to use the method. After the course, you will be able to apply Design Thinking in your workplace, or lead group exercises that strengthen creative thinking and innovation skills.

What is Design Thinking?

Design Thinking is not a new concept in itself. The method has its roots in research on creativity during the mid-1900s. In the late 1900s, the method became more commercial and gained a broader spread within the business world and was used as a method and approach to solving complex problems, business development, and innovation. During the early 2000s, a process called Double Diamond was developed by the British Design Council, which applies much of what is within Design Thinking and has become something of a standard in creative work, business development, and innovation.

Some important parts of Design Thinking and Double Diamond are:

• Empathy for people, customers, and users
• Iterative work
• Complex, known, and unknown problems
• Framing of the problem
• Learning through the use of prototypes and testing
• Co-creation with stakeholders and target groups

Course structure

The course is a one-day course in central Stockholm and is a mix of theory and practical exercises. We will go through:

• Complexity theory to describe and understand different types of problems
• Psychological safety to create the right conditions
• Design Thinking as a work method and process, including exploring and defining problems, probing solutions, and validating them
• Different methods and tools to help work with Design Thinking
• Practical work and exercises based on a given case
• Principles and thought patterns that help you in your work