Learning Blog Writing And Self-Development Using Design Thinking And Entrepreneurship

Importance of Learning

Question:

Discuss about the Learning Of Blog Writing And Self-Development From The Design Thinking And Entrepreneurship.

The report will provide information about learning of blog writing and self-development from the Design Thinking and entrepreneurship. The learning of individual plays critical role in making the decisions for future objectives as well initiatives to meet the goals. The report will consider the knowledge, skills and behaviour of an individual while developing and designing blogs for different elements. The report will develop plan for 6 months to craft improvement in the areas of lacking. Moreover, the analysis of self-learning and knowledge will support to develop the plan for achieving the objectives for managing the skills.

Learning is the most ongoing activities which could be availed at any point of life regardless of place, time or situation.  The experiences and learning collected through different situations in surrounding helps in developing own skills and knowledge to the great extent. Blog writing had made me jot down the points which have been learned by me in various sessions specifically. The learning collected out of the Answer the question blog had made me think over the scope of answering the question during a presentation. I came across an interesting fact about 3F’s i.e. friends, family and fools.  These 3Fs are meant to invest on our business ideas and turn them into reality. The funds required to commence with a new idea are been provided by these three major part of our life. I had learned new ways of approaching these investors which could lead towards the collection of capital for the business and make our plans real (Gharehchopogh & Khaze, 2013). Answering the questions raised during the presentation also increases our presence of mind which helps in responding towards the information quickly.

Design IT is basically a field of problem identification and solutions to the entrepreneurship. Design thinking is the innovative and creative manner of identifying any problem and solving the same effectively.  With the initiation of the blog writing and the session I came across immense numbers of facts about design thinking and its concepts related to the entrepreneurship. There are various design thinking tools which I have learned such as value chain analysis, brainstorming, journey mapping, prototype, etc. These tools have contributed highly in making my mind for a business idea and thinking over the idea with innovation and creativity.

Design IT and Entrepreneurship

The next blog Value chain analysis helped me gain enhanced understanding and knowledge about the facts of value chain and its related activities. I had learned that value chain analysis is mainly a tool being used to analyze internal firm activities. Writing the blog made me learn various new concepts about value chain in manufacturing industry. It revealed the functionalities being included in the chain to reach the end product. The learning helped me develop my own conceptual and understanding about the facts of value chain in the industry. I explored that the value chain analysis is been applied into infrastructure, human resource management, technology, procurements, etc. and provides with various services effectively (See blog entry 2, 22^nd September, 2017). I developed my knowledge upon the concept over design IT which would help me in my business or job specifically. The term Design thinking has evolved as a new word to me and had created immense confusion as well but with the collection of information and facts about the same made me learn new concept effectively.  I even learnt to manage the activities and conduct the analysis at workplace which could be used in my future terms effectively (Gereffi & Fernandez-Stark, 2016). Learning makes an individual more confident and knowledgeable upon specific topic which could be discussed with anyone. The facts that I have learnt out of the blog could be used by me in any field or situation for my future.

Journey mapping blog made me think over the new ways of jotting down the information about the planning of any business initiation. I explored that the commencement of any business requires having proper planning and map to walk on. The journey mapping of a Kebab shop made me realise the planning requirements and activities needed to attain the desired objective of any business. I developed my learning skills and knowledge regarding the plan of the business. The blog helped me learn about the aspects such as purpose of the business, time, demographic aspect, media, etc. Opening a Kebab shop also needs to focus these aspects so that to establish the business and achieve the desired outcomes (Liedtka, 2014). I experienced that having a journey mapping would make the business activities more clear and easy to be carried out. For instance, what to be targeted, how to be targeted, what to be offered, time, offering, etc. helps in carrying out a business effectively.

Value Chain Analysis

The next blog was Prototype, writing a blog had helped me in collecting immense data and information related to any topic and explore my knowledge specifically. I had learnt many of the facts and information about different topics which made me use the same in my personal or professional lives. Here, I came across the information about a mobile application to resolve the issues of spoiler. Spoiler itself is a mobile application and is been used to solve issues in any content. Prototype is basically a blueprint of any specific project or model developed to carry out any of the activity. I had experienced that designing a prototype is critical task but one could have perfect picture to execute idea and explain in detail with strong benefits of the app. The prototype of the application had made us learn about the actual process it would take and the action to be made by the same.

 “Design IT”, it is the most extraordinary subject I explored out of the various topics. This topic is found to be challenging to take risk like blog writing and thinking beyond your routine lifestyle. It is very difficult to explore any uncommon topic and collect information about it. I believe that finding out new ideas and topic help us to do something innovative and creative in the fields of blog writing. I experienced a new concepts and idea of thinking out of box and making creative activities out of it (See blog entry 5, 14^th September, 2017). The design IT or thinking helped me see the activities prevailing in the surrounding from different viewpoints and avail the ideas behind the creativity. It largely helped me in understanding the advertisements, meaning of the tag lines, logo of the organisations as it allow to think out of box specifically (Johansson?Sköldberg.et.al, 2013). I even explored that thinking beyond the innovation or creativity provides you with a different image and viewpoint. This proves to be highly profitable in the business activities as well as the personal situations.

The blog written on 3D “ctrl+P” ing is mainly about the 3d printing technology which is been considered as the latest technology in the modern era. I had found that 3D printing technology in now a day playing important roles in developing the things in some creative manner so that to make any prototype of the component. The creative and innovative 3D prototype helps in describing the products in an attractive approach and would be able to explore the same effectively. I came across the new ways of approaching the customers and making them aware about the products in more clear and specific manner. I learnt that in present competitive era, it is very important to be attractive and interesting. It requires to catch the attention of people so that to make them purchase the product and add the profitability factor. This approach could be used in any manner to either sell products or the brand among the people.

Journey Mapping

In my next class, I discovered new topic i.e. 4P’s which means price, place, promotion and product.  The 4P’s of marketing define the values of products and services to be introduced in the market by the organisation. With this my learning had been enhanced with more new concepts of marketing and carrying out a business. The blog writing highly benefited me in carrying my own business activities and implements the same effectively. I came across information about the elements of marketing and its benefits which made me learn how to conduct marketing activities. Design thinking had helped me look over the business issues and find an innovative solution of the same. Bringing innovation and creativity in any of the product or services tends to attract more people and contributes in the success of the business eventually. It helped me think in new ways and moulded my ideas into creativity by making use of the concepts of design IT.  Developing own interest and knowledge upon specific area of business also helps in bringing improvements in the real life activities. I explored that executing these 4 P’s help business in expanding its roots and acquiring greater number of customer segments towards it (Liedtka, 2015). The design thinking concept had made me learn new ways of marketing such as using visual elements, design as communication, etc.  Earlier, I do not acquire much knowledge about the marketing activities and was having different misconceptions about the same. But with this blog, I learnt the actual facts and was able to relate the same to my business activities. I even developed my skills and knowledge of marketing which could be used in my future effectively.

Elephant in the room, having heard about this phrase was just a term but with this blog I came to know the actual meaning of the phrase. The phrase ‘Elephant in the room’ basically means to identify the specific problem behind any situation. The designers things about any situation in different manner and identifies the issues accordingly. This blog made me learn about the problem identification and implementing the solution over it. In the present technological era, we have observed immense new products that have been innovated for lazy people. The products such as electrical tooth brush or electric trimmer are some common examples of innovation which could lead to any issues as well (Levick-Parkin & Hanson, 2015). I had learnt the concept of elephant in the room by thinking from a different point of view to encounter the issues and deliver the right information out of the same.  Finding elephant in the room is the innovative way of doing something which is out of box or could be said next to impossible.

Prototype

The next blog includes discussion regarding the Brainstorming for prototype which is a problem related to a spoiler block. Here I came again with a new topic and concept which has not been heard by me earlier. This is another element of design It which helps in thinking in innovative and creative manner. It helps in evaluating one’s own mind and extracting new ideas over business activities.  I explored new idea and functionality of innovative application which is been used to eliminate the videos or updates about the daily serials. I discovered that the application blocks the flash updates and helps you avoid any of the particular video of posts you don’t desires to watch. I had learnt new technological acts of making such application or conducting any activities with its helps. Brainstorming is basically the discussion about any issue and collecting different ideas towards a single solution (Krone, 2017). I even observed that having many technological options also includes more complications and issues rather than usefulness.

The next session we discussed making poster design as how it should be and how to figure out the design. I explored the process of design thinking in more detailed manner and found that the thinking goes with empathise, define, ideate and prototype. I identified that thinking with the design point of view involves creative and innovative ideas which allows us to think over new faces. Out of the blog, I discovered that the information collected for the design thinking leads us towards new avenues and help in developing effective results out of it. I saw that design thinking had drafted the activities and had made people work differently regardless of any typical process. As per the design thinking, idea generated over any aspect includes focus over innovation and development of new different concepts specifically. Even, it has been experienced that considering the elements such as empathise, define, ideate and prototype would just not lead to effectiveness but also requires to be implemented effectively. It is very important that proper execution of the activities is done.

I collected immense data and information regarding the design thinking process and its application as well. Out of the activities, I came to know that design thinking could be applied to any kind of concepts of situations. It includes higher scope of improvements and could be carried out in any manner. Design thinking allows introducing new ideas and concepts over any products and makes the things possible. It has been even identified that many of the products such as gravity light or Google keep have been invented to make an addition into creativity and innovation of the thinking. It even displays a group performance where people make things happen, people watch things happen and people wonder things happen (Filatro.et.al, 2017). Design thinking had been emerged with an effective approach by providing people with new ways of thinking and doing something new by moving out of their typical structures.

Thinking Beyond Creativity and Innovation

In my previous session I learnt that process of learning design thinking is different and innovative way. The designers design their ideas and prototype by drawing notes and place them handy which could be assessed again and rate further. I had experienced and learned that any activity could not be performed individually and requires having an effective team work. Working in group gives better idea generation and could encourage getting innovative ideas out of the mind. Group working largely benefits in acquiring better innovative options and carry out effective brainstorming for any of the issues particularly.  The session also made me learn about hyper loop and solar city concepts along with the implementation of that idea (Manzini & Coad, 2015). I explored immense varied facts about the innovative ideas which could be used in my future purposes. I could exchange the learning with my belongings to spread more knowledge among them.

On overall basis, I have experienced and learnt immense number of ideas and knowledge regarding design thinking which could be used to develop my knowledge towards entrepreneurship specifically.  Having learnt about design thinking and entrepreneurial activities, I realised that improvement is an ongoing act which is been carried out through the entire life. Learning could be availed from any aspects or activity and used for the better future. Developing skills and knowledge would make me more confident and positive towards the business activities to be carried out by me in future. I came across a fact that I myself need immense improvements in various areas which must be developed effectively.

In order to enhance my capabilities and knowledge, it is very important to identify the core areas of improvements and bring specific development into it. With the help of my own evaluation, I found that I am still lacking in some areas which could hamper my potential in both professional and personal lives. It is been expected that the qualities could be improved in approximately 6 months having proper actions towards the lacking. Thus, below is the action plan developed to identify the area of qualities and making effective improvements into the same:

Table 1: Action plan

Qualities	Lacking	Action for Improvement	Time period (months)
Time management	Distributing proper time among activities and managing the time.	Following proper time management strategies and making proper time table for the accomplishment of the tasks	2
Creativity and Innovation	Thinking with different perspectives to have innovative ideas (Parkay.et.al, 2014)	Having brainstorming, mind mapping, etc. would help me evaluate the situation. It would improve this quality by observing people and relating the innovative facts with the same.	1
Leadership skills	I sometime lack in leading people and boasting their morale	Using effective leadership tactics and communicating with the staff would help me lead them effectively.	2
Decision making	Accurate and Precise decision becomes difficult in some situation	Participated in meetings and evaluating the facts to make proper decisions	1

Conclusion

The above discussion concludes that learning is an ongoing activity which could be availed at any point of life regardless of place, time or situation. It has been seen that writing the blog makes learn various new concepts and understanding about diversified topics. It helps in finding out new ideas about any situation to do something innovative and creative in the fields of blog writing. It has been even explored that thinking beyond the innovation or creativity provides you with a different image and viewpoint towards a situation specifically.

References

Books and journals:

Filatro, A., Cavalcanti, C. C., & Muckenberger, E. (2017). Design Thinking and Online Education.

Gereffi, G., & Fernandez-Stark, K. (2016). Global value chain analysis: a primer.

Gharehchopogh, F. S., & Khaze, S. R. (2013). Data mining application for cyber space users tendency in blog writing: a case study. arXiv preprint arXiv:1307.7432.

Johansson?Sköldberg, U., Woodilla, J., & Çetinkaya, M. (2013). Design thinking: past, present and possible futures. Creativity and Innovation Management, 22(2), 121-146.

Krone, R. (2017). Not Just Guess Work–Tips for Observation, Brainstorming, and Prototyping. Techniques in Vascular and Interventional Radiology.

Levick-Parkin, M., & Hanson, M. (2015). Design thinking together: how to share the ‘designerly’way of looking at things in order to co-create insights relevant to research participants.

Liedtka, J. (2014). Innovative ways companies are using design thinking. Strategy & Leadership, 42(2), 40-45.

Liedtka, J. (2015). Perspective: Linking design thinking with innovation outcomes through cognitive bias reduction. Journal of Product Innovation Management, 32(6), 925-938.

Manzini, E., & Coad, R. (2015). Design, When Everybody Designs: An Introduction to Design for Social Innovation, Design Thinking, Design Theory.

Parkay, F. W., Anctil, E. J., & Hass, G. (2014). Curriculum leadership: Readings for developing quality educational programs. Prentice Hall.