Design thinking can do for organic growth and innovation what TQM did for quality—take something we always have cared about and put tools and processes into the hands of managers to make it happen.

Design thinking demystified.Design thinking is not magic or exclusive to designers. It''s a systematic problem-solving approach accessible to all managers. It starts with understanding customers deeply and creating a better future for them, acknowledging that the first attempt may not be perfect.

Key principles of design thinking:

Design thinking complements traditional business analysis, bringing a human-centered, creative approach to innovation. It helps managers move beyond incremental improvements to create breakthrough growth opportunities.