HM047 MCI Idea Development & "Dinking" (V): The Exams

As early as on the first online meeting it was agreed upon the participants that they would like to elaborate the "Dinking"-method in relation with topics of their personal interest.

Instead of answering four or five exam-questions all the students have discovered their interest in presenting their studies in relation to their topics of interest - as a kind of state-of-the-art evaluation: including what they have discovered so far, but may be including questions that have become even more important / evident than before.

This topic-list was started on April 18th and continued up to this day of the exams.

With respect to the privacy we will just mention the first name the proposed topic, an abstract and some elements of the presentation, too. Namely, those of high data volume, to make the online-presentation easier [1] [2] but could be presented in a manner that is coherent with / adopted to the subject presented. Even a making-of-report or a video including some interviews may be part of this document.

Based on the obligations of the Examination Management [3] we will adopt these rules to this kind of two-fold-procedure: today’s recorded online presentation of the topic of interest and a written (media-) document, as mentioned above, to be delivered on June 8th. the latest.

– Irene: Design Thinking. Pandemic Edition.

In the wake of the sudden global disruption of COVID-19, the restaurant industry has been forced to re-evaluate their business models and in some cases rebuild from the ground up. As restaurateurs are faced with strict lockdown orders and public widespread panic, it has been exceptionally challenging regaining the trust of new and existing customers. This has not only strained the option of dining in, but take-out and delivery services as well. This study will highlight how the use of design thinking can help restaurants quickly adapt to the challenges caused by the sudden onset of COVID-19. What changes can be made by restaurants to recover new and existing customers, while still focusing on slowing the spread of COVID-19? Will these changes be enough to encourage the public to retreat from their home-cooked meals?

Four distinguished benchmarks must be considered when ideating new and existing solutions. They are as follows: (1) How do we keep both customers and employees safe from COVID-19? (2) How can we accommodate our customers’ financial struggles while still maintaining a profit margin? (3) And finally, once dine-in restrictions are lifted, how can we continue to follow health and safety regulations without diminishing the quality of the dine-in experience? This paper will analyze solutions that have not been tested yet, as well as many that have already been put in action by restaurant owners around the world. They will be categorized beneath the four components listed above, and an analysis will determine whether the solution is a suitable option.

As a result, the most suitable method for a restaurant to continue their business in the wake of Covid-19 is to solely transition to a delivery and take-out only business model. Although there are many creative dine-in options being executed around the world, they seem too costly as a temporary solution. Instead, it would be more lucrative to include cooking kits and meal deals for large households who have financially suffered from the effects of Covid-19. In addition to this transition, creating a strong social media campaign and forming an alliance with neighboring restaurants may encourage community building, which may result in regular customers post-Covid-19. Although the presence of Covid-19 is very new, the use of design thinking processes may help ease the transition of adapting to a socially distanced world.

– Margarita: Design Thinking and the development of an idea in the Craft Coffee industry

Design thinking is a great method for the development of new ideas, and to not simply come to the expected conclusion, but to make sure that with creativity, the outcome is an answer to the customer needs in the Craft Coffee area. One of the main tools that will be used is the five step Design Thinking Bootleg from Stanford University. Here, the first steps will be used to know who the main audience is, what their needs and experiences are, and how they can be tailored. The plan is to go through the actual practice of Design Thinking, understand the main theory behind it, and use it to come up with interesting and actionable business ideas in the Craft Coffee industry, which is currently undergoing through a reinvention and revolution.

– Aarti: Design Thinking in Industries for Recruiting process.

This study explores the issues in HR practices in the process of recruitment for various job vacancies from candidate point of view. The entire process cannot be said as a flawed process but certain HR models or processes do have certain limitations. To overcome these limitations or make the process easier this study will describe requirements or ideas that can be included in an HR model. By applying the steps of design thinking, first we will understand the problem or identify the issues from both sides from HR personnel and from Candidates through personal experience. Ideate by providing solutions with provision for customization for various job roles and various candidates along with upcoming trends in job application process that can be implemented by potential candidates. Though there is no way to test the solutions, but in future these ideas could possibly implemented for a better recruitment process.

– Enoch: Design Thinking; Improving Higher Level Education.

The outbreak of the corona pandemic in the final months 2019 and early months of 2020, brought to light how education is important and must go on. In short period of time, higher level learners we task to continue class schedule online. Software companies redesigned, enforced and other software application created new platforms for digital conference and communication, to enhance online education. Could this be the next generation of higher education? How can design thinking make higher level education better? This study is to show how design thinking can be used to make higher level education better and independent of traditional educational method yet yields out much better result.

– Nasir: Creating a Design thinking institution through performative art for underprivileged children !

Purpose of the study: The study explore the opportunity to build an institution for the underprivileged children through the means of performative arts and applying the methods and tools of design thinking in the entire process. The study will also create a opportunity of social innovation for the underprivileged community. Through this study we will also be dealing with the barriers and failures of design thinking process in creating an institution for underprivileged children’s.

For those, who’re done: enjoy John’s "Postdco Blues":