In the context of SAFe and the Agile Product Delivery competency, Design Thinking is a customer-centric development process used to ensure that solutions are desirable, feasible, viable, and sustainable. It prevents the common pitfall of building products efficiently that nobody actually wants. Whi…In the context of SAFe and the Agile Product Delivery competency, Design Thinking is a customer-centric development process used to ensure that solutions are desirable, feasible, viable, and sustainable. It prevents the common pitfall of building products efficiently that nobody actually wants. While Agile execution focuses on 'building the thing right,' Design Thinking ensures teams are 'building the right thing.'
SAFe visualizes Design Thinking through a 'Double Diamond' model, representing divergent and convergent thinking across two key phases:
1. **Understand the Problem:** This phase begins with **Discovery**, where teams diverge to research user needs through Gemba walks (observing value creation), interviews, and market research. They use tools like Empathy Maps and Personas to deeply understand the customer. Next, they **Define** the problem, converging on specific insights and problem statements to focus their efforts.
2. **Design the Right Solution:** This phase begins with **Development**, where teams diverge again to ideate multiple potential concepts using Journey Maps, Storyboards, and prototypes. Finally, they **Deliver** the solution, converging on the best option by validating prototypes and implementing them through the Continuous Delivery Pipeline.
By integrating Design Thinking into Agile Product Delivery, SAFe enterprises move beyond simple order-taking. Instead, they foster a culture of relentless innovation, ensuring that the speed and predictability of Agile Release Trains are directed toward creating genuine, validated value for the customer.
Agile Product Delivery: Assuring Value through Design Thinking
What is Design Thinking? In the context of the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe), Design Thinking is a customer-centric development process that creates desirable products that are profitable and sustainable over their lifecycle. It goes beyond traditional requirements gathering by emphasizing a deep understanding of the user's problems and context. It is a core element of the Agile Product Delivery competency.
Why is it Important? Building software that works is insufficient; you must build the right software. Design Thinking is critical because it manages risk by focusing on three main lenses: 1. Desirability: Do customers want this? 2. Feasibility: Can we build this? 3. Viability: Should we build this (business value)?
How it Works: The Double Diamond Process Design Thinking in SAFe is often visualized as a 'Double Diamond,' representing two phases of Divergent (opening up choices) and Convergent (narrowing down choices) thinking:
1. Understand the Problem (The First Diamond) This phase focuses on the 'Problem Space.' Discover: Divergent thinking to gather research and understand user needs (Gemba walks, interviews). Define: Convergent thinking to focus on the core issues. Key tools used here include: - Personas: Fictional characters that represent specific customer segments. - Empathy Maps: Visualizing what the user Says, Thinks, Does, and Feels to build empathy.
2. Design the Right Solution (The Second Diamond) This phase focuses on the 'Solution Space.' Develop: Divergent thinking to brainstorm potential solutions and prototypes. Deliver: Convergent thinking to select the best technical solution. Key tools include: - Customer Journey Maps: Visualizing the user's experience across the operational value stream. - Story Maps: Organizing stories to facilitate understanding of the workflow and release planning.
Exam Tips: Answering Questions on Design Thinking When facing SAFe Agilist exam questions regarding this topic, keep the following strategies in mind:
1. Problem vs. Solution: Identify if the question is asking about understanding the user (Problem Space) or building the feature (Solution Space). Design Thinking starts with the problem. 2. Identify the Artifacts: - If the question mentions 'stereotypical users' or 'fictional representations,' the answer is Personas. - If the question mentions 'understanding the user's emotions' or 'what they see and hear,' the answer is Empathy Maps. - If the question discusses 'navigating the system' or the 'steps a user takes,' the answer is Journey Maps. 3. Customer Centricity: Always prioritize answers that focus on the customer's mindset over internal mechanics/process. The goal is a Sustainable solution that is Desirable to the user. 4. Continuous Learning: Remember that Design Thinking is not a one-time phase; it is iterative and should continue throughout the product lifecycle.