We all know how challenging it can be to gather business application requirements when everyone comes with their own solutions in mind.
In this blog post, you'll learn how to create the right workshop environment to ensure everyone is on the same page and the best solutions are developed.
We'll explore how using divergent and convergent thinking modes can enhance collaboration, foster creativity, and lead to solutions that truly meet the needs of users and business.
Divergent and Convergent Modes of Thinking
The divergent and convergent thinking model is a framework designed to enhance problem-solving and innovation. Divergent thinking involves generating a wide range of ideas (challenges or opportunities) and exploring multiple possibilities without judgment. It encourages creativity and the consideration of different perspectives. Conversely, convergent thinking focuses on narrowing down those ideas, analysing and evaluating them to identify the most viable solutions. This model emphasises a balanced approach, where creativity is first unleashed to explore all potential options, followed by a more rigorous, analytical process to refine and select the best course of action.
The Double Diamond
The "Double Diamond" is a design process model developed by the British Design Council in 2005. It is divided into four phases: Discover, Define, Develop, and Deliver. This model is widely recognised and popular for visualising the design process.
The main feature of the Double Diamond is its emphasis on divergent and convergent thinking. In the first diamond, many ideas are created (divergent thinking) to understand the problem more deeply. Then, these ideas are refined and narrowed down to those are need immediate attention or have the most significant impact (convergent thinking). This process happens twice: once to confirm the problem definition and once to create the solution.
The four phases are:
Discover: Understand the problem by exploring it widely and deeply.
Define: Narrow down the focus to a clear problem statement.
Develop: Generate and refine potential solutions.
Deliver: Implement the best solution.
Setting the Mode of Thinking
The divergent / convergent thinking and double diamond models are great for setting expectations with workshop participants about the mode that they should be thinking in.
At the start of a workshop activity, explain to participants the concepts of the divergent / convergent thinking and double diamond models (if they are not familiar already) and then tell them which stage of the double diamond that the workshop activity should be conducted.
Overcome Typical Business Application Design Challenges
A frequent issue is that some people rush to solutions without fully grasping the problem. This can result in creating incorrect solutions. Reminding participants that a workshop activity is in the problem phase of the double diamond can help them shift out of solution mode.
Dynamics 365 and model-driven app professionals sometimes struggle with divergent thinking, as their solution ideas are constrained by model driven app limitations. This is especially true when the client says that they want a solution that only uses configuration. You may also observe behaviour where people are quick to shut down other people’s ideas. For example, “that can’t be done with a model-driven or Dynamics 365 app”. By having these self-imposed constraints, we limit our thinking and ideas for potential solutions. When practicing divergent thinking in the solution stage, remind participants to let go of all technical constraints and generate ideas without judgement. There will always be a period of convergent thinking when rigor and constraints are applied.
On the other hand, there are moments in workshops when you need to decide and move on, yet more ideas keep coming up. This leads to no clear outcomes or actions. Establishing that it's time to converge can help manage this.
Evaluate your Teams Default Mode of Thinking
It is important to understand your team’s default mode of thinking so that you can better set expectations at the start of a workshop for the optimal collaboration experience. It is common for people to be either stronger at one end of the scale of convergent or divergent thinking compared to the other.
IDEO U have a very simple activity that you can do with your team to evaluate your team’s default mode of thinking.
Workshop Activities & Modes of Thinking
Here list are some examples of workshop activities and where they fit in the Double Diamond design process.
Discover
User interviews and observations
Stakeholder map
Define
User persona
Empathy map
Affinity diagram
Dot voting
Develop
Brainstorm
Storyboard
Deliver
User testing & feedback
Affinity diagram
Example: Solution Mapping Framework
Let’s take the Solution Mapping Framework as an example. The Solution Mapping Framework is a set of collaborative workshop exercises to help gather define a requirements backlog. It has the following high-level steps which align to different stages of the Double Diamond design process.
Interviews and Observations - Discover
Journey Maps – Discover & Define
Swimlane Process Diagrams - Develop
Product Backlog - Deliver
User Stories - Deliver
Conclusion
Utilising divergent and convergent thinking modes can significantly enhance collaboration on business application solutions by fostering creativity and thorough exploration of ideas, followed by rigorous analysis and selection of the most viable solutions. This balanced approach helps overcome common challenges such as rushing to solutions without fully understanding the problem and managing team dynamics effectively, ultimately leading to the development of solutions that truly meet user and business needs.
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