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To Create People-Centered Processes, Think Like a Product Designer

By Dorie Blesoff posted 08-31-2017 10:34

  

We are always thinking about how to make Relativity a place where people feel they can contribute what they’re passionate about and where they can own their own careers. To keep moving toward this goal, we foster a values-driven community where our 750+ people are both challenged by their work and encouraged to grow along with our rapidly growing business. 

As a software company, we apply agile tools to the evolution of our e-discovery platform Relativity to solve customers’ complex data challenges and improve their experience. So, it seemed natural to approach our internal customer (team member) journey with this same customer-centered, iterative process. 

 

The Solution that keeps getting better

In its essence, design thinking consists of a mindset and tools used to solve unstructured complex problems and find good solutions for clients.

To discover more about using design thinking in HR processes, the importance of feedback, and best practices for your organization or career, check out the conversation between Relativity CPO Dorie Blesoff and Relativity Solutions Manager Constantine Pappas.

Whether designing a product or a business process, design thinking is distinctive for its emphasis on prototyping continuous feedback at each step of a process for its users. At Relativity, we call what’s working “pluses” and what could be even better “deltas.” Think of feedback as a compass: It gives you coordinates that let you know you’re either on or off course. If you’re off, it indicates how you can course correct. Without a compass, you’ll get lost.

 

Career Maps developed along the way

One example of how we apply design thinking at Relativity is our career maps for team members. Team members shared that they were unsure of the next specific steps in their careers. Instead of importing an off-the-shelf career map, we used an iterative process, working closely with team members and managers, to clarify career milestones and development goals by creating career maps for each role. Managers now share the maps with team members to help them set goals and develop skills for their next steps. The maps encourage shared responsibility for career development – another iterative process!

 

Pick Persistence Over Perfection

Design thinking can be a challenge for those who want to create the perfect result quickly. It can sometimes feel unfinished, since you’re constantly iterating and improving your product or process.

Cultivating agility and openness to change will help anyone adopt design thinking. Remember, there will always be new input—and the most useful input comes from the users themselves. From our experience we learned that if you can act on that input to improve a process and enhance team members’ experiences, you’re doing design thinking right.

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