Manas Mayur’s Post

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PGDM Chair, Goa Institute of Management

**Why Design Thinking Stumbles in India: A Lesson in User Myopia** I’m no expert in design thinking, but a recent discussion on the topic left me with much to reflect on. Design thinking, I was told, revolves around a straightforward principle: place the user at the center. I couldn’t help but connect this to some of the challenges in my country, where this idea often feels more philosophical than practical. It’s not due to a lack of intelligence or creativity—India has plenty of both. Instead, it’s a lack of what I call user sense. Too often, decisions are based on convenience for everyone except the end-user. Having driven extensively in Europe and elsewhere, I can safely say that India’s roads seem almost like an experiment in testing patience, creativity, and, occasionally, bravery. These issues highlight a larger problem: roads here often appear built for the convenience of everyone but the driver. The same applies to tourism. Travel across India, and you quickly sense that tourists are rarely, if ever, factored into decision-making processes. During the discussion, platforms like Ola, Uber, and major e-commerce sites were mentioned as models of effective design thinking, each placing the user squarely at the center. Customers are happy because these platforms provide what they want: convenience, quality, and control. Occasionally, there’s criticism about the impact on local businesses, but customers aren’t responsible for that. People naturally gravitate toward services that prioritize their needs. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for public services, infrastructure, or even education which should logically place the student at the center. Yet in many schools and universities, decisions seem to revolve around everything but the learner. Design thinking is simple in principle, but simple doesn’t mean easy. Real change demands more than good intentions. The main takeaway: if the user isn’t at the center, it’s not truly “design”—it’s just problem-creation in disguise. #DesignThinking #UserExperience #Innovation #UserCentered #DesignForChange

Dr. Swati Gupta

Academic Leader | PhD in Management | Curriculum Development Expert | Founder of EdTech Platform Finaccopedia | Innovator in Finance Education and Student Engagement

1mo

Manas Mayur, your insights on design thinking resonate profoundly, especially the emphasis on user sense. It's crucial that we shift our focus from convenience for the system to genuine understanding of user needs, particularly in public services and education. Your observations serve as a powerful reminder that effective change requires more than just intention; it necessitates a commitment to truly placing users at the heart of decision-making. Thank you for sparking such meaningful reflections.

Abinash Panda

Professor of Organization Behaviour at Management Development Institute, Gurgaon

1mo

Thought provoking

Satish Pradhan

Advisor Former Head of HR, Tata Group

1mo

Good piece 👏👏👏👏

Pratibha Modi

GIM '24 | People's Skills | Human Resources | Employee Relations

1mo

Very informative piece Sir! Gives a whole new prespective 👌

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