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An Interactive 5-Day Training Course

Design Thinking for Strategic Management

Embed user-centric innovation to strengthen strategy, execution, and competitive advantage.

This Design Thinking for Strategic Management training course equips leaders with a practical, user-centric framework to solve complex problems, accelerate innovation, and integrate design thinking into strategic decision-making and organisational performance.

Core Competencies:

User-Centric Strategy
Creative Problem Solving
Innovation Leadership
Rapid Prototyping

Course Schedule

30 Mar - 03 Apr 2026

Dubai

| $5950

06 - 10 Apr 2026

Amsterdam

| $5950

22 - 26 Jun 2026

Dubai

| $5950

10 - 14 Aug 2026

London

| $5950

16 - 20 Nov 2026

Dubai

| $5950

28 Dec - 01 Jan 2027

London

| $5950

On this Page

Introduction Key Learning Outcomes Training Methodology Who Should Attend? Outline

Introduction

In fast-moving markets, traditional analytical approaches alone are no longer sufficient to address complex business challenges. Organisations need strategic leaders who can think creatively, understand customer needs deeply, and translate insight into action. Design thinking provides a structured yet flexible methodology that places users at the centre of strategy, enabling organisations to innovate with purpose and speed.

This Design Thinking for Strategic Management training course introduces the principles and practices of design thinking and shows how they can be applied to strategic management contexts. Participants explore the full design thinking cycle—empathising, defining, ideating, prototyping, and testing—and learn how to apply these stages to improve products, services, and strategic initiatives. The course emphasises practical application, helping leaders foster innovation, enhance customer value, and embed design thinking within organisational culture.

Key focus areas include:

User-centric problem definition and insight generation
Creative ideation and innovation techniques
Rapid prototyping and iterative learning
Strategic integration of design thinking

Key Learning Outcomes

At the end of this Design Thinking for Strategic Management training course, participants will be able to:

Analyse complex business challenges using the design thinking framework
Apply user empathy techniques to inform strategic decisions
Generate innovative ideas through structured ideation methods
Develop and test prototypes to refine strategic solutions
Integrate design thinking principles into organisational strategy and culture
Strengthen leadership capability to drive innovation and change

Training Methodology

This Design Thinking for Strategic Management training course adopts an experiential learning approach that emphasises engagement, interaction, and practice. Participants work through guided exercises, team-based activities, short interactive presentations, reflections, and real-world case scenarios to apply design thinking concepts directly to strategic challenges.

Who Should Attend?

This Design Thinking for Strategic Management training course is ideal for professionals seeking to:

Senior and middle managers responsible for strategy and innovation
Strategy, transformation, and business development professionals
Product, service, and customer experience leaders
Project and change management professionals
Emerging leaders preparing for broader strategic roles
Professionals driving organisational improvement and innovation

Course Outline

Day 1

Introduction to Design Thinking

Definition and principles of design thinking
Historical background and evolution
The importance of design thinking in business management

The Design Thinking Process

Overview of the five stages: Empathize, define, ideate, prototype, test
Exploration of each stage with real-world examples

Day 2

Empathy and Problem Definition

Empathy: Understanding the User

Techniques for empathizing with users
Conducting interviews and observations
Building user personas and empathy maps

Defining the Problem

Techniques for defining and framing problems
Importance of problem statements in guiding the design process
Tools for problem analysis

Day 3

Ideation and Prototyping

Ideation: Generating Creative Solutions

Techniques for brainstorming and creative thinking
Methods to foster innovation within teams
Selecting and refining ideas

Prototyping Solutions

Introduction to prototyping methods
Importance of rapid prototyping in iterative design
Gathering feedback and learning from prototypes

Day 4

Prototype and Testing

Testing and Iteration

Designing effective tests for solutions
Iterative process: Learning from failures and successes
Implementing feedback into design improvements

Integrating Design Thinking into Business Strategy

Strategies for embedding design thinking in organizational culture
Measuring the impact of design thinking on business performance

Day 5

Overcoming Challenges and Barriers

Common obstacles in implementing Design Thinking
Strategies for overcoming resistance and fostering acceptance
Building a supportive environment for Design Thinking

Conclusion and Future Trends

Recap of key learning
Future trends in design thinking
Encouraging continuous learning and adaptation

International Standards & Professional Alignment

Our training courses are aligned with internationally recognised professional standards and frameworks across leadership, strategy, finance, governance, risk, compliance, and audit. By integrating globally trusted models, we ensure learners develop practical, relevant, and industry-recognised capabilities.

Our trainings draw on leading international standards and professional frameworks, including ISO, ISACA, COSO, OECD, IIA, FATF, Basel, IFRS/ISSB, GRI, NIST, CPD, ILM and the OECD AI Principles. This alignment ensures consistency with global best practices across financial management, risk oversight, digital governance, sustainability, and strategic decision-making..

Designed in alignment with globally recognised professional bodies, our courses support continuous professional development, strengthen organisational capability, and provide clear pathways toward professional certifications valued worldwide.