1. What are Design Thinking tools? Give two examples.

Design Thinking tools are structured methods used to understand users, generate ideas, and solve
problems creatively.
Examples: Empathy Maps, Personas.

2. How do tools like empathy maps and personas help in problem solving?

They help understand users’ needs, emotions, motivations, and pain points, ensuring solutions are
human-centred and relevant.

3. Why is prototyping considered an important tool in Design Thinking?

Prototyping allows quick testing of ideas, early feedback, error identification, and improvement at
low cost before final implementation.

4. How does SCAMPER help in idea generation?

SCAMPER provides structured prompts that encourage creative thinking by modifying existing
ideas in new ways.

5. Mention any two SDGs that can be addressed through Design Thinking.

 SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

 SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

6. Mention two advantages of applying Design Thinking to business process redesign.

 Improves efficiency and user satisfaction

 Encourages innovation and reduces operational waste

7. Identify two stages of Design Thinking relevant to business process modelling.

 Empathize

 Define

8. How does UX design improve customer satisfaction?

UX design ensures products are easy to use, enjoyable, and meet user expectations, resulting in
positive user experiences.
9. Why is consistency important in UI design?

Consistency improves usability, reduces confusion, and helps users learn the interface faster.

10. How does TRIZ differ from traditional brainstorming methods?

TRIZ uses scientific principles and patterns of innovation, while brainstorming relies on free,
unstructured idea generation.

11. What is SCAMPER?

SCAMPER is a creative thinking technique used to generate ideas by modifying existing products or
processes.

12. State two ways Design Thinking helps organizations gain competitive advantage.

 Creates innovative, customer-focused solutions

 Improves adaptability to market changes

13. Why is Design Thinking considered a driver of strategic innovation?

It combines creativity with strategy to develop breakthrough solutions aligned with long-term
business goals.

14. How does experimentation contribute to strategic innovation?

Experimentation allows testing new ideas, learning from failures, and refining strategies based on
real feedback.

15. State two ways Design Thinking helps organizations gain competitive advantage.

 Enhances customer loyalty

 Accelerates innovation cycles

16. Expand any four letters of the SCAMPER technique.

 S – Substitute

 C – Combine

 A – Adapt

 M – Modify
17. How does SCAMPER help in idea generation?

It provides guided questions that stimulate creative modifications and new perspectives.

19. How does Design Thinking support strategic innovation in organizations?

It aligns innovation with user needs and business strategy, enabling sustainable and impactful
solutions.

20. Mention any two characteristics of strategic innovation.

 Long-term impact

 Creates new markets or business models

21. State two differences between incremental innovation and strategic innovation.

 Incremental innovation improves existing products; strategic innovation creates new value
propositions

 Incremental is short-term; strategic is long-term

22. How do tools like empathy maps and personas help in problem solving?

They ensure solutions are based on real user insights rather than assumptions.

23. List any four commonly used tools in Design Thinking.

 Empathy Maps

 Personas

 Brainstorming

 Prototyping

24. Why is prototyping considered an important tool in Design Thinking?

It enables rapid testing, feedback collection, and refinement of ideas before full-scale
development.
25. Explain the role of Design Thinking in business process modelling.

Design Thinking helps map processes based on user needs, identify inefficiencies, and design
improved workflows.

26. How does a human-centred approach improve business processes?

It focuses on employee and customer needs, leading to better usability, efficiency, and satisfaction.

27. Mention two advantages of applying Design Thinking to business process redesign.

 Reduces process complexity

 Enhances innovation and flexibility

28. Identify two stages of Design Thinking relevant to business process modelling.

 Define

 Ideate

29. Why is Design Thinking considered a driver of strategic innovation?

It integrates creativity, technology, and business strategy to produce transformational solutions.

30. How does experimentation contribute to strategic innovation?

It allows organizations to test assumptions, reduce risk, and discover successful innovations.

31. State two ways Design Thinking helps organizations gain competitive advantage.

 Improves customer experience

 Encourages continuous innovation

32. What is TRIZ and its main objective?

TRIZ is a problem-solving methodology aimed at generating innovative solutions using proven

principles.

33. How does TRIZ differ from traditional brainstorming methods?

TRIZ is systematic and analytical, while brainstorming is free-flowing and intuitive.

34. Mention any two principles of TRIZ.

 Segmentation

 Taking out (separation)

35. Define User Interface (UI).

UI is the visual and interactive elements through which users interact with a product or system.

36. Mention two key elements of an effective UI design.

 Clarity

 Consistency

37. Why is consistency important in UI design?

It improves usability and ensures predictable user interactions.

38. What is User Experience (UX)?

UX refers to the overall experience and satisfaction a user has while interacting with a product.

39. Differentiate between UI and UX.

UI focuses on appearance and layout, while UX focuses on usability and user satisfaction.

40. How does UX design improve customer satisfaction?

By making products intuitive, efficient, and enjoyable to use.

41. How does Design Thinking contribute to achieving the SDGs?

It develops innovative, sustainable, and human-centred solutions to global challenges.

42. Mention any two SDGs that can be addressed through Design Thinking.

 SDG 4: Quality Education

 SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

43. Explain the role of Design Thinking in creating sustainable solutions.

Design Thinking balances human needs, environmental impact, and economic feasibility to create
long-lasting solutions.

1. Explain the concept of strategic innovation and discuss how Design Thinking acts as a
framework to achieve strategic innovation in organizations. Illustrate with suitable
examples.

Strategic Innovation

Strategic innovation refers to the creation of new value propositions, business models, or markets
that significantly change the competitive position of an organization. Unlike incremental
innovation, it focuses on long-term transformation rather than small improvements.

Design Thinking as a Framework

Design Thinking acts as a structured framework for achieving strategic innovation by:

 Focusing on human-centred problem solving

 Encouraging cross-functional collaboration

 Promoting experimentation and learning

Through stages such as Empathize, Define, Ideate, Prototype, and Test, organizations identify
unmet needs and create innovative strategies.

Example

Apple used Design Thinking to redefine the value of mobile phones by combining usability, design,
and ecosystem integration, leading to the iPhone’s success.

2. Describe the major tools used in Design Thinking. Explain how these tools support
problem identification, idea generation, and solution validation.

Key Design Thinking Tools

1. Empathy Maps – Understand user emotions, needs, and pain points

2. Personas – Represent different user types

3. Brainstorming – Generate a wide range of ideas

4. SCAMPER – Modify existing ideas creatively

5. Prototyping – Create low-cost models of solutions

6. Testing – Validate ideas with real users

Support to Problem Solving

  Problem Identification: Empathy maps, personas

 Idea Generation: Brainstorming, SCAMPER

 Solution Validation: Prototyping and testing

These tools reduce assumptions and ensure solutions are user-focused.

3. What is TRIZ? Explain its principles and discuss how TRIZ supports systematic
innovation and problem solving in Design Thinking.

TRIZ (Theory of Inventive Problem Solving) is a systematic innovation methodology developed

from the study of global patents to identify common innovation principles.

Principles of TRIZ

Some common principles include:

 Segmentation

 Taking out (separation)

 Dynamization

 Universality

Role in Design Thinking

TRIZ complements Design Thinking by:

 Providing structured innovation approaches

 Solving technical contradictions

 Reducing trial-and-error methods

While Design Thinking is human-centred, TRIZ adds analytical strength.

4. A mid-sized retail startup offering both online and offline services is facing declining
customer engagement. Customers complain about a confusing mobile app interface,
delayed order processing, and lack of personalized services. The management wants to
redesign its business processes using Design Thinking to achieve strategic innovation
and gain a competitive advantage.

a) Identify the key problems faced by the startup using a Design Thinking perspective.
(3 marks)
b) Explain how Design Thinking tools can be applied to redesign the business process. (3
marks)
c) Discuss the role of UI and UX in improving customer engagement for the mobile
application. (2 marks)
d) Suggest any one Design Thinking tool (SCAMPER / 2×2 matrix / Prototyping) to
generate innovative solutions and justify your choice. (2 marks)

(a) Key Problems (3 Marks)

 Poor mobile app usability (confusing UI)

 Inefficient order processing

 Lack of personalization

 Disconnect between online and offline services

(b) Application of Design Thinking Tools (3 Marks)

 Empathy Maps & Personas: Understand customer frustrations

 Journey Mapping: Identify delays in order processing

 Brainstorming & Prototyping: Develop improved workflows

 Testing: Validate redesigned processes with users

(c) Role of UI and UX (2 Marks)

 UI: Improves visual clarity and navigation

 UX: Enhances ease of use, engagement, and satisfaction

A well-designed UI/UX increases retention and trust.

(d) Tool Suggestion – Prototyping (2 Marks)

Prototyping is ideal as it allows quick testing of redesigned app interfaces and service flows,
reducing risk and development cost.

5. How is Design Thinking applied in the Information Technology (IT) sector? Explain
the role of Design Thinking in developing user-friendly software solutions, cloud
services, or mobile applications Design Thinking in IT focuses on user-friendly, scalable, and
reliable solutions.

Applications

 Software development

 Cloud services

 Mobile applications
Role

 Understand user needs through empathy

 Reduce complexity in interfaces

 Improve usability, security, and performance

 Enable agile and iterative development

6. Discuss the role of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) during the design of a
product, good, or service. How can designers integrate sustainability into the Design
Thinking process?

Importance of SDGs

Sustainable Development Goals guide designers to create solutions that are:

 Environmentally sustainable

 Socially inclusive

 Economically viable

Integration in Design Thinking

 Empathize with affected communities

 Define sustainability-focused problems

 Ideate eco-friendly solutions

 Prototype sustainable products

 Test long-term impact

7 A startup wants to design a mobile health monitoring application for elderly users.
Using the Design Thinking process, explain how the team would proceed through the
stages of Empathize, Define, Ideate, Prototype, and Test.

Empathize

Interview elderly users and caregivers to understand health challenges.

Define

Problem: Difficulty in monitoring health easily and safely.

Ideate

Ideas like large fonts, voice alerts, emergency buttons.

Prototype Create a simple app with basic monitoring features.

Test

Collect feedback and improve usability.

8. Explain the concept of Strategic Foresight in Design Thinking. How does it help
designers and organizations anticipate future trends, risks, and opportunities while
designing products or services?

Strategic foresight involves anticipating future trends, risks, and opportunities.

Role

 Helps designers plan for long-term change

 Reduces uncertainty

 Supports proactive innovation

It ensures solutions remain relevant in the future.

9. A software company plans to develop a cloud-based learning management system

(LMS) for rural students.
Explain how Design Thinking can be applied to understand user needs, redefine value,
and deliver an effective solution.

Application of Design Thinking

 Empathize: Understand internet and device limitations

 Define: Learning access problem

 Ideate: Offline access, low-data usage features

 Prototype: Simple LMS interface

 Test: Pilot with rural students

Design Thinking ensures inclusivity and effectiveness.

10. A startup wants to design a mobile health monitoring application for elderly users.
Using the Design Thinking process, explain how the team would proceed through the
stages of Empathize, Define, Ideate, Prototype, and Test.

(Same answer as Question 7 – repeated as per question paper)

11. How is Design Thinking applied in the Information Technology (IT) sector? Explain the role of
Design Thinking in developing user-friendly software solutions, cloud services, or mobile
applications
(Same concept as Question 5 – written differently if required in exams)
It ensures technology solutions are user-centred, efficient, scalable, and innovative.

12. What is meant by Value Redefinition in Design Thinking? Explain how redefining
value can lead to innovation in products or services. Support your answer with a real-
world example.

Meaning

Value redefinition means changing how users perceive the benefit of a product or service.

Role in Innovation

 Creates new customer experiences

 Opens new markets

 Differentiates from competitors

Example

Netflix redefined value by shifting from DVD rentals to on-demand streaming, changing how
entertainment is consumed.

1. Which of the following is the correct sequence of stages in Design Thinking?

a) Ideate – Empathize – Prototype – Test – Define
b) Empathize – Define – Ideate – Prototype – Test
c) Define – Empathize – Ideate – Test – Prototype
d) Empathize – Ideate – Define – Prototype – Test

Answer: b

2. The primary purpose of the “Empathize” stage is to:

a) Generate solutions
b) Test ideas
c) Understand user needs and problems
d) Select the best prototype

Answer: c

3. In which stage is the problem statement clearly framed?

a) Empathize
b) Define
c) Ideate
d) Prototype
Answer: b

4. Which of the following is NOT a feature of Design Thinking?

a) Human-centered approach
b) Iterative process
c) Linear and rigid structure
d) Collaborative nature

Answer: c

5. Design Thinking encourages failure because it:

a) Reduces cost
b) Improves documentation
c) Supports learning through iteration
d) Avoids user feedback

Answer: c

6. Design Thinking is important in organizations because it:

a) Focuses only on aesthetics
b) Encourages user-centric innovation
c) Eliminates teamwork
d) Avoids experimentation

Answer: b

7. Which of the following best explains the business value of Design Thinking?
a) Faster coding
b) Improved employee attendance
c) Better problem solving and innovation
d) Strict management control

Answer: c

8. Which of the following is a Design Thinking tool?

a) Balance Sheet
b) Mind Mapping
c) Ledger
d) Trial Balance

Answer: b

9. Personas are mainly used to:

a) Test prototypes
b) Represent target users
c) Generate revenue models
d) Measure productivity

Answer: b

10. NABC stands for:

a) Need – Approach – Benefit – Competition
b) Novelty – Advantage – Business – Cost
c) Need – Aim – Business – Customer
d) Network – Approach – Benefit – Cost

Answer: a

11. In the NABC framework, “C” refers to:

a) Cost
b) Customer
c) Competition
d) Creativity

Answer: c

12. A 2×2 matrix is mainly used to:

a) Generate ideas
b) Prioritize ideas based on two parameters
c) Create prototypes
d) Test user feedback

Answer: b

13. Which of the following is commonly used in a 2×2 matrix?

a) Cost vs Impact
b) Empathy vs Emotion
c) Problem vs Solution
d) Idea vs Prototype

Answer: a

14. The 6-3-5 method involves:

a) 6 people, 3 ideas, 5 minutes
b) 5 people, 6 ideas, 3 minutes
c) 3 people, 6 ideas, 5 minutes
d) 6 ideas, 5 people, 3 minutes

Answer: a
15. The 6-3-5 method mainly supports:
a) Testing
b) Brainwriting
c) Prototyping
d) User interviews

Answer: b

16. A Shared Model in Design Thinking refers to:

a) A financial model
b) A common visual or conceptual understanding
c) A prototype only
d) A business plan

Answer: b

17. Shared Models help teams to:

a) Work independently
b) Avoid communication
c) Align understanding and collaboration
d) Reduce ideation

Answer: c

18. Which tool best helps in aligning team members’ perspectives?

a) NABC
b) Shared Model
c) 6-3-5 Method
d) 2×2 Matrix

Answer: b

[Link] of the following best explains why Design Thinking leads to strategic
innovation?
a) It avoids experimentation
b) It focuses on technology only
c) It integrates empathy, creativity, and experimentation
d) It follows linear planning

Answer: c

[Link] activity best supports UX design?

a) Ledger preparation
b) Usability testing
c) Financial auditing
d) Inventory control
Answer: b

[Link] SDG is directly related to sustainable innovation through Design Thinking?

a) SDG 4 – Quality Education
b) SDG 9 – Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
c) SDG 16 – Peace and Justice
d) SDG 17 – Partnerships

Answer: b

22. Which combination of tools best supports sustainable strategic innovation?

a) SCAMPER + TRIZ
b) UI + UX
c) Design Thinking + SDGs
d) All of the above

Answer: d

23. UX design is concerned with:

a) Screen layout only
b) User’s overall experience and satisfaction
c) Graphic design alone
d) Coding efficiency

Answer: b

24. TRIZ is best described as:

a) Trial-and-error brainstorming
b) A systematic innovation methodology
c) A UI design framework
d) A marketing tool

Answer: b