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HUMAN-CENTERED SYSTEMS THINKING
workshop

Design with empathy. Think in systems. Innovate with impact.

Description

Building on the creative problem-solving foundation of Design Thinking, Human-Centered Systems Thinking (HCST) takes innovation to the next level by integrating empathy with the analytical rigor of Systems Thinking.

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This advanced course equips participants to address complex, interconnected challenges by combining user-centered insights with system-wide analysis. You will learn to uncover root causes, map dynamic interconnections, and design solutions that are not only desirable but also sustainable and scalable.

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Recognized by the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025 as a critical leadership capability, HCST prepares professionals to lead transformative change with impact and resilience.

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Note: This course is positioned as the next step beyond Design Thinking, offering advanced tools and frameworks to address systemic challenges.

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Human-Centered Systems Thinking Workshop
Human-Centered Systems Thinking Workshop
Human-Centered Systems Thinking Workshop

Recommended Audience

This advanced program is designed for professionals who have prior exposure to Design Thinking and wish to deepen their problem-solving capability. It is ideal for:

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  • Business leaders and managers driving strategic transformation

  • Innovation and design professionals seeking to handle complex systems

  • Change agents, consultants, and facilitators embedding sustainability and scalability in solutions

  • Anyone responsible for navigating multi-stakeholder challenges where simple fixes are insufficient

Methodology

This is an experiential workshop emphasizing active participation and practical application. Participants will engage in:

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  • Interactive lectures introducing key concepts and frameworks.

  • Hands-on activities to practice HCST tools and techniques.

  • Group discussions to reflect on insights and share experiences.

  • Real-world case studies to contextualize learning.

  • Collaborative projects to apply HCST methods to participants' own challenges.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

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  1. Apply human-centered and systems approaches to solve complex challenges

  2. Map interdependencies and identify root causes beyond surface-level problems

  3. Design holistic, sustainable, and scalable solutions

  4. Strengthen leadership capability in managing dynamic and uncertain environments

  5. Extend Design Thinking into a systems-aware innovation practice

Workshop Outline

Session 1: Foundations & Human Empathy
 

  • Introduction to Human-Centered Systems Thinking (HCST)

  • Why combine empathy with systems awareness to address complex challenges

  • HCST 5-Phase Framework: Empathy → Define → System Analysis → Ideate → Prototype & Test

  • The role of divergent and convergent thinking in innovation

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  • Group Activity 1: Challenge Framing through Empathy - Participants identify a real-world challenge they face and explore it through user interviews, personas, or empathy maps. Focus on surfacing emotional and experiential insights.

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Session 2: Define & Systems Thinking Tools
 

  • Crafting clear Problem Statements (POV) and HMW (How Might We) questions

  • Introducing the Iceberg Model and mental models

  • Exploring interconnections and causality using systems thinking

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  • Group Activity 2: Iceberg & Leverage Point Analysis - Participants apply the Iceberg Model to identify deeper patterns, structures, and beliefs driving surface challenges. Then pinpoint potential leverage points for intervention.

Session 3: System Mapping & Ideation
 

  • Visualizing systems through stakeholder maps and causal loops

  • Principles of divergent and convergent ideation

  • Creative ideation techniques aligned with systems awareness

 

  • Group Activity 3: System Mapping & Idea Generation - Groups build a Systems Map of their selected issue and then brainstorm multiple ideas that address both user needs and systemic leverage points. Narrow down ideas using simple criteria.

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Session 4: Prototyping & Design Briefs

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  • Prototyping: rapid, low-fidelity ways to test ideas

  • Testing with users and feedback loops

  • Creating a design brief to summarize insights and guide action

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  • Group Activity 4: HCST Design Brief Creation - Teams synthesize their work into a clear HCST Design Brief, capturing user feedback, system insights, proposed solutions, and how they will prototype and test their idea.

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Wrap-Up & Reflections 

Award of Certificate

Certificate of Attendance will be issued to participants who have attended at least 75% of the workshop

Duration

One-day and two-day programs are available

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