Design Thinking and Human Resources

Design thinking is usually applied to the development of new business models, products, and services. When it comes to human resources, design thinking is a human-centric process that helps HR to creatively solve problems, especially when other traditional methods can’t get the job done.
Using design thinking, HR departments can focus on how employees interact with each other in the workplace. It has influenced companies to change up their work processes or redesign their offices, leading to greater employee collaboration.
How Design Thinking Can Improve the Employee Experience
Design thinking addresses behaviors to new technologies and the growing portion of next-generation employees. New HR programs should be focused on employee experience, redesigning company portals, and creating better employee interaction tools.
It can help business teams redesign certain aspects of the employee experience by using new technologies that focus on the needs of your staff. For example, information about the work environment and collaboration can help businesses determine whether they should offer a remote-work policy or consider a different office layout.
Applying Design Thinking to Human Resources
Design thinking offers data points on how to uncover new methods for improving employee experience. 
When applying design thinking, there are four suggestions that should be considered when coming up with ideas for creative problem solving:

1. Get to know your employees
   
2. Highlight your employees’ needs and problems
   
3. Brainstorm. Create ideas for innovative solutions that challenge assumptions
   
4. Design and test solutions
   

Design thinking doesn’t mean implementing a solution and you're done. It is a long-term, repetitive process. Design teams should continuously review results, and improve on their methodology. 
By workshopping the problem, managers can continue to redefine what it takes to make things better and gain insights into alternative solutions.
HR faces more challenges today than it did in the past; employee retention, development, and recruiting. Design thinking can help HR departments come up with better solutions and create better experiences for employees.