Summary
With the growing turbulence companies face (e.g. recent financial downturns and the pandemic before that), Design with a big D and its sub disciplines (including DesignOps) finds itself deeply and directly impacted by resource reduction and/or resource re-distribution. In this session, we will bring our years of expertise from working with companies of different shapes and forms to explore techniques that help design leadership shield Design Orgs from the impact of uncertainties and be prepared to have those tough conversation when and if needed. Furthermore, we will explore how you can manage the consequences of these events when they become inevitable, but you still need to maintain a strong Design capability.
Key Insights
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Preparation is key to managing adversity in business environments.
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Aligning team goals with organizational values improves resilience and reduces the impact of challenges.
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Understanding organizational culture helps in identifying invisible values that affect team dynamics.
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Using frameworks like Porter's value chain can aid in justifying design initiatives to business stakeholders.
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Skills mapping should be a strategic ongoing activity, not just a reactive tool during crises.
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Resilience in teams includes comfort with ambiguity and adaptive collaboration skills.
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Effective risk planning allows organizations to anticipate challenges and respond proactively.
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Clear communication is essential during uncertain times to alleviate team anxieties and enhance collaboration.
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Identifying leading indicators can help teams act before risks materialize into significant issues.
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Combining multiple frameworks can provide a comprehensive approach to navigating adversity.
Notable Quotes
"Our very survival depends on our ability to stay awake, adjust to new ideas, remain vigilant, and face the challenge of change."
"Change is not about if, it's about when."
"Identifying what matters to the business is crucial for aligning our goals to show value."
"Understanding the organization culture helps reveal invisible objectives."
"We should never forget that design ops is often seen as a cost unit."
"It's essential to identify activities that directly impact customer experience and overall business value."
"Risk planning allows us to capitalize on our learnings and prepare for the future."
"Ensuring teams can adapt requires a focus on resilience and clear communication."
"Emerging from adversity means being comfortable with ambiguity and readiness for change."
"The goal of our tools is to empower teams to focus on what matters most during challenging times."
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