Designing For Culture

INTRODUCTION: This workshop teaches the first principles of design thinking. There is an increasing realisation in most forward-thinking organisations that 'design thinking' is a state of mind and not the prerogative of the product design or any dedicated functional team within the enterprise. Being agile necessitates the incorporation of good design thinking at all levels in the organisation for optimizing product, service and customer experience. This workshop, which has also been designed using the principles of design thinking, is a novel experience for most participants. Read on to discover why!


THE NARRATIVE AND THE OBJECTIVE: Participants learn the skill of design thinking practically by 'designing' an assault rifle - an instrument of war, that most civilians would have never interacted with. The participants learn a framework for understanding the needs, cultural nuances and perspectives of the end-user of the 'product' or 'service' as the foundation of the design process. This unique hands-on approach teaches the participants the importance of 'trade offs' during the design journey which may actually entail creating a less-than-perfect product or service, to ensure better acceptance & satisfaction by the eventual user. They also learn why the 'culture' of the users & their organisations, have to be at the heart of every design process. This engaging and exciting session also breaks the myth that we need to deliver the best available solution every time. On occasions, the 'best option' may not optimal for the situation or environment.


THE OUTCOME FOR PARTICIPANTS: There are three reasons for using an assault rifle as a design case study. Firstly, it is far more engaging than designing say a shopping cart or an app. Secondly, all participants are approaching a completely new challenge with very little background. But the most important and nuanced reason for selecting the assault rifle is the fact that whether a country has the largest defence budget in the world (it is the US by the way - more than the next 20 countries put together) or a relatively small country like Vietnam, it can equip its soldiers with only one rifle. This means the participants must learn how to distil the culture, economic prowess, user behaviours and intellectual literacy into three and a half kilos of metal and plastic, regardless of the size and resources of the adversary. And during the process, they learn why superior resources are never the answer or replacement for 'designing for culture'.


This metaphor-led session is a deep-dive into sparking the art of design thinking, increased agility, enhancing the perspectives on innovation and inviting participants to use creative tools to address challenges, embrace mindset shifts and reframing intractable issues with new approaches.


FAQs About Capt. Raghu Raman

What areas of expertise does Capt. Raghu Raman specialize in?

Capt. Raghu Raman specializes in organizational dynamics, strategy, transformations, and the mindset shift required for leadership in a complex and ever-changing world. His expertise is drawn from his diverse experiences in the Armed Forces, corporate sector, and government.

What types of leadership environments has Captain Raghu Raman operated in?

Captain Raghu Raman has operated in various leadership environments including:

  1. Authoritarian style within the Armed Forces.
  2. Incentive-driven style in corporates such as Mahindra and Reliance Industries.
  3. Procedure-driven, bureaucratic style in government.

What significant organizational role did Capt. Raghu Raman undertake within the government?

Capt. Raghu Raman raised a new hybrid organization within the government that comprised personnel from both the government and private sectors working together towards a common mission.

What are some of the platforms and publications where Capt. Raghu Raman's work has been featured?

Captain Raghu Raman has been featured on platforms like TEDx and Josh and in publications such as Hindustan Times, Mint, People Matters, Wired, and Indian Express.

How has Capt. Raghu Raman contributed to leadership education?

Capt. Raghu Raman is associated with business schools and government institutions including the Indian School of Business, Duke Corporate Education, National Defence College, Army War College, and Indian Institute of Public Administration. He is known for his keynotes, sessions, and workshops on leadership, strategy, and entrepreneurship.

Can you name some of the organizations Captain Raghu Raman has worked with?

Captain Raghu Raman has delivered sessions for global audiences from organizations such as Infosys, Myntra, ICICI Bank, Mahindra & Mahindra, Adani-Wilmar, Aditya Birla Insurance, SBI, Citibank, Accenture, Capgemini, Deloitte, Shell, Edelweiss, ReBit (Reserve Bank IT), Intelenet Global Services, Philips, WNS Global Services, HCL, Reserve Bank of India, Siemens, Asian Hotels, Unilever, Phillips, Bosch, Nokia, Siemens, KPMG, 3M India, DMCC Dubai, and EdelGive.

What is the title of Capt. Raghu Raman's bestselling book?

Capt. Raghu Raman is the author of the bestseller "Everyman's War," which has been endorsed by business and government leaders.

What is Capt. Raghu Raman's current role?

Capt. Raghu Raman is currently working with the Adani Group as a Leadership Consultant.

How impactful have Capt. Raghu Raman's talks been?

Capt. Raghu Raman's talks have been watched over eight million times and are used in several leadership forums as case studies.

Has Capt. Raghu Raman been a strategic advisor to any leaders?

Yes, Capt. Raghu Raman has been a strategic advisor to both national and global level leaders, providing insights on leadership, strategy, and transformations.

How can someone contact Capt. Raghu Raman for events or seminar bookings?

For events or seminar bookings, you can contact Capt. Raghu Raman at +91 9322779746 or via email at raghu@captraman.com.