We are often stuck in the old way of doing our work. If you want to realize the full potential of your organization across design and procurement, you must operate differently. This requires changing your mindset within your:
Organizational model
Systems and processes
Talent and capabilities
To take a leap and change the way you approach problem-solving and innovation, you can embrace Design Thinking.
Design Thinking can help you reframe how you approach problems, conversations, and relationships at your organization. In Procurement, everything we do involves considering how we can support our “end users” with an empathic perspective to solve real problems for the business. By applying design thinking for innovation, procurement teams can uncover new ways to solve challenges and create greater business value.
This handbook will share the Design Thinking framework from a Procurement point-of-view.
You will also learn:
The 5 Action Phases of the Design Thinking Process
Exclusive supporting research from “Fifth Generation Purchasing: When Pace Meets Power”
Design Thinking Relevant to Procurement
Practical Ways Design Thinking Adds Value to Procurement
In addition, this handbook comes with a series of templates you can use to get started with Design Thinking.
FAQs
1. What is Design Thinking in procurement?
Design Thinking in procurement is a non-linear, human-centric methodology used to solve complex supply chain challenges. It shifts the focus from purely transactional processes to understanding the actual needs of stakeholders and suppliers, allowing teams to create more intuitive and effective procurement solutions.
2. How can Design Thinking improve problem-solving in procurement?
By utilizing Design Thinking for procurement problems, organizations can move beyond surface-level fixes to identify root causes through empathy and observation. This approach encourages cross-functional collaboration and creative ideation, ensuring that the resulting solutions are not only technically feasible but also highly adopted by the end-users.
3. What are the 5 Action Phases of Design Thinking?
The 5 Action Phases of Design Thinking typically include:
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Empathize: Understanding the user's experiences and motivations.
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Define: Articulating the problem based on user insights.
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Ideate: Generating a wide range of creative potential solutions.
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Prototype: Building scaled-down versions of the product or process to investigate ideas.
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Test: Rigorously trying out the solutions to refine and perfect them.
4. How does Design Thinking add value to procurement?
The Value of Design Thinking in procurement lies in its ability to drive innovation and increase internal stakeholder satisfaction. It helps reduce "process friction" and enhances supplier relationships by designing collaborative frameworks that benefit both parties, ultimately leading to more sustainable value and competitive advantage.
5. How can I apply Design Thinking in procurement at my organization?
Applying Design Thinking in procurement begins with identifying a specific friction point—such as a complex onboarding process or poor spend visibility—and engaging directly with those affected. By running small-scale workshops and "failing fast" through rapid prototyping, teams can iteratively develop high-impact changes that align with the organization's strategic goals.
6. How does WNS Procurement help clients transition from traditional sourcing to a Design Thinking framework?
WNS Procurement integrates Design Thinking principles directly into its transformation roadmaps. By mapping out the "As-Is" user journey and co-creating a "To-Be" digital ecosystem, WNS ensures that procurement technology and processes are designed specifically to solve the unique challenges of the client's enterprise, leading to higher adoption and measurable success.