When I lead my teams, we utilize all three of these mindsets. Design Thinking is how we explore and solve problems; Lean is our framework for testing our beliefs and learning our way to the right outcomes, and Agile is how we adapt to changing conditions with software.
Innovation Spectrum - by Geert Glaes
Design Thinking
PROCESS – EXPLORE THE PROBLEM
A non-linear process, design thinking is about ability and learning. Abilities like dealing with ambiguity, empathetic learning, synthesis, and experimentation, among others. A designer’s ability to make meaning, frame a problem, and explore potential solutions are key.
Lean UX
PROCESS – BUILD THE RIGHT THINGS
The aim of lean UX is to show your work early and often to the team, collect their insights and build that into the next iteration of the design. Even at the time of delivering the designs to the developers, the trick is to stay lean: keep the deliverables light and editable.
Agile
PROCESS – BUILD THE THING RIGHT
In conditions of high uncertainty, Agile offers ways to build software that is dynamic and can adapt to change. This isn’t just about pivoting. It’s also about scaling and evolving solutions over time. If we accept that today’s solution will be different from tomorrow’s, then we should focus on meeting our immediate needs in a way that doesn’t constrain our ability to respond when things change later. The heart of Agile is adapting gracefully to changing needs with software.