Do you need help finding new ways to solve problems in today’s increasingly interconnected and complex world? Do you need solutions that capture the deep experience of people on your team while recognizing the subtle nuances in your business approach?
We can help. Wipfli’s professionals excel at working with teams to reframe ill-defined or unknown problems in human-centric ways that enable you to find innovative ways to meet your needs.
We work with you using the Design Thinking process, which combines opening up an entirely new way to think with hands-on methodologies to help you generate ground-breaking solutions.
The Design Thinking process has played a role in the success of many high-profile, global organizations, including Google, Apple and Airbnb.
What is Design Thinking?
Design Thinking is a non-linear process involving five steps. At each step, there is an opportunity to pause, revisit previous decisions and make adjustments. The steps include:
- Empathize by understanding people and their needs, desires and opportunities.
- Define the real problem to be solved that is broad enough to allow for creativity but narrow enough to ensure results.
- Ideate by exploring a wide variety of solutions in intense and creative brainstorming sessions.
- Prototype alternative solutions by transforming them into a tangible representation of your solution.
- Test your solution by putting it into practice and getting feedback from people to refine your solution.
What we can do
Design Thinking Session
Our team will help guide yours through this flexible and fluid process to find the solutions that are right for you. Our team will:
- Guide your team through research and problem identifications.
- Bring 2.5 days of customized workshops to your office to work with roughly 20 people.
- Co-create a Dream Book that presents your concrete solutions wrapped in reinforcing Design Thinking principles and tools.
Driving digital transformation for nonprofits
A team from Wipfli was able to help an international nonprofit, Winrock International, re-imagine its financial, talent and bid management systems.
Over two days in Hanoi, Vietnam, Wipfli professionals worked with 20 Winrock International leaders to identify opportunities for creative business solutions for key organization financial, talent and bid management processes. Through a simple prioritization process, Winrock decided to focus on re-imagining its financial management system.
Similarly, Wipfli planned and delivered a workshop for Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) in Geneva, Switzerland to help MSF develop a system to successfully support the continuity of care for mobile populations through secure, simple and acceptable digital means.
In both cases, participants found the workshops transformative.
“I greatly recommend this process to any NGO who has a meaningful challenge to solve because it allows deep discussion of direction and to dig deeper with different perspectives to align on the challenge with a variety of ideas to reach a better solution,” said Greg Castella, Innovation Coordinator, Médecins Sans Frontières.
In addition, the designs they developed with Wipfli will help them continue to innovate.
“We are now looking at culture change and systemic change, so it is bigger and more impactful than I envisioned coming into it,” said Martha Saldinger, Winrock’s Director of Education and Empowerment.
Both workshops were sponsored by Microsoft and coordinated through NetHope, a consortium that connects international nonprofits with technology companies and consultants who share their passion for positive impact on the world.
Work with Wipfli
Wipfli is passionately invested in helping amplify the mission and impact of organizations. Our level of commitment and ability to achieve innovative results is one reason Microsoft awarded us their 2019 U.S. Partner Award – Partner for Social Impact.
Contact us today to see how we can help you help change the world.
Our team
Ryan E. Risley, CIO
Ryan Risley is a partner in Wipfli’s technology consulting practice and leads the firm’s CIO advisory services practice. He helps CIOs and other chief executives align business strategy by empowering technological innovation. Ryan’s holistic approach and expansive technology experience in a variety of industries helps clients demystify information technology.
Theron Kelso, PMP
Theron Kelso is a manager with over 25 years of experience in serving a variety of industries including aerospace, public safety and nonprofits. He is a digital transformation leader, recognizing the power of technology to advance each organization’s goals and executing on technology roadmaps that rally organizations to deliver results. Theron gains a clear vision of business and technology strategy through exploration and high-touch engagement with clients.
