Leveraging Data for a Better Retail Experience
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Scrappy Design Thinking – Simple Rules, Practical Tools
In another article I rambled on about how design thinking’s powerful combination of tools and techniques produces outcomes beyond the predictable. Here I’ll share an approach that integrates key elements of design thinking with a Scrappy Project Management© style. Using this approach will generate new possibilities that you’d never discover using traditional problem-centric approaches.
Scrappy Design Thinking Overview. Both design thinking and Scrappy Project Management© share an obsession with “the customer”. And both start by “thinking from the future” rather than getting stuck in the current situation, hampered by self-limiting beliefs about what’s possible. Rather than using the classic design thinking model of Empathize – Define – Ideate – Prototype – Test, let’s use a cycle that’s a bit easier to remember: Why? – Who? – What? – How?
- Rather than instinctively jumping to HOW to solve a “problem”, start with WHY – Why is this project important? Why work on this?
- Next explore WHO – who cares, who’s impacted, who’s involved, and who’s judging the success of your project?
- Then move on to WHAT – what outcomes would go beyond “solving a problem” to surprise and delight your stakeholders?
- Then, and only then, design and prototype HOW to achieve these outcomes and delight these stakeholders.
- Go through the entire cycle again, expanding, revising, and refining your prototypes repeatedly, until you collapse in an exhausted heap, worn out, but with a self-satisfied smile on your barrier-shattering face. Hmmm . . . perhaps I overpromise. Let’s see what happens.
Key Ways to Make Your Business More Transparent
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Kimberly's Areas of Expertise
Contact Kimberly at:
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Testimonials
Thanks for your timely advice this week! You have the right templates and tools that you can send at a moment’s notice, even at midnight! You truly care about the long term success of our company. And last, but not least, I can count on you to understand my half-finished thoughts because you are smart, flexible, and have a big heart!
Thank you for inspiring me to be the leader I aspire to be. You are a great model of the courageous leadership philosophy in action.
The door was opened to improvement where process is no longer a four letter word. I would love to work with you again sometime.
I was fortunate to have Kimberly and her team facilitate a very engaging and productive session with my team of Technical Program Managers in Aug 2019. The intent was to energize and motivate the team to feel empowered and make changes to deliver better results. Kimberly spent an afternoon (many felt it was too short) delivering very compelling and thought provoking messages though interactive exercises that kept the group of ~60 people on their feet. Everyone left with a great deal of positi… Read more
Working with Kimberly was both a pleasure and honour. In my decade-plus time in Japan, I’ve never had the chance to work with someone of her talent and caliber. It was motivating and inspirational for me and I got so much out of working with her. I’m now able to use new activities, incorporate a different approach to learning and add value to my classes as well as connect more deeply with my workshop participants.
The recommendation of a transformed cynic: Kimberly is a bit like a cyclone – she will turn your world upside down and blow you away. Unlike a cyclone, however, she will be sure that all of the important pieces remain; neatly reorganized and stronger than before she met you. She will also, undoubtedly, leave many gems behind for you as well – some ready to display and others for you to continue polishing throughout your life and career. You will definitely be richer for having crossed her pa… Read more
Kimberly is a good communicator and a great source of inspiration to the leader in every person who works with her. She has greatly influenced the leadership qualities in me and has helped me become more effective with my communication skills.
If you have the opportunity to take a workshop with Wiefling in person, don’t walk, RUN to sign up at your earliest opportunity. Her classes are Fun, Entertaining, high energy, and you learn some of the most incredible things. Don’t miss it. The only downside to her class is that everything else you take thereafter will pale in comparison. One of the finest class experiences I’ve ever had.
Kimberly has helped our company shape its global culture for the past decade. To date, over 350 colleagues from around the world [have] met together for six-month customized programs consisting of three one-week interactive sessions in our Global Team Leadership Development program. Our culture is rooted in a long history of innovative change to survive in the face of global business headwinds. We have successfully transformed our company many times in the past 90 years, but mainly as a Japanese… Read more
All the advice you gave me during our last meeting is paying off. Who could believe having a white board would do wonders – – just as you said. . . . this afternoon my manager said “You’re so organized and such a good communicator.
Books in the Scrappy Guides Series

By Kimberly Wiefling
A Top-selling PM Book!
Scrappy PM Audiobook


Authors: J. Abrams, C. Amos, E. Davie, M-H. Le, H. Kain, S. Lebeck, T. Mui, P. Obuchowski, Y. Shibata, N. Udo, B.J. Waxman, K. Wiefling


By Michael Seese


By Michael Seese

We Can Help You:
- Lead your business more effectively.
- Develop products more predictably.
- Manage projects with greater ease.
- Increase your professional effectiveness.
Pricing Information & Our Promise to You
"We only bill where we add value. Our invoices carry this message: If you are not completely satisfied with anything that you have been billed for, simply circle the amount of the charge, write a brief explanation of your concern, and subtract it from your payment. Our goal is your complete delight with our services, and we appreciate your valuable feedback."
- Kimberly M. Wiefling, M.S., Founder






