A one day Design Thinking workshop was organized by the Gujarat Technological University Innovation Council for government employees from the Ahmedabad and Sabarkantha District Panchayats. The workshop aimed to incorporate transparency in implementing government initiatives using Design Thinking techniques. Participants were divided into groups and identified 14 problems in areas like education, health, and irrigation. They presented problem definitions and potential solutions at the end of the workshop. The problems identified will be addressed in an upcoming hackathon event by GTU students mentored by experts.

1. GTU INNOVATION COUNCIL
www.gtuinnovationcouncil.ac.in
1 | Gujarat Technological University (http://www.gtu.ac.in/) |
Contact: gtu_innovation_council@gtu.edu.in,gic@gtu.edu.in| Tel: +91-79-2630 0699;
A
Report on
1 - Day Design Thinking Workshop
For
Government employees of Ahmedabad District Panchayat and
Sabarkantha District Panchayat
Date: 15th October, 2015 Time: 10:30 to 19:30
Venue: GTU Innovation Council, Room no. 131, Second Floor, ACPC Building, LDCE Campus,
Navrangpura, Ahmedabad-380015.
Student Startup Support System
(S4)
Gujarat Technological University,
Ahmedabad
GTU Innovation Council
(GIC)

2. GTU INNOVATION COUNCIL
www.gtuinnovationcouncil.ac.in
2 | Gujarat Technological University (http://www.gtu.ac.in/) |
Contact: gtu_innovation_council@gtu.edu.in,gic@gtu.edu.in| Tel: +91-79-2630 0699;
A one day Design Thinking Workshop was organized at Gujarat Technological University in
association with Ahmedabad District Panchayat and Sabarkantha District Panchayat, respectively.
The aim of the workshop was to incorporate transparency in an efficient manner while
implementing various initiatives of Central Government as well as the State Government.
The meeting commenced with the welcome note by Asst. Prof. Karamjitsinh Bihola of Gujarat
Technological University. The dignitaries on the dias included Smt. Bhargavi Dave, Distrcit
Development Officer – Ahmedabad; Mr. Nagarajan, District Development Officer, Sabarkantha; Prof.
(Dr.) N M Bhatt, Dean at Gujarat Technological University and Mr. Hiranmay Mahanta, MD
Techpedia.
The workshop commenced right after the inaugural address by Dr. Akshai K. Aggarwal, Honorable
Vice-Chancellor of Gujarat Technological University through Skype. Honorable Vice-Chancellor
explained about the importance of a sustainable solution to the various technical and non-technical
problems faced by the common people of the country. All the dignitaries expressed their views
while explaining the importance of the first step towards the revolutionary Hackathon “Code for
Gujarat”.

3. GTU INNOVATION COUNCIL
www.gtuinnovationcouncil.ac.in
3 | Gujarat Technological University (http://www.gtu.ac.in/) |
Contact: gtu_innovation_council@gtu.edu.in,gic@gtu.edu.in| Tel: +91-79-2630 0699;
The Faculty Members of Gujarat Technological University’ formed groups with the government
officials who belonged to various departments such as ICDS, DRDA, Health, Animal Husbandry,
Education, Revenue, E-Gram, Agriculture, etc.

4. GTU INNOVATION COUNCIL
www.gtuinnovationcouncil.ac.in
4 | Gujarat Technological University (http://www.gtu.ac.in/) |
Contact: gtu_innovation_council@gtu.edu.in,gic@gtu.edu.in| Tel: +91-79-2630 0699;

5. GTU INNOVATION COUNCIL
www.gtuinnovationcouncil.ac.in
5 | Gujarat Technological University (http://www.gtu.ac.in/) |
Contact: gtu_innovation_council@gtu.edu.in,gic@gtu.edu.in| Tel: +91-79-2630 0699;

6. GTU INNOVATION COUNCIL
www.gtuinnovationcouncil.ac.in
6 | Gujarat Technological University (http://www.gtu.ac.in/) |
Contact: gtu_innovation_council@gtu.edu.in,gic@gtu.edu.in| Tel: +91-79-2630 0699;

7. GTU INNOVATION COUNCIL
www.gtuinnovationcouncil.ac.in
7 | Gujarat Technological University (http://www.gtu.ac.in/) |
Contact: gtu_innovation_council@gtu.edu.in,gic@gtu.edu.in| Tel: +91-79-2630 0699;
At first, introduction about Design Thinking implementation and methodology was carried out,
followed by hands-on exercises,
(i) Scouting for problem through AEIOU framework
(ii) Mind-mapping.

8. GTU INNOVATION COUNCIL
www.gtuinnovationcouncil.ac.in
8 | Gujarat Technological University (http://www.gtu.ac.in/) |
Contact: gtu_innovation_council@gtu.edu.in,gic@gtu.edu.in| Tel: +91-79-2630 0699;

9. GTU INNOVATION COUNCIL
www.gtuinnovationcouncil.ac.in
9 | Gujarat Technological University (http://www.gtu.ac.in/) |
Contact: gtu_innovation_council@gtu.edu.in,gic@gtu.edu.in| Tel: +91-79-2630 0699;
By evening teams identified 14 problems faced in field of education, health, irrigation with the help
of mind mapping and sketched them on charts. Sketching help you get clarity over a problem and
helps you kick start your ideation process.
Some beautiful sketches on problem definition identified by team members:

10. GTU INNOVATION COUNCIL
www.gtuinnovationcouncil.ac.in
10 | Gujarat Technological University (http://www.gtu.ac.in/) |
Contact: gtu_innovation_council@gtu.edu.in,gic@gtu.edu.in| Tel: +91-79-2630 0699;

11. GTU INNOVATION COUNCIL
www.gtuinnovationcouncil.ac.in
11 | Gujarat Technological University (http://www.gtu.ac.in/) |
Contact: gtu_innovation_council@gtu.edu.in,gic@gtu.edu.in| Tel: +91-79-2630 0699;
All the teams gave presentations, after carrying out ideation; which helped them find final problem
statement. The workshop ended with the valedictory session.

12. GTU INNOVATION COUNCIL
www.gtuinnovationcouncil.ac.in
12 | Gujarat Technological University (http://www.gtu.ac.in/) |
Contact: gtu_innovation_council@gtu.edu.in,gic@gtu.edu.in| Tel: +91-79-2630 0699;

13. GTU INNOVATION COUNCIL
www.gtuinnovationcouncil.ac.in
13 | Gujarat Technological University (http://www.gtu.ac.in/) |
Contact: gtu_innovation_council@gtu.edu.in,gic@gtu.edu.in| Tel: +91-79-2630 0699;
The problems which are identified by Ahmedabad District Panchayat and Sabarkantha District
Panchayat during this workshop will be solved in “Code for Gujarat – 2 Day Hack-a-thon”
taking place on 27th and 28th October 2015 by GTU students mentored by experts
Report by: Kalp Bhatt (Research Assistant)