The SAP AppHaus Network Design Thinking Coach Camp 2021
Deepening Shared Innovation Values
Written by Eric Klebeck, Rachael Newbigging, and Julia Jakob
Since 2013, the SAP AppHaus team has been driving human-centered co-innovation with customers. The core ingredient for customer projects’ success was the combination of SAP’s solid technological foundation on the one hand, and user-centric innovation methodologies on the other. With the vision of scaling this approach worldwide, the SAP AppHaus Network was founded in 2016, connecting like-minded SAP partners across the globe. What makes the network and its members unique, besides owning their own creative space, is that all partners leverage SAP’s Human-Centered Approach to Innovation in their projects. The goal of the first ever global and virtual Design Thinking (DT) Coach Camp was to deepen shared innovation values and to learn from one another while releasing beneficial scaling effects. Over a period of seven weeks, all 16 SAP AppHaus Network partners collaborated on solving a defined innovation challenge. This exercise not only unlocked skillset-related synergy effects but also made the network grow even closer together.
United by SAP’s Human-Centered Approach to Innovation
SAP’s Human-Centered Approach to Innovation unites all partners. For all members, it is the key that grants access to user-centric and value-creating solutions that are feasible, viable, and desirable. The iterative approach comprises five phases, gradually moving from Design Thinking to Architecture Thinking.
- Design Thinking scopes the problem-solving innovation opportunities and empathizes with the end-users to uncover their true needs.
- Architecture Thinking focuses on the technological implementation of the developed solution and uses data, processes, and system components to assess its scalability from both technological and business perspectives.
The combination of both allows to hit the sweet spot between great user experience and business value. By leveraging SAP Business Technology Platform as a technological foundation, both the scalability and future-proofing of the ideated solutions for customers can be ensured.
The what, when, who, and why
From May to June 2021, the 2021 DT Coach Camp brought together all members of the SAP AppHaus Network for a unique workshop series. In seven weekly sessions, experienced coaches from the SAP AppHaus Network led 73 practitioners through SAP’s Human-Centered Approach to Innovation. The sessions were additionally shadowed by Design Thinking experts. The workshop team went through each phase of the approach to give participants a better understanding of the process, while also offering opportunities for exchange within the SAP AppHaus Network.
The camp took place completely virtually, and on a global scale, with sessions that accommodated eight time zones. In teams of up to six people, participants were tasked with solving one given challenge: “In a world with hybrid working models, how will we work and collaborate while keeping the DT workshop spirit vibrant even in front of a computer.”
Putting the learned methodologies into practice, the participants followed all steps of SAP’s Human-Centered Approach to Innovation, from conducting user research, to designing a solution, and doing feedback and iteration rounds.
“Workshops in the ‘video conferencing era’ can be difficult, despite all of the advances in technology and how people work. That’s because the participants are real people, working in different time zones and environments. But this workshop experience was smooth, enjoyable, and enriching. This is largely due to the fact that problem solving is based on a well-documented, easy-to-understand process with intuitive tools and helpful, goal-oriented, and open-minded employees.”
- Jaggi Singh, Head of SAP Solutions at Datacom, SAP AppHaus Network member since April 2021
Strengthening the like-minded community
After finishing the seven weeks of training and learning, all participants and coaches were equipped with a deeper knowledge of SAP’s Human-Centered Approach to Innovation, as well as certificates attesting their newly acquired skills.
While the DT Coach Camp required many hours of concentration, collaboration and thinking outside the box, one of the main takeaways for those leading the sessions and for those learning was the value of doing so within a great community. Being able to go through the Design Thinking process together greatly strengthened personal and professional relationships between the partners, as well as SAP colleagues and Design Thinking experts. This allowed for a mutual exchange of know-how and laid the foundation for trustful and honest communication and collaboration among all participants.
“We always highlight that a Design Thinking workshop deepens the customer relationship. This is also true for this training, even though it was virtual it changed our relationships for the better. The seven-week journey showed that we truly belong together as a community of like-minded people.”
- Birgit Fien-Schmalzbauer, Global Head SAP AppHaus Partner Network
All workshop groups were highly diverse with regard to the participants’ company, position, and level of expertise. This diversity contributed to a lively exchange of thoughts and resulted in networking opportunities to establish new contacts and think of long-term partnerships.
Moving forward with reinforced enthusiasm
Over the course of the DT Coach Camp, the SAP AppHaus Network jointly explored new tools and methods to make their collaboration with customers more effective and successful. Since then, several partners have even implemented some of these skills in their daily operations. The learning process also sparked the desire for another deep dive into various methods and best practices to facilitate workshops in a hybrid setup. As a follow-up to keep the momentum, maintain a continuous knowledge exchange, and further strengthen the bonds among the members the network partners have decided to organize quarterly meetings. As a self-organizing community of experts, the SAP AppHaus Network is committed to empower each other to closely collaborate and innovate — also beyond this first-ever DT Coach Camp.
Thank you to all participants for the great conversations and learnings. We look forward to continuing to grow together, furthering the journeys with our customers, and making innovation real!
Learn more about the mission of the SAP AppHaus Network and the projects completed by the network partners on our website.
Interested in the applied tools and methods? These are comprised in the Innovation Toolkit and can be downloaded for free. Get to know the Innovation Toolkit in this article.
