Agile vs Lean vs Design Thinking

 

3 methodologies.
3 different strengths.

All essential for different moments.

Here's what each actually does:

💡 Agile builds software that adapts as you learn.
Sprint by sprint.
Feature by feature.
Feedback loop by feedback loop.

💡 Lean strips waste from any process.
Less inventory.
Less waiting.
More value delivered faster.

💡 Design Thinking starts with human needs.
Watch. Listen. Prototype.
Test with real humans.

Real-world applications that show the difference.

Startup examples:

Agile: Spotify's 2-week sprints ship 1000+ updates daily
Lean: Toyota eliminated 7 types of waste, became #1
Design Thinking: IDEO redesigned shopping carts by
watching shoppers struggle

Enterprise transformations:

Agile: ING dissolved departments for 2500+ squads
Lean: GE Six Sigma saved $12 billion in 5 years
Design Thinking: IBM trained 100,000+ employees,
added $20M revenue

The practical breakdown:

When Agile shines:
→ Digital products need constant updates
→ Customer needs shift monthly
→ Teams need clear 2-week goals

When Lean dominates:
→ Processes have too many steps
→ Costs spiral out of control
→ Speed to market matters most

When Design Thinking wins:
→ Users struggle but can't say why
→ Innovation needs a human spark
→ Problems are complex and fuzzy

Here's how they complement each other:

Design Thinking discovers what to build.
Lean ensures you build it efficiently.
Agile helps you build it adaptively.

Each methodology asks different questions:

Agile: "What can we ship in 2 weeks?"
Lean: "What step adds no value?"
Design Thinking: "What does the user really need?"

Together they create something powerful:

Products people love.
Built efficiently.
Delivered continuously.

Master one and you solve problems.

Master all three and you transform organizations.

Which methodology fits your current challenge?

Credits to Christian Rebernik, make sure to follow!

https://tinyurl.com/4tu5ytee