Question 1
According to the Four Noble Truths–Karmic Design Thinking mapping taught in the course, which concept corresponds to the Solve phase?
Nirodha
Samudaya
Dukkha
Marga
The IIT Madras BS Design Thinking for Data-Driven App Development (Design Thinking) Quiz 2 paper sat on 16 Aug 2026, in the May 2026 term: 25 questions for 30 marks in 120 minutes. Every question is below with its answer. Take it as a timed mock test to be marked, or read it through first.
According to the Four Noble Truths–Karmic Design Thinking mapping taught in the course, which concept corresponds to the Solve phase?
Nirodha
Samudaya
Dukkha
Marga
Correct answer
Nirodha
A university wants to understand why students repeatedly submit project reports late. From a design thinking perspective, which approach is most likely to uncover latent needs and contextual barriers?
Ask faculty members to estimate why students submit late.
Send students a closed-ended questionnaire to understand the root cause.
Observe students preparing and submitting reports.
Develop an automated reminder system and assess whether submission rates improve.
Correct answer
Observe students preparing and submitting reports.
A product team interviews only highly engaged users of its professional-learning platform. What is the most significant limitation of this research design?
Experienced users are unable to describe product features accurately.
The study may overlook barriers experienced by inactive users.
Qualitative research cannot be conducted with engaged users.
The interviews will necessarily produce statistically invalid findings.
Correct answer
The study may overlook barriers experienced by inactive users.
During project execution, a stakeholder asks the product development team to add a predictive analytics dashboard that was not included in the approved deliverables. This request primarily represents:
A proposed change to project quality.
A project planning requirement.
A proposed change to project scope.
A routine operational dependency.
Correct answer
A proposed change to project scope.
According to Don Norman’s principles in The Design of Everyday Things, an interface element like a button that visually looks pressable due to elevation and shadows is demonstrating a strong:
Constraint
Signifier
Mapping
Affordance
Correct answer
Signifier
What is the primary indicator that a design team has successfully reached the core finding during a Multi-Why analysis?
They have asked "Why?" multiple times and completed Conflict of interest mapping.
They have asked "Why?" multiple times and constructed HMW statements.
They have uncovered an underlying behavioral or systemic root cause.
They have generated at least five potential feature ideas for the product roadmap.
Correct answer
They have uncovered an underlying behavioral or systemic root cause.
How do Agile and Design Thinking complement each other in product development? 1. Design Thinking focuses on understanding target customers, while Agile manages sprint cycles. 2. Design Thinking delivers features incrementally, and Agile generates features for customer research. 3. Design Thinking helps frame the problem; Agile supports iterative implementation. 4. Both are sequential frameworks that must be completed before testing. Select the correct option using the codes given below:
1 and 3 only
1, 3 and 4 only
2, 3 and 4 only
1, 2, 3 and 4
Correct answer
1 and 3 only
State whether the following statement is TRUE or FALSE: “In Design Thinking, the Test phase is meant solely to confirm whether the prototype works for the target customer and does not involve further modification of the Customer Journey Map.”
TRUE
FALSE
Correct answer
FALSE
According to the Agile Manifesto, which of the following statements correctly reflect the core values of Agile methodology? 1. Individuals and interactions are valued more than processes and tools. 2. Working software is valued more than comprehensive documentation. 3. Following a fixed plan is valued more than responding to change. 4. Customer collaboration is valued more than contract negotiation. Select the correct option using the codes given below:
1 and 2 only
1, 2 and 3 only
1, 2 and 4 only
1, 2, 3 and 4
Correct answer
1, 2 and 4 only
In the ENV model used for problem structuring, what does the ‘V’ component represent?
The financial cost of developing the proposed solution
The specific state or quality of an element
The value of the product to end-users
The viability of the desired result
Correct answer
The specific state or quality of an element
Which activities represent appropriate practices in the Empathize phase in Karmic Design Thinking? 1. Attaching a camera to the head, lying on a stretcher and going through the emergency hospital admission process. 2. Sitting with patients in a general ward and interviewing them about their daily healthcare routines, experiences, and difficulties. 3. Writing an email to the Chief Medical Officer seeking permission to conduct a Design Thinking and Agile project in the hospital. 4. Shadowing nurses and caregivers during hospital activities and documenting their experiences across different touchpoints. Select the correct option using the codes given below:
1, 2, and 3 only
1, 2, and 4 only
2, 3, and 4 only
1, 2, 3, and 4 only
Correct answer
1, 2, and 4 only
A team identifies a contradiction in a news application: IF we increase advertisement frequency, THEN ad revenue increases, BUT user retention drops significantly. Which of the following represents the most appropriate Desired Result statement to resolve this contradiction using the ENV framework?
Eliminate all advertisements from the app to maximize user retention.
Double the ad frequency to maximize immediate short-term revenue before users churn.
Generate sustainable revenue without reducing user retention or disrupting the experience.
Keep ad frequency constant and charge users a high mandatory subscription fee.
Correct answer
Generate sustainable revenue without reducing user retention or disrupting the experience.
During Customer Journey Mapping for a digital pharmacy app, a team identifies an "emotional valley" during the prescription approval phase due to unannounced delays. What is the most logical next step for the team before moving to the Analyze phase?
Include this emotional valley as HMW question while brainstorming ideas to address them.
Cluster this emotional valley with related context and list it as a problem to be analyzed.
Immediately write backend automated script execution code for order approvals so that customers come out of the emotional valley.
Apply multi-why analysis to analyze the prescription approval phase and delays.
Correct answer
Cluster this emotional valley with related context and list it as a problem to be analyzed.
Which analytical justification best explains why Silent Brainstorming is often more effective than traditional verbal brainstorming during the Solve phase?
It guarantees that only the lead's proposals are chosen for execution.
It increases the chances of the most suitable idea to be pushed to implementation.
It mitigates groupthink, prevents dominant personalities from driving the session.
It eliminates the necessity for testing prototypes with real end-users.
Correct answer
It mitigates groupthink, prevents dominant personalities from driving the session.
Which of the following statements regarding the Test phase in Karmic Design Thinking is/are valid? 1. Representative target customers should perform defined tasks in a realistic context where feasible. 2. Quantitative metrics (e.g., task completion rates) and qualitative observations (e.g., verbal reactions) should both be captured where applicable. 3. The core goal of the Test phase is to prove that the team's initial assumptions were 100% accurate without modifications. Select the correct option using the codes given below:
1 only
1 and 2 only
2 and 3 only
1, 2, and 3
Correct answer
1 and 2 only
Which of the following descriptors contains the key elements of an effective persona in the Empathize phase of Karmic Design Thinking?
Rehman Dakait, a 40-year-old community leader living in Lyari neighbourhood, who frequently coordinates local activities and is widely regarded as influential and decisive.
Ajay Sanyal, a 48-year-old intelligence officer based in Delhi, who approaches complex assignments cautiously, values discipline, and works closely with field operatives.
Hamza Ali Mazari, a 32-year-old waiter living in Lyari neighbourhood, who cautiously builds relationships, needs stable employment and social acceptance, and aims to achieve financial security.
S. P. Chaudhary, a 45-year-old police officer, known for remaining composed during difficult situations.
Correct answer
Hamza Ali Mazari, a 32-year-old waiter living in Lyari neighbourhood, who cautiously builds relationships, needs stable employment and social acceptance, and aims to achieve financial security.
A car dashboard displays a small fuel pump icon with an arrow pointing to the right, indicating which side of the vehicle houses the fuel cap. According to Don Norman, this design feature relies primarily on:
Knowledge in the head
Knowledge in the world
Procedural knowledge stored in long-term memory
Natural physical constraints
Correct answer
Knowledge in the world
Expert users of professional software like Photoshop often rely on complex multi-key command sequences (e.g., Ctrl + Shift + Alt + V) rather than navigating visible menu items. Which statement best characterizes this interaction pattern?
Knowledge in the world
Knowledge in the head
Information communicated through external signifiers
Direct physical affordances
Correct answer
Knowledge in the head
Who developed TRIZ (Theory of Inventive Problem Solving) as a systematic methodology for innovation?
Don Norman
Karl Ulrich
Genrich Altshuller
Bala Ramadurai
Correct answer
Genrich Altshuller
Which of the following digital app scenarios best illustrates the TRIZ principle of Preliminary Action?
A navigation app automatically pre-downloading offline map data for a route while connected to Wi-Fi prior to a scheduled highway trip.
A music streaming app changing its color scheme based on the artwork of the currently playing album.
A photo editing app allowing users to manually adjust brightness and contrast after capturing a picture.
A food delivery app showing popular restaurants nearby based on the user's current GPS location.
Correct answer
A navigation app automatically pre-downloading offline map data for a route while connected to Wi-Fi prior to a scheduled highway trip.
Answer the given subquestions from 23 to 27 based on the scenario given below:
Case Study: AssistAI
AssistAI is a technology startup developing an AI-powered customer-support system for e-commerce platforms. The system includes a chatbot for customers and an AI-assisted dashboard that helps support agents identify suitable resolutions and automate repetitive tasks.
Although the system was initially adopted by several e-commerce clients, recent data show a decline in chatbot usage and customer satisfaction. Support agents also report that the system’s recommendations are not always useful during complex customer interactions. The startup has engaged you to identify the causes of low adoption and recommend improvements.
[AssistAI] Which of the following would be the most appropriate first step for understanding the needs and experiences of the system’s key users?
Conduct an internal workshop with the project team and prepare a journey map based on their assumptions.
Interview e-commerce managers and map only the organization’s customer- support workflow.
Interview customers using the chatbot and support agents working with the system, and map their respective journeys.
Proceed directly to root-cause analysis because the decline in satisfaction has already been identified.
Correct answer
Interview customers using the chatbot and support agents working with the system, and map their respective journeys.
Answer the given subquestions from 23 to 27 based on the scenario given below:
Case Study: AssistAI
AssistAI is a technology startup developing an AI-powered customer-support system for e-commerce platforms. The system includes a chatbot for customers and an AI-assisted dashboard that helps support agents identify suitable resolutions and automate repetitive tasks.
Although the system was initially adopted by several e-commerce clients, recent data show a decline in chatbot usage and customer satisfaction. Support agents also report that the system’s recommendations are not always useful during complex customer interactions. The startup has engaged you to identify the causes of low adoption and recommend improvements.
[AssistAI] During the Analyze phase, which combination of tools would be most appropriate for identifying the underlying causes of low adoption and framing the major contradictions in the system?
Multi-How analysis and emotional-mapping techniques
Multi-Why analysis and the contradictions-of-ideas analysis
Multi-Why analysis and the ENV model
TRIZ contradiction principles and usability testing
Correct answer
Multi-Why analysis and the ENV model
Answer the given subquestions from 23 to 27 based on the scenario given below:
Case Study: AssistAI
AssistAI is a technology startup developing an AI-powered customer-support system for e-commerce platforms. The system includes a chatbot for customers and an AI-assisted dashboard that helps support agents identify suitable resolutions and automate repetitive tasks.
Although the system was initially adopted by several e-commerce clients, recent data show a decline in chatbot usage and customer satisfaction. Support agents also report that the system’s recommendations are not always useful during complex customer interactions. The startup has engaged you to identify the causes of low adoption and recommend improvements.
[AssistAI] Following the analysis in previous question 24, after identifying the root causes and framing the major contradictions, what should the team do next in the Analyze phase?
Select the most technically feasible solution and begin developing a prototype.
Define the desired result for customers and support agents.
Conduct silent brainstorming to generate a wide range of possible solution ideas.
Apply Multi-Why technique to generate ideas for both customers and support agents.
Correct answer
Define the desired result for customers and support agents.
Answer the given subquestions from 23 to 27 based on the scenario given below:
Case Study: AssistAI
AssistAI is a technology startup developing an AI-powered customer-support system for e-commerce platforms. The system includes a chatbot for customers and an AI-assisted dashboard that helps support agents identify suitable resolutions and automate repetitive tasks.
Although the system was initially adopted by several e-commerce clients, recent data show a decline in chatbot usage and customer satisfaction. Support agents also report that the system’s recommendations are not always useful during complex customer interactions. The startup has engaged you to identify the causes of low adoption and recommend improvements.
[AssistAI] Following the analysis in previous question 25, which activity is most appropriate during the initial divergent stage of the Solve phase?
Constructing another ENV model
Conducting silent brainstorming to generate a wide range of possible solutions
Building a functional prototype of the preferred solution
Testing the ten highest-ranked solutions with all existing customers
Correct answer
Conducting silent brainstorming to generate a wide range of possible solutions
Answer the given subquestions from 23 to 27 based on the scenario given below:
Case Study: AssistAI
AssistAI is a technology startup developing an AI-powered customer-support system for e-commerce platforms. The system includes a chatbot for customers and an AI-assisted dashboard that helps support agents identify suitable resolutions and automate repetitive tasks.
Although the system was initially adopted by several e-commerce clients, recent data show a decline in chatbot usage and customer satisfaction. Support agents also report that the system’s recommendations are not always useful during complex customer interactions. The startup has engaged you to identify the causes of low adoption and recommend improvements.
[AssistAI] Following the Solve phase, the team proposes two possible improvements: 1. Enhance the chatbot’s natural-language processing capability to interpret customer intent more accurately. 2. Develop a customizable dashboard that enables support agents to monitor and modify chatbot recommendations. However, both solutions would require major infrastructural changes and substantial investment before they could be tested. What should the team do next?
Apply a systematic inventive problem-solving approach and resolve the underlying contradictions
Develop full-scale versions of both solutions and test them with a customer sample
Estimate the total implementation cost and select whichever solution is less expensive
Conducting a voting session among the developers to finalize the solution for implementation
Correct answer
Apply a systematic inventive problem-solving approach and resolve the underlying contradictions