I think you’re doing situational awareness a disservice, and I’m guessing you’ve never worked in a field where it is a trained discipline.

It is not just paying attention to your surroundings, it is actively scanning and evaluating to anticipate changes to your situation. Big difference between standing on a hill taking in the view versus keeping your head on a swivel, identify avenues of approach and egress, all while looking, listening, and smelling for anything out of place.

It is more applicable to the physical world than any software domain.

To achieve innovation through design. it needs an organisational mindset and this shift comes with understanding that design culture is applied in strategic, tectical, and operational levels. Check my article What is this Thing Called Design Management? (https://www.designorate.com/what-is-this-thing-called-design...). This application ensures building design driven organisation.