Design Thinking Project Management framework

Abstract

This article aims to propose a framework that integrates Project Management (PM) components with Design Thinking (DT), for minimizing the simplicity and superficiality of DT implementation. The research adopts an exploratory descriptive approach based on design science research (DSR) and uses a qualitative method, starting data collection through an interview by email, followed by an online discussion forum, a product development workshop, interviews with experts, an online framework development workshop, and finally a framework validation workshop. The result is a framework called Design Thinking Project Management framework, which contains five components – principles, roles, phases, events and tools – of PM integrated with those of DT. The relevance of the study is associated with filling an existing gap, as a result of the small number of studies integrating these two themes. It can be used by scholars and practitioners for a more complete implementation of DT projects.