Transformation and Design Thinking: perspectives on sustainable change, company resilience and democratic leadership in SMEs

Maximilian Walder,Daria Habicher,Harald Pechlaner,Greta Erschbamer,Linda Ghirardello

doi:10.1365/s42681-022-00028-x

Maximilian Walder, Daria Habicher

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1365/s42681-022-00028-x

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Abstract

This paper focuses on Design Thinking as a tool for initiating transformation processes both for the enhancement of company resilience, involving challenges connected to current trends such as digitalization and democratic leadership, as well as for the restructuring of a sustainable socio-ecological company organization. Primary findings of this explorative study show that Design Thinking is a suitable method to promote digital, democratic, and innovative business and leadership transformation, but that it is not primarily operationalized in the context of a further-reaching socio-ecological transformation towards more sustainability.

Highlights

The complexity and especially the speed of change in society, politics, and corporate environments have dramatically increased in recent years
The present paper focuses on Design Thinking as a stimulating tool to nudge transformation processes both for company resilience including the ability to adapt to current megatrends like digitalization and democratization, as well as for a sustainable restructuring of the company and, as such, for driving a systemic socio-economic change
The present study investigates the usage of Design Thinking tools in SMEs and their main motivations and goals for enhancing company resilience, the role of digitalization, leadership styles and democratization and sustainable change as well as their possible role as agents of a wider societal transformation towards sustainability

Summary

Introduction

The complexity and especially the speed of change in society, politics, and corporate environments have dramatically increased in recent years. Technological change and digitalization bring great benefits to businesses, but at the same time raise new political, social, and ethical challenges (European Commission 2018). Transformation processes in relation to advanced digitalization, company democratization, and the question of leadership seem to have become indispensable for firms and SMEs. To address and solve these kinds of challenges, Design Thinking offers a new approach by fostering change through creative and participative activities (Brown 2009). It might serve as a useful toolset for companies to initiate transformation and to practically implement change processes.

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