Design Thinking: First Major Study Proves Successful Application in Companies

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Oct 13, 2015, 12:20 ET

POTSDAM, Germany and PALO ALTO, California, October 13, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --

-Cross reference: Picture is available at AP Images (http://www.apimages.com)

In Palo Alto and Potsdam (Germany), Design Thinking is not only a research subject but also being taught to both students and professionals. The scene above depicts a typical workspace at the HPI School of Design Thinking in Potsdam. Use free of charge with reference "Hasso Plattner Institute". Design Thinking, Innovation, Hasso Plattner, Research, Creativity, Teamwork, Collaboration, Business, Professionals, Companies, Enterprise (PRNewsFoto/HPI Hasso Plattner Institute) (PRNewsFoto/HPI Hasso Plattner Institute)

In the business sector, Design Thinking has developed from a creative technique into a driver of corporate change, a joint research program of Hasso Plattner Institute in Potsdam and Stanford University in Palo Alto revealed. It is the first large-scale scientific study on the impact of Design Thinking in daily work. Use free of charge with reference "Hasso Plattner Institute". Innovation, Design Thinking, Business, Enterprise, Companies, Creativity, Collaboration, Development, Research, Hasso Plattner, User Centric, Customer, Processes (PRNewsFoto/HPI Hasso Plattner Institute) (PRNewsFoto/HPI Hasso Plattner Institute)

In the business sector, Design Thinking has developed from a creative technique into a driver of corporate change. This is one of the main results of the first large-scale scientific study on the effect of Design Thinking in daily work. A joint research project of Hasso Plattner Institute (https://hpi.de) and Stanford University revealed that companies and organizations are using this innovation concept in an even more extensive and diverse way than was previously thought. Achievements have been primarily determined in improvements in the working culture and in the efficiency of innovation processes. According to the Potsdam researchers, an open-minded management is a crucial factor in the success of Design Thinking.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151013/276427 )

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151013/276432-INFO )

In the just published study "Parts Without a Whole?", HPI researchers Professor Christoph Meinel, Jan Schmiedgen, Holger Rhinow and Eva Koeppen evaluated responses from 235 participants using semi-structured questionnaires. Qualitative interviews were also conducted with eight experts.

A large majority of respondents (71 percent) stated that Design Thinking had improved the working culture particularly in the team. Innovation processes have become significantly more efficient for many users (69 percent) and the involvement of users occurs more frequently (48 percent). Cost savings (18 percent) or profit increase (29 percent) were less prominent.

It was surprising for the HPI researchers that Design Thinking is not only applied in the development of new products and services but also for the improvement of internal processes and services. According to the study, the concept enjoys great popularity in a wide range of industrial sectors with customers like Airbnb, BMW, DHL, Procter & Gamble and SAP.

To present individual cases and specialized strategies, the researchers have additionally launched the website http://www.thisisdesignthinking.net.

Press contact: [email protected]. HPI press spokesman: Hans-Joachim Allgaier, Tel. +49-331-5509-119.

SOURCE HPI Hasso-Plattner-Institute