Abstract
Since 2012 the Sustainable Disruptions (SD) project at the Laboratory for Sustainability at Design School Kolding (DK) has developed and tested a set of design thinking tools, specifically targeting the barriers to economically, socially, and environmentally sustainable business development. The tools have been applied in practice in collaboration with 11 small and medium sized companies (SMEs).
The study investigates these approaches to further understand how design thinking can contribute to sustainable transition in a business context. The study and the findings are relevant to organizations invested in the issue of sustainable business development, in particular the leaders and employees of SMEs, but also to design education seeking new ways to consciously handle and teach the complexity inherent in sustainable transformation.
Findings indicate that the SD design thinking approach contributes to sustainable transformation by facilitating a temporary learning space in which SMEs experience the potential of innovating together in real, complex situations. The process supports introspection taking into account the larger system that the SME is a part of. In addition the Triple Bottom Line thinking forces participants to apply differentiated measurements: The far future perspective enables a shared vision, and facilitators create trust in the relationships enabling a democratic process.
The study investigates these approaches to further understand how design thinking can contribute to sustainable transition in a business context. The study and the findings are relevant to organizations invested in the issue of sustainable business development, in particular the leaders and employees of SMEs, but also to design education seeking new ways to consciously handle and teach the complexity inherent in sustainable transformation.
Findings indicate that the SD design thinking approach contributes to sustainable transformation by facilitating a temporary learning space in which SMEs experience the potential of innovating together in real, complex situations. The process supports introspection taking into account the larger system that the SME is a part of. In addition the Triple Bottom Line thinking forces participants to apply differentiated measurements: The far future perspective enables a shared vision, and facilitators create trust in the relationships enabling a democratic process.
Translated title of the contribution | Bæredygtige Forstyrrelser |
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Original language | English |
Publication date | 28 Jul 2016 |
Number of pages | 24 |
Publication status | Published - 28 Jul 2016 |
Event | The 20th DMI: Academic Design Managment Conference, Boston, July 28–29 2016: Inflection Point. Design Research Meets Design Practice - Duration: 28 Jul 2016 → 29 Aug 2016 http://www.dmi.org/?ADMC2016Overview |
Conference
Conference | The 20th DMI: Academic Design Managment Conference, Boston, July 28–29 2016 |
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Period | 28/07/2016 → 29/08/2016 |
Internet address |
Artistic research
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