Doing Design Thinking: Conceptual Review, Synthesis and Research Agenda

Design thinking is attracting considerable interest from practitioners and academics alike, as it offers a novel approach to innovation and problem solving. However, there appear to be substantial differences between promoters and critics about what design thinking is and what it can do. While some authors regard it as a new and effective way to foster creativity and innovation, others consider it a management fad built on a misunderstood notion of design practices. This paper draws upon the concept of “umbrella constructs” (Hirsch and Levin, 1999) - those whose inherent indeterminacy can undermine their development and, ultimately, lead to what Hirsch and Levin term “construct collapse.” Accordingly, we delve into current conceptualizations of design thinking in order to identify emerging issues, consider divergent interpretations, and integrate conflicting views. We begin by presenting a systematic review of the literature. This exercise enables us to categorize the constituent components of design thinking and develop a process model that brings together process- and individual-level attributes as well as main tools. Next, we problematize studies on design thinking by evaluating assumptions that are made by its advocates. We conclude by proposing an agenda for future studies, which we believe will promote sufficient consistency in defining design thinking and will foster further exploration and development.