Research on the Effect of Design Thinking on Enterprise Sustainable Innovation Ability and Team Performance

Xi Zhang, Chenyang Liu, Xiuyue Cang, You Lyu, Meng Zhang, Zibin Chen, Yue Yu, Zhiyou Sun and Yifan Xue ()
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Xi Zhang: Department of Product Design, School of Art and Design, Chang Zhou Institute of Technology, Changzhou 213032, China
Chenyang Liu: Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
Xiuyue Cang: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Technische Universität Dresden, 01069 Dresden, Germany
You Lyu: Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
Meng Zhang: Department of Industrial Design, ERICA Campus, Hanyang University, Ansan 15588, Republic of Korea
Zibin Chen: Department of Industrial Design, ERICA Campus, Hanyang University, Ansan 15588, Republic of Korea
Yue Yu: Department of Engineering for Sustainability, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
Zhiyou Sun: Department of Industrial Design, ERICA Campus, Hanyang University, Ansan 15588, Republic of Korea
Yifan Xue: Department of Product Design, Communication University of China, Nanjing 211167, China

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 11, 1-17

Abstract: Design thinking is an interdisciplinary problem-solving approach that combines user-centered focus, challenge framing, visual thinking, experimental methods, and cross-functional collaboration. It has always been regarded as an important means to improve corporate sustainable innovation capabilities and team performance. However, its effectiveness is a controversial topic, with some proponents praising its ability to solve systemic problems while others question its applicability within traditional business processes and its impact on sustainable innovation success. Because of its exploratory nature, there is currently a lack of quantitative empirical research on its impact. Therefore, this study takes Huawei’s electric vehicle R&D sustainable innovation project as an example to explore the impact of design thinking on corporate sustainable innovation capabilities and team performance by analyzing the relationship between design thinking and team empowerment. The study included hypotheses, semi-structured qualitative interviews, quantitative questionnaire data, and structured equation model analysis. This study reveals the mechanism by which design thinking operates in industrial enterprises. There is a positive correlation between design thinking practice and team performance in sustainable innovation projects. Moreover, through the regulation of design thinking, team performance can be strengthened. However, the applicability of design thinking in highly sustainable innovation environments needs further research. In summary, this study provides fundamental insights into the complex relationships between design thinking, corporate sustainable innovation, and team performance, and provides direction for future research.

Keywords: design thinking; sustainable innovation capabilities; team performance; team empowerment; user-centricity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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