paper delivered at the Design Research Society Conference (DRS) 2012, 1-4 July, Bangkok, Thailand. Full paper available at: http://qut.academia.edu/ZaanaHoward/Papers

1. from concept to capability:
developing
design thinking
in a professional services firm
Zaana Howard
Swinburne University of Technology | Australia
Anstract lights 8134 by atomicShed

2. design thinking is…
a human centred & collaborative
approach to problem solving using a
designerly mindset to solve complex
business, organisational and social
problems.
Cobija:
Corpora+va
al
atardecer
–
Flickr
mee+ng
at
Tusk
by
Voj

3. design thinking practice in
complex organisations
challenges:
§ integrating design thinking
§ building design thinking capability
26-05-10 This paper trail leads right back to you ~ explored J by Bethan
http://www.flickr.com/photos/beth19/4642532960/

4. research questions
§ how is design thinking capability
developed both individually and
organisationally within a large
complex organisation?
§ how is design thinking practice
integrated into organisational work
practices?
Excerpt from everything men know about women by dailyinvention
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dailyinvention/177914195/

5. case
Deloitte Australia
§ introduced design thinking in early 2011
Hong Kong Sky by swisscan

6. ethnographic methods
§ 250hrs of participant observation
§ 34 semi structured interviews
§ a collection of artefacts
§ data collected June to September
2011
Untitled by atencion
http://www.flickr.com/photos/atencion/49079785/

7. analysis
§ constant comparative method
from grounded theory
l_system.png
by
sansumbrella

8. three primary themes
developing design thinking as:
concept, capability and practice
Milky Muisc VI – Explore by pascalbovet.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pascalbovet/4266783083/

9. design thinking concept
where does it fit?
ubiquity ≠ understanding
Puzzle by Sbrimbillina
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sbrimbillina/3538581781/

10. design thinking capability
§ the inexpert expert
§ developing design
thinking skills
One thing puzzles me by Piulet

11. design thinking practice
§ design thinking and ‘training’
§ supporting design thinking practice
#ds664 practicing
http://www.flickr.com/photos/colinjagoe/6138590122/

12. integrating design
thinking requires:
moving from concept to capability
to practice at an individual and
organisational level
Tree of light by jphillipson
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jphilipson/2100627902/

13. integrating design
thinking requires:
a sustained learning program
supported with experienced design
thinking professionals
Stories behind #7 – Generations by dhammza
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dhammza/4834945397/

14. integrating design
thinking requires:
§ long term commitment – #
it won’t happen overnight
Wedding rings by NickNguyen. http://www.flickr.com/photos/nicktakespics/3609054839/

15.
questions?
zaana howard
associate lecturer | Queensland University of Technology
phd candidate | Swinburne University of Technology
z.howard@qut.edu.au
zaanahoward.com
@zaana
question box by [f]oxymoron. http://www.flickr.com/photos/f-oxymoron/6877620005/
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