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Design Thinking for Strategizing? – A Critical Literature Review

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  • Sandro GRAF

    (Comenius University, Faculty of Management)

Abstract

In an increasingly complex and dynamic business environment, accelerated even further by the coronavirus pandemic, decision-makers face the challenge of shaping the future of their organizations under uncertainty and with increasing time pressure. Conventional tools in strategic management are no longer sufficiently suited to envision preferable future scenarios and enable management to craft winning strategies. With the need for alternative approaches, practitioners promote design thinking as a novel process to develop innovative business strategies that gain a competitive advantage. However, the academic discussion concerning what principles and methods of design thinking may be valuable in strategic management remains scant and scattered. The contribution of this paper is to show how design thinking as an approach for strategic decision-making has progressed over time, synthesize the state of knowledge, and structure the findings for further research activities. Through a semi-systematic review, the texts of 23 articles and three book chapters published between 1995 and 2020 were analyzed. The paper presents an overview of the context in which design thinking may apply to strategic challenges and it structures the necessary skills, competencies, and tools applying design thinking for strategizing. The study includes a comprehensive synopsis of the impact of a design-led strategic management as discussed by academics. Its findings show that applying design thinking for strategic development does not replace traditional analytical thinking but rather complements strategizing based on a toolset needed to shape future opportunities in uncertain and complex markets. Hence, design thinking enables an organization to solve multi-faced strategic challenges by overcoming cognitive limitations, developing deep empathy for end-users, engaging internal and external partners, and ensuring ongoing learning through iterative prototyping and experimenting. Finally, the review identifies major streams for future research opportunities to advance the field with more evidence-based knowledge.

Suggested Citation

  • Sandro GRAF, 2021. "Design Thinking for Strategizing? – A Critical Literature Review," Journal of Emerging Trends in Marketing and Management, The Bucharest University of Economic Studies, vol. 1(1), pages 110-119, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:aes:jetimm:v:1:y:2021:i:1:p:110-119
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Snyder, Hannah, 2019. "Literature review as a research methodology: An overview and guidelines," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 104(C), pages 333-339.
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    Cited by:

    1. Arkin Efeoglu & Charles Møller, 2025. "Solving strategic management challenges with Design Thinking: examining the suitability and effectiveness as a management method," Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Springer, vol. 14(1), pages 1-28, December.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • M10 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - General
    • M13 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - New Firms; Startups
    • Q31 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Nonrenewable Resources and Conservation - - - Demand and Supply; Prices

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