Reducing Challenges in Design Thinking Adoption Using Intrapreneurship and a Learning Environment

Design thinking (DT) is increasingly used to develop solutions that identify users' real needs. However, resistance to adopting DT and a lack of knowledge about the tools and activities of this approach are significant challenges in its implementation. Thus, organizations need to create strategies that minimize these challenges. This paper explores an approach focused on intrapreneurship to motivate employees to develop new business ideas combined with a learning environment for exchanging knowledge as a mechanism to overcome resistance to the adoption of DT. In this sense, the research problem addressed here is the lack of strategies to minimize resistance and the lack of knowledge for adopting DT in software organizations. This work was conducted using action research in a Brazilian software development organization. Initially, a call for proposals for new software-based business ideas was launched at the organization. Then, the DT was applied to develop the proposed ideas. In parallel, a learning environment was created to train employees in DT and its tools. A feedback questionnaire and a retrospective meeting were held with the organization's employees to evaluate the action research. Our results suggest that an intrapreneurship approach and the learning environment proved to be effective within the context studied and managed to reduce resistance to the adoption of DT.