DTMethod: A New Evidence-Based Design Thinking Methodology for Effective Teamwork

Abstract

Design thinking (DT) emerged as a popular method of problem solving and idea generation in creative teams. However, despite the rapid increase in interest in DT as a practical tool, evidence for its effectiveness is rather scarce. Furthermore, neither the theory underlying the methods used in DT nor the definition of DT is coherent. As such, we have decided to introduce a new approach to DT by designing an evidence-based methodology and testing its efficacy among teams working on a specific task. In this article, we present the design thinking method (DTMethod), developed by an interdisciplinary team of practitioners and academics. We also present empirical evidence on the effectiveness of the DTMethod in the teamwork setting. In our study of 39 teams, we found that by using the DTMethod teams achieved more favorable results in terms of utility and meeting set requirements but not in terms of cost or time efficiency. We also found that individuals working according to the DTMethod reported experiencing less positive emotional states but were, overall, more satisfied with the experience and rated teamwork more favorably in terms of cohesiveness and team effort.