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Design+ Legitimizing design thinking in companies

Beyond its contribution to DT theory and innovation 5.2. Limitations and research opportunities
management, this paper advances knowledge in the This study has several limitations, primarily related to
management of innovation teams, innovation culture, the sample size. A larger sample size would improve the
and organizational leadership. By examining the statistical power of the study, enhancing the ability to
factors influencing the successful adoption of DT, this detect significant differences and trends. By incorporating
research sheds light on broader principles that can foster these suggestions into future study designs, researchers can
innovation in organizations. It highlights the importance mitigate limitations and improve the reliability, validity,
of cultivating a culture of openness and feedback, and generalizability of findings related to the adoption of
providing training for leaders in creative problem-solving DT in organizations.
approaches, and creating physical spaces dedicated to
innovation activities. These insights not only benefit Another limitation was the limited time available
DT adoption but also enhance the overall innovation to conduct the study and monitor the team, which had
ecosystem within companies, driving them to be more scheduling constraints. To address this, reducing the time
competitive and adaptable in an ever-evolving market. gap between theoretical training and practical workshops
Furthermore, the research underscores the vital role of for all teams could help maintain the momentum and
employee perceptions and interpersonal processes in enthusiasm generated during the training, leading to more
fostering innovation, making it a valuable resource for effective implementation of DT principles. Furthermore,
organizations striving to stay at the forefront of creative providing leadership training for team managers on how to
exploration. foster innovation, open-mindedness, and a growth mindset,
as well as an in-depth introduction to the ideaChef tool,

This paper also aids companies in establishing could help mitigate the impact of varying leadership
legitimacy in the adoption of DT within innovation teams. characteristics on the team’s adoption of DT. Extending the
As an innovation strategy, it supports the diversification duration of workshops for both teams would ensure they
of offerings, the development of increased know-how in have sufficient time to understand, internalize, and apply DT
DT, and the creation of better-informed professionals. concepts. This would help reduce potential biases introduced
Moreover, it contributes to value creation for customers by by differing workshop lengths and allow teams to better
helping organizations better understand their needs and explore and adopt DT practices. Moreover, conducting
generate innovative, differentiated solutions in the market. longitudinal studies that track teams over a longer period
It also facilitates the development of more effective plans would help capture changes and improvements in the
to reach defined goals, fosters the creation of a learning adoption of DT practices over time, reducing the potential
environment, and promotes rapid problem-solving, all of disconnect between theory and practice. In addition, using
which encourage creativity and differentiate companies a combination of quantitative and qualitative data collection
from competitors. The results can be applied during the methods could provide deeper insights into the factors
initial stage of developing new products or services and influencing the adoption of DT, thereby addressing some of
during the commercialization of existing products. the limitations of the current study.

In addition to the contributions mentioned above, it is Finally, the sample could have been more diverse.
essential to emphasize that the increased legitimacy of DT Aiming for diversity in terms of age, experience,
within an organization can foster greater engagement from personality traits, and mindset would provide a richer and
teams throughout the entire innovation cycle. When DT more comprehensive understanding of the impact of DT
is widely recognized and accepted as a valuable strategy, adoption.
teams are more likely to embrace it enthusiastically – from
the early stages of idea generation to the development The study opens new avenues for further investigation.
of new products or services and even during the A detailed evaluation of the performance of DT projects
commercialization process. This heightened engagement is necessary to develop metrics for improving adoption.
can foster a continuous culture of innovation, where Future research should address the need for more success
teams are motivated to explore creative solutions, address indicators for DT. How do organizations collect data or
challenges with agility, and distinguish themselves from indicators that demonstrate DT’s successful adoption?
competitors. Ultimately, the increased legitimacy of DT What types of indicators can be used to measure this?
acts as a catalyst for creating a dynamic and innovative Establishing a meaningful system of indicators is crucial
organizational environment, consistently generating from both academic and managerial perspectives.
unique and customer-centric solutions that position the This research focuses on the legitimacy of DT adoption
company as a leader in its industry. in large organizations and their workplace environments.

Volume 2 Issue 1 (2025) 16 doi: 10.36922/dp.4292