Innovation by Design

About the Author

Thomas Lockwood and Edgar Papke, both renowned experts in their respective fields, co-authored Innovation by Design. Lockwood is recognized as a thought leader in integrating design and innovation practices into business. He has produced numerous conferences on design leadership, lectured, and led workshops in over 20 countries, and is an advisor to multiple companies. Edgar Papke is a leadership psychologist and globally recognized expert in business alignment, leadership, and organizational culture. His clients range from Fortune 500 companies to small businesses and individuals, making him a sought-after consultant and speaker.

Main Idea

Innovation by Design explores how organizations can leverage design thinking to foster innovation, drive new ideas, and deliver meaningful solutions. Lockwood and Papke highlight that successful innovation requires a deep cultural transformation within organizations. They identify ten key attributes that leaders can use to develop effective cultures of innovation and explain how design thinking can be a powerful method to engage employees and drive creativity.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Better Innovation
3. Design Thinking Organizations
4. The 10 Attributes of Design Thinking
5. Design Thinking at Scale
6. The Pull Factor
7. The Right Problems
8. Cultural Awareness
9. Curious Confrontation
10. Co-Creation
11. Open Spaces
12. Whole Communication
13. Aligned Leadership
14. Purpose

Introduction

Despite the vast amounts of knowledge and technology available, organizations still grapple with how to innovate effectively. Global surveys consistently show that fostering innovation is a top priority for leaders, yet many struggle with engaging their cultures in the necessary changes. Innovation by Design addresses this challenge by examining why some organizations are more innovative than others and how they achieve success through design thinking and cultural transformation.

Better Innovation

Lockwood and Papke emphasize that meaningful innovation requires understanding the root causes of problems and focusing on customer needs. They highlight that design-driven companies outperform the S&P 500 by over 200%, demonstrating the power of integrating design thinking into business strategies. Design thinking involves identifying the right problems, empathizing with users, collaborating across disciplines, and experimenting with prototypes to accelerate learning and innovation.

"The key to success in design thinking is first finding the right problem to solve." - Thomas Lockwood and Edgar Papke

Design-driven companies like Apple, Starbucks, Disney, and Nike exemplify how design thinking can drive market success and customer engagement. These companies have integrated design thinking into their core strategies, allowing them to stay ahead of the competition and continuously innovate. By focusing on customer needs and understanding the human experience, they can create products and services that resonate deeply with their audience.

• Kaiser Permanente: Implemented the Nurse Knowledge Exchange to improve patient care during shift changes, focusing on the root problem of information exchange between nurses.
• Apple, Starbucks, Disney, and Nike: These companies exemplify how design thinking can drive market success and customer engagement.

Design Thinking Organizations

Design thinking in business involves using creative strategies to match people’s needs with technological feasibility and viable business strategies. Key tenets of design thinking include empathy, collaboration, rapid prototyping, and integrating business-model innovation. Organizations that excel in design thinking create cultures that emphasize these principles, leading to more effective and innovative solutions.