Design Thinking: a New Road Map in Business Education

Abstract

Design thinking is not only a tool applied to fostering innovation in business, but it is also a novel and prominent approach in education. Being a creative process that enables academics to meet students' needs and to raise innovative individuals, it emerges as a contemporary pedagogic tool, which can be used in all levels of education. Despite its growing importance, the implementation of design thinking into business education is slow and partial, although business education today is in a crisis as traditional pedagogic tools fall short of raising individuals who can meet the challenges of the 21st century. This study explores current trends in applying design thinking into higher education, with a particular focus on the strategies of leading schools. Using a case study approach, we provide an initial road map for educational organizations, and in particular for business schools, which strive for integrating this new tool into their curricula.