Innovation by design: a programme to support SMEs.

Malins, Julian Paul

Abstract

Small to medium sized enterprises (SMEs)1 are generally clear on the need for innovation; however they are very often less clear on how innovation can be achieved. One possible reason for this may be because of a lack of a culture supportive of innovation within their business. Developing appropriate tools for SMEs to allow them to develop a sustainable innovation culture is a core activity for the Centre for Design & Innovation (http://www.c4di.org.uk). This paper describes how SMEs have been assisted through the application of design thinking to develop their own innovation cultures through a programme of workshops and one-to-one support. This paper strives to look beyond the rhetoric behind design thinking in order to critically evaluate the techniques and approaches that have proved to be of particular value when working with SMEs.

Citation

MALINS, J.P. 2011. Innovation by design: a programme to support SMEs. Swedish design journal, 2011(2), pages 25-31.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Dec 31, 2011
• Online Publication Date: Dec 31, 2011
• Publication Date: Dec 31, 2011
• Deposit Date: Nov 14, 2013
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 14, 2013
• Journal: Swedish design research journal
• Print ISSN: 2000-964X
• Electronic ISSN: 2000-964X
• Publisher: Swedish Industrial Design Foundation (SVID)
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 2011
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 25-31
• Public URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10059/900
• Contract Date: Nov 14, 2013