Contributions of Design Thinking to Project Management in an Innovation Context of Multinational Automobiles Assemblers in Kenya

Abstract

This paper is based on0the contributions0of design thinking0to project management0in an innovation0context using a case of the automobile industry in Kenya. A cross sectional descriptive0research design was adopted for the0study. Primary0data was collected from fifteen project managers in automobile assemblers using an interview0guide. Content analysis0was used to0analyze the data. Interview guide was preferred as the respondents are top managers in the same institution, Automobiles. On the understanding of design thinking by the project managers in the automobile assemblers, the findings showed that the project managers understood design thinking the systematic approach for creating solutions for business and a methodology and iterative process that enhance innovation for strategy initiation and risk detection. The study also found that design0thinking in an innovation0context contributed to project0management through exploration, project strategy and shareholder involvement and management. The study concludes that design thinking as a methodology supports innovation across the project teams in automobile assemblers in Kenya. The study further concludes that design thinking enables the project managers in automobile assemblers in Kenya to solve problems and detect risks relating to the problem. The study recommends that automobile assemblers in Kenya restructure the project teams to have a multidisciplinary team form all the departments. The automobile assemblers in Kenya should encourage creativity among the project teams. They should also facilitate interaction among the stakeholders in the assembler’s’ projects. The automobile assemblers in Kenya should establish research departments or outsource research services that would be involved in data collection which would increase the level of knowledge among the employees especially the project teams. The study recommends A similar study is recommended in a different industry.