Design Thinking as Knowledge Creation Based on Pragmatic Perspective

Design thinking has been recognized as an effective method of problem-solving, encompassing both problem finding and problem solving in a VUCA (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity) environment. To that end, we are enhancing design activities that involve various stakeholders, including customers and suppliers within the firm. However, we are still in the exploratory phase, lacking sufficient theoretical support regarding the extent to which design activities contribute to knowledge creation, which forms the foundation of innovation. This research aims to focus on the knowledge creation function of design thinking and seeks to address the following research questions: What types of knowledge does design thinking generate? How does design thinking foster knowledge creation? By considering design thinking as a driver for practical knowledge creation grounded in pragmatism, we will model design activities that utilize design thinking based on the SECI model, a pioneering theory of knowledge creation. This approach intends to reevaluate design thinking as a pragmatic knowledge creation process and establish a connection between design thinking and the knowledge creation theory proposed by Nonaka. Drawing upon the resulting model, we present propositions that arise from design thinking in knowledge creation as part of our proposal. These propositions are aimed at providing a direction for future research on design thinking