Measuring the success factors of strategic design implementation

Strategic design translates design thinking theory into the business landscape resulting in strategy development, innovation, and meaningful outcomes for both organisations and people. How this is measured is ambiguous and ill defined. It is easier to measure the tangible outcomes of a design engagement, such as new products, however it may be the more complex tacit elements that provide longer-term transformative impacts. The purpose of this research is to better understand the resulting values of a strategic design engagement to contribute to developing an appropriate metric for the success factors. A research through design approach was taken to collect data from SMEs engaging in strategic design. Analysis through visual mapping provided early-stage insights which indicate commonalities and themes that may assist with developing applicable metrics. The findings also highlight the indicative changes in approach and mindset to the company owners and the possibility of a replicability of the process, implying a new ability to continuously innovate and adapt to change. The contribution of the research is around metrics for strategy implementation which is difficult to identify and communicate and therefore often overlooked or ill defined.