Idea Development Method, Applying Systems Design Thinking in a Very Small Entity

Abstract

Very Small Entities (VSE) delivers a substantial percentage of the world's product and services. These agile and innovative companies approach their market in a flexible, informal, and human-centered approach. Their transformation from startup phase to an established company can be problematic. As they grow, the VSE must put more emphasis on incorporating formal organizational structure and processes to cope with the increased size and complexity. Failure in adapting often results in a negative market effect. Systems Design Thinking (SDT) is a combination of Systems Engineering, Systems Thinking, and Design Thinking. There is an increased awareness that the perspectives of SDT bring value to organizations. However, the advantage of SDT is not well understood for VSEs that are in the maturing phase. In this work, the researchers explore the value of SDT for very small enterprises transitioning from infancy to adolescence. The article presents a new method for idea development based on SDT principles and tailored to the needs of a VSE. Case-based research is applied in a small company to understand the needs and verify the desirability, feasibility, and viability of our proposed method. The results suggest that an SDT approach improves the company's ability to capture and develop ideas and can help grow the company.