Claudia Nicolai

The Topic Markup Scheme and the Knowledge Handling Notation: Complementary Instruments to Measure Knowledge Creation in Design Conversations

The focus of this book chapter is the introduction of two complementary instruments, the Topic Markup Scheme (TMS) and the Knowledge Handling Notation (KHN) to analyze design conversations. Both instruments will be applied to a design conversation sample. TMS offers a diagnostic procedure that is capable of describing the topical structure of a conversation and its move-to-move coherence. KHN describes on the move-to-move level how innovation teams generate and share knowledge. The output of both instruments, in the form of strings of symbols can be used for sequence analysis and pattern detection of team dynamics. Together, the outcomes nurture the understanding of knowledge creation in and through design conversations in innovation teams.

Innovation in Creative Environments: Understanding and Measuring the Influence of Spatial Effects on Design Thinking-Teams

Design thinking is a methodological approach addressing to solve wicked problems with multidisciplinary and cross-functional innovation teams. A flexible work environment enables innovation teams using this approach to ideate, create and design. This paper investigates the impact of creative environments on team wellbeing and performance as an outcome of perceptions, feelings and interactions of individual team members with their respective environment. The study introduces a new qualitative method, cultural probes, as an empirical instrument. The results of this study indicate that innovation teams need access to flexible spatial environments to fulfill their innovation process tasks (performance-oriented perspective), but also need different working zones to foster their team-wellbeing related activities (team-oriented perspective).

On Creating Workspaces for a Team of Teams: Learnings from a Case Study

Workspaces provide resources, facilitate (different) modes of working, and communicate an organization’s culture. As such they are a powerful resource to amplify the innovation culture of an organization.

Making Use of Innovation Spaces: Towards a Framework of Strategizing Spatial Interventions

This chapter explores the use of space as a means of effectively fostering creativity and innovation in organizations more specifically, so-called spatial interventions. Spatial interventions refer to the strategic scope of actions that can be undertaken when and while using innovation spaces. We approach the topic of spatial interventions from different perspectives and shed light on crucial aspects of how innovation spaces can be used as a ‘silent coach.’ This approach takes into consideration the conceptual interplay of the strategic discourse, theoretical accounts of coaching practice and the process of using innovation spaces. We further introduce a framework for spatial interventions that helps to structure and analyze the use of space during a workshop. Finally, based on findings from a case study that was conducted in the newly created innovation space of a large company, we apply and expand this theoretical framework. The approaches and findings of this chapter support both strategists and practitioners and contribute to a deeper understanding of how to make use of space as a strategic tool.

Emotions Along the Design Thinking Process

The creative interaction of a team is where most of the innovation work in organizations happens nowadays. Yet the creative team is an exceptionally messy place in regard to socio-emotional interactions. Working creatively means constantly navigating and negotiating uncertainty and ambiguity, which, apart from constant procedural adaptations, both evokes and needs adequate responses on the socio-emotional level. In this chapter we want to introduce the most important socio-emotional factors for creative teamwork and how the emotional dynamics of the team is shaped by the different phases of the design thinking process. To this end we review automated text analysis of design thinking team meetings as a method to unobtrusively track emotional dynamics throughout the whole design process.

“… and not building on that”: The Relation of Low Coherence and Creativity in Design Conversations

The purpose of this chapter is to explore the relation between coherence and creativity in design conversations of innovation teams. Low coherent segments in a conversation can be understood as the linguistic equivalent of shifts of the focus of attention while designing. Focus shifts have a positive influence on ideational productivity. We therefore reason that low coherent speaker turns function as creative stimuli in team conversations. How this works in practice we illustrate with a case study of an innovation team observed in the wild.

From Place to Space: How to Conceptualize Places for Design Thinking

More companies have begun to leverage the unused potential of place. By re-designing the work place or introducing new spaces that are dedicated to innovation projects, they are attempting to increase employee motivation, team performance, innovation management, and the overall innovativeness of the whole organization. However, companies often struggle with the proper conceptualization of the place. As a result, they copy spatial setups from other organizations. However, such copied places are often not linked to the corporate culture, do not match their users’ needs, and neglect the existing spatial structures; consequently, their effects remain below their actual potential. One reason for this problem may stem from a lack of knowledge regarding how to conceptualize places for innovation processes in general or Design Thinking in particular. This lack of knowledge also holds true for research because research on the place and its effects in both the organizational and managerial contexts is rather scarce. In this chapter, we address the question of how to conceptualize places for Design Thinking. We first provide relevant theoretical foundations and then explain the conceptualization of a Design Thinking place by using the example of HPI D-School Potsdam. This theoretically founded and practically experienced approach will provide the reader with basic knowledge of how to conceptualize places for Design Thinking and addresses both researchers and practitioners.