Output details

Exploring design capability in terms of absorptive capacity and tipping points

The paper draws on further experiences of Design Knowledge Network (DKN), additional to those reported in output 1. It deals with work for over 60 SMEs that were provided with consultancy services aimed at increasing design awareness and usage, thus improving the product development processes deployed by the companies and widening their market knowledge, tools and techniques.

There are no other published studies that reflect on the experience and findings of assisting such a large group of companies with its design needs.

In particular the paper extends work carried out in the field of assistance for business management by exploring its relevance to building design capacity in SMEs. A novel adaption of the absorptive capacity framework for growth of Bessant et al (2005) is presented. Design tipping points are identified a methodology introduced as a new basis for developing more targeted and staged business support services.

All the work reported here was conducted through external funding from Advantage West Midlands (Regional Development Agency) and the European Regional Development Fund, the DKN project being just over £2.6m in value.