Um framework de design thinking para a transferência de conhecimento no âmbito da gestão da inovação

Abstract

It presents a framework based on Design Thinking to promote the knowledge transfer in an Innovation Management scope, which was developed for Bioinformatics Multidisciplinary Environment (BioME) of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN). The construction of the framework has as theoretical basis the Triple Helix, Knowledge Management, Innovation Management and Design Thinking. The Triple Helix model places the university as the main agent of the knowledge transfer for innovation, thus the reflection about both Knowledge and Innovation Management is necessary to analyse the convergent points between its respectives objects of study: knowledge and innovation. The Design Thinking, in turn, offers an approach that aims to solve problems in a collective and collaborative manner, searching for innovation through knowledge transfer. In this sense, the general objective of this research was: to propose and validate an innovation framework based on Design Thinking to promote the knowledge transfer in BioME/UFRN. The specific objectives were to: i) characterize, through a literature review, the University-Industry interaction as a context of knowledge transfer; ii) to structure a Design Thinking process based on the literature and applicable to BioME; iii) to legitimize, with local experts, the framework adequacy to the process of creating a successful product/service of BioME and; iv) to validate the framework institutionally with the BioME’s coordination. This is an applied research, with a qualitative approach and an exploratory purpose. Methodological procedures were structured by the Design Research Methodology (DRM), presenting the strategies for each research objective. The intense literature review allowed the researcher to develop a Design Thinking process and format it within a framework combined with other elements associated to innovation methods. The framework legitimation to BioME products/services creating process, as well as the validation with the local experts, were carried out through individual interviews and a focus group, respectively. During the results discussion, the framework originally produced, showed modifications from both observations performed during the interviews and the focus group. The general objective was reached at the end of the research and the final construct of the framework - adopted institutionally by BioME - was composed of five stages: problematize; define; ideate; prototype and/or test; and realize. In the conclusion chapter it was shown that the framework can be used both to guide and manage the innovation process of this organization.