Conference Agenda

Startups are temporary organizations that seek a scalable business model. Product-market fit (PMF) is vital for startups to survive and commence scaling. The authors argue that design plays an important role in finding the PMF. Design research can provide a practical framework to help startups find the PMF. However, research that investigates the relationship between design and PMF is lacking. This article presents a systematic literature review of research on PMF within business and design studies, aiming to offer an integrative perspective on design's contribution to PMF. It underscores established and emerging perspectives, categorizing them according to the main research topics. By summarizing the relationship between design and PMF in the field of entrepreneurship and design, four research opportunities are found. The main research opportunities include developing a design-driven PMF framework and examining the validity and reliability of the Design Thinking methodology for structuring the PMF process. This paper presents a theoretical contribution by presenting a conceptual framework that offers an overview of existing knowledge and establishes a foundation for future research.

This research explores the value of agile and design thinking centred around people in organisations as their diverse teams go through transformation. It discusses agile and waterfall approaches through case studies in organisations across government and industry. Qualitative and quantitative analyses define patterns and clusters coming from empirical data through observations, interviews, surveys, and prototypes. The authors compare, and map evidence to validate this research from known models using convergent and divergent elements. Uncovered through analytical framework, activities are mapped out that contribute to a wider range of larger and smaller organisations across disciplines and industries. How can agile and design thinking drive innovation culture in times of managerial change? The authors consider the importance of personalising design thinking processes for each partner organisation, product, and service. Their case studies verify multi-disciplinary team members’ relationship to cultural change. The research dives deeper into the understanding of design iteration and smaller outcomes on the way. It explores how including continuous user feedback and testing and co-designing with users, impact collaborations within organisations. An inquiry into the non-linearity and the meaning of going iterative with a focus on the areas of business, technology and human centred design allows the authors measure success.

Design has emerged as a strategic asset, exerting significant influence across various dimensions of business. In the context of the ceramics industry in China, a sector steeped in history, innovation in product, service, and design is driving transformative changes. This study aims to explore the regional and firm-level impact of design on China's ceramics industry using the framework of the Design Balanced Scorecard, a strategic management tool adapted from the business sector.

The study conducts a comparative analysis of the ceramics industry, encompassing diverse categories and geographical regions, with a focus on 21 listed companies' performance from 2018 to 2022. Factor analysis results reveal a positive overall performance trend, along with notable category and regional differences. Particularly, electronic ceramics and the Southeast China cluster demonstrate exceptional performance.

The findings underscore the significance of customer-centric, financial, and learning value for sustaining design performance in the ceramics industry. By enhancing our understanding of the intrinsic value of design innovation, this study contributes to shaping strategic decisions within the industry and highlights avenues for future research and innovation.