Definition of Indicators in the Execution of Educational Projects with Design Thinking Using the Systematic Literature Review

Abstract

In this Research to Practice Full Paper we investigate whether the application of metrics and indicators can contribute to monitor and verify if a project is performing better when developed using the Design Thinking methodology. Furthermore, we investigate the most appropriate indicators to establish this measurement. To this end, we applied a questionnaire with ten questions, in order to verify the interviewees conceptual level about what is Design Thinking and what are the indicators. From the results, we sought to identify the perception of the interviewees about the use of indicators in Design Thinking, in a more profound way. The questionnaires were carried out in the e-survey format and the analyzes were carried out taking into account the interviewee level of education and the level of knowledge that he/she had in relation to Design Thinking and indicators. The results demonstrated the difficulty of defining specific indicators for projects that use Design Thinking since most of the interviewees did not demonstrate minimal conceptual knowledge regarding the methodology and the Design Thinking process, as well as the definition and application of indicators. However, it was possible to analyze a list of indicators as possible candidates for the application in projects that use Design Thinking, considering that few people have demonstrated to have the minimum conceptual knowledge on the subject and, therefore, this small group of people can not reflect the general context about what are the best indicators for measuring steps in the Design Thinking process.