Investigating the use of design thinking in identifying wicked problems of startups.
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| Authors: | Amirkhizi, Parisa Jourabchi1 (AUTHOR) p.jurabchi@gmail.com, Zeyghami, Farshad2 (AUTHOR) zeyghami.f@gmail.com, Pourmohamadi, Morteza3 (AUTHOR) Morteza.Pourmohamadi@sydney.edu.au |
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| Source: | Journal of Innovation & Entrepreneurship. 3/12/2026, Vol. 15 Issue 1, p1-34. 34p. |
| Subject Terms: | *Design thinking, *New business enterprises, *Business development, *Problem solving, Design techniques, Design research |
| Abstract: | Design thinking is defined as using strategies from the field of design to solve problems in the disciplines that are traditionally not considered design. Design is a way of dealing with issues that do not have a unique and decisive solution as scientific problems do and that makes it a good approach for solving wicked problems. This research explores the utilization of design thinking in identifying and refining the wicked problems that often precipitate failure. Over 18 months, we examined five startups applying the Research through Design (RtD) method and Double Diamond framework (DDF) in 4 discovery, define, develop, and deliver stages, to reveal the underlying issues obscured by surface-level problem identifications. Our findings demonstrate a notable misalignment between startup offerings and market requirements, predominantly due to the misdefinition of problems applying design thinking. Startups tend to simplify complex, wicked problems and short-circuit the essential problem of space exploration. Results indicate that one of the most critical factors of insufficient attention to the problem is the superficial analysis of three factors of business development (i.e., human desirability, business viability, and technology feasibility) and also lack of recognition of wicked problems. We conclude that training startup businesses with the vital skills mentioned can reduce their failure rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Database: | Entrepreneurial Studies Source |
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| Header | DbId: ent DbLabel: Entrepreneurial Studies Source An: 192254462 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Amirkhizi%2C+Parisa+Jourabchi%22">Amirkhizi, Parisa Jourabchi</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> p.jurabchi@gmail.com</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Zeyghami%2C+Farshad%22">Zeyghami, Farshad</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> zeyghami.f@gmail.com</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Pourmohamadi%2C+Morteza%22">Pourmohamadi, Morteza</searchLink><relatesTo>3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> Morteza.Pourmohamadi@sydney.edu.au</i> – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Journal+of+Innovation+%26+Entrepreneurship%22">Journal of Innovation & Entrepreneurship</searchLink>. 3/12/2026, Vol. 15 Issue 1, p1-34. 34p. – Name: Subject Label: Subject Terms Group: Su Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Design+thinking%22">Design thinking</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22New+business+enterprises%22">New business enterprises</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Business+development%22">Business development</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Problem+solving%22">Problem solving</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Design+techniques%22">Design techniques</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Design+research%22">Design research</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: Design thinking is defined as using strategies from the field of design to solve problems in the disciplines that are traditionally not considered design. Design is a way of dealing with issues that do not have a unique and decisive solution as scientific problems do and that makes it a good approach for solving wicked problems. This research explores the utilization of design thinking in identifying and refining the wicked problems that often precipitate failure. Over 18 months, we examined five startups applying the Research through Design (RtD) method and Double Diamond framework (DDF) in 4 discovery, define, develop, and deliver stages, to reveal the underlying issues obscured by surface-level problem identifications. Our findings demonstrate a notable misalignment between startup offerings and market requirements, predominantly due to the misdefinition of problems applying design thinking. Startups tend to simplify complex, wicked problems and short-circuit the essential problem of space exploration. Results indicate that one of the most critical factors of insufficient attention to the problem is the superficial analysis of three factors of business development (i.e., human desirability, business viability, and technology feasibility) and also lack of recognition of wicked problems. We conclude that training startup businesses with the vital skills mentioned can reduce their failure rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.1186/s13731-025-00513-9 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 34 StartPage: 1 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Design thinking Type: general – SubjectFull: New business enterprises Type: general – SubjectFull: Business development Type: general – SubjectFull: Problem solving Type: general – SubjectFull: Design techniques Type: general – SubjectFull: Design research Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: Investigating the use of design thinking in identifying wicked problems of startups. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Amirkhizi, Parisa Jourabchi – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Zeyghami, Farshad – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Pourmohamadi, Morteza IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 12 M: 03 Text: 3/12/2026 Type: published Y: 2026 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 21925372 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 15 – Type: issue Value: 1 Titles: – TitleFull: Journal of Innovation & Entrepreneurship Type: main |
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