Understanding Innovation

This book explores the employment of market mechanisms for data-interactive innovations. Based on the concept of innovators' marketplaces the book introduces a new concept of 'data jackets' to enable analysis of what kind of data exist, where they are located, and what kind of information they hold, even if the contents of data cannot be made publicly available.The book presents the concept of a marketplace for data in the case of data-interactive innovations. It introduces the marketplace as a platform for value-based exchange of data and - based on the idea of the innovators' marketplace - explains how data jackets can be utilized independently from the actual contents of the data. Specific chapters deepen the understanding of variables, constraints and intentions as constituent parts of data jackets, and the extension to variable quest, a process towards the design of data. A number of case studies showcases how the methods and processes presented can be employed in real-life contexts. Finally the authors present some extensions of the concept for web-based IMDJ and connections to business information system and an outlook.

Extensive research conducted at the Hasso Plattner Design Thinking Research Program at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California, USA, and at the Hasso Plattner Institute in Potsdam, Germany, has yielded valuable insights on why and how design thinking works. The participating researchers have identified metrics, developed models, and conducted studies, which are featured in this book and in the previous volumes of this series.

This volume provides readers with tools to bridge the gap between research and practice in design thinking, together with a range of real-world examples. Several different approaches to design thinking are presented, while acquired frameworks are employed to understand team dynamics in design thinking. The contributing authors introduce readers to new approaches and fields of application and show how design thinking can tap the potential of digital technologies in a human-centered way. The book also presents new ideas on neuro-design from StanfordUniversity and the Hasso Plattner Institute in Potsdam, inviting readers to consider newly developed methods and how these insights can be applied to different domains. Design thinking can be learned. It has a methodology that can be observed across multiple settings. Accordingly, readers can adopt new frameworks to modify and update their current practices.

The research outcomes gathered here are intended to inform and provide inspiration for all those seeking to drive innovation – be they experienced design thinkers or newcomers. It is the last in a series of 14 volumes published over the past 14 years, reflecting the successes of the HPI-Stanford Design Thinking Research Program. Many thanks to the Hasso Plattner Foundation for its valued support.