Industrial Design Thinking at Siemens Corporate Technology, China

Abstract

The innovation challenges for a foreign business-to-business company in China are huge. It has to quickly respond to the diverse and rapidly changing customer needs in the large emerging market, while facing strong competition from both local newcomers with disruptive threats and other established global players. To build up its innovation capability, Siemens Corporate Technology China has developed a practical innovation methodology adapted from Design Thinking and integrated with the best practices of other user-driven approaches, to adjust to both China’s and industry requirements. A training/coaching program has also been created to support real business projects and other innovation activities at Siemens. The article includes (a) the overview of the Industrial Design Thinking (i.DT) program and methodology at Siemens and a highlight of its uniqueness compared with traditional ways of research; (b) the step-by-step i.DT process and methods explained with project examples; and (c) knowledge about critical i.DT innovation projects success factors at Siemens in China. By sharing the i.DT practices at Siemens in China, we hope to provide valuable insights into the development of creativity and innovation capability, as well as the adoption of Design Tinking or other user-driven approaches in industry.