What is Beyond the Box? A Survey on the Human Perspective in Design Thinking Activities in Software Development
Vander Magalhães Nicácio, Enzo Kleinpaul, Regis Soares, Rafael Parizi, Laura Costa Sarkis · 2024
Design Thinking (DT) is an approach that promotes user engagement and stimulates stakeholders' creativity in Software Engineering activities. The literature has shown that applying DT supports software teams in developing solutions that meet users' real needs. However, there is still a lack of studies exploring the human perspective associated with the use of DT, to understand not only how companies have been using DT but also the experiences of participants in its application and how teams are actually formed. Therefore, this study presents an exploratory research that investigates the human dimension in the use of DT in software development. The results indicate that DT is adapted according to team composition, which is generally multidisciplinary and diverse, with varying levels of DT knowledge ranging from intermediate to advanced. As contributions, the study emphasizes the need for continuous training in DT to optimize its use in software development, highlighting the importance of collaborative and user-centered approaches.