Abstract
Design support programmes have became more and more popular, with countries recognising the importance of helping their small companies to develop products and services with design input. This paper argues that the potential of such design programmes could be maximised if design organisations understood the importance of knowledge transfer in this context. It explains why the nature of design support schemes (usually public funded and focused on first-time users of design) make knowledge transfer an important asset for this activity. Analysis of information provided by clients of Design Wales, the design advisory service for Welsh industry (UK), is used as evidence for this argument. Knowledge transfer mechanisms are recommended for the best transfer of tacit knowledge and the role of the design advisor is emphasised as the agent of this transfer.
Keywords
Design support or promotion, knowledge management, tacit knowledge, collaborative influences on the design process
Citation
Raulik, G., Larsen, P., and Cawood, G. (2006) Design Support and the Transfer of Knowledge to SMEs, in Friedman, K., Love, T., Côrte-Real, E. and Rust, C. (eds.), Wonderground - DRS International Conference 2006, 1-4 November, Lisbon, Portugal. https://dl.designresearchsociety.org/drs-conference-papers/drs2006/researchpapers/39
Design Support and the Transfer of Knowledge to SMEs
Design support programmes have became more and more popular, with countries recognising the importance of helping their small companies to develop products and services with design input. This paper argues that the potential of such design programmes could be maximised if design organisations understood the importance of knowledge transfer in this context. It explains why the nature of design support schemes (usually public funded and focused on first-time users of design) make knowledge transfer an important asset for this activity. Analysis of information provided by clients of Design Wales, the design advisory service for Welsh industry (UK), is used as evidence for this argument. Knowledge transfer mechanisms are recommended for the best transfer of tacit knowledge and the role of the design advisor is emphasised as the agent of this transfer.