Design thinking framework to develop students’ creative ethical leadership approach
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.56433/bc7wd944Keywords:
Ethical Leadership, Sustainable Development Goals, Design thinking, Fashion Industry, Leadership Development, EducationAbstract
This project aimed to examine how applying a Skills Development Framework to Design Thinking makes it possible to enable students to develop ethical leadership skills. As a human-centric and non-linear process, Design Thinking can support the education system in focusing not simply in finding an innovative sustainable solution but in building an ethical attitude within the decision-making process.
The case study involved English Level 5 BA International Fashion Marketing and Management students at Coventry University London for three years over 2020, 2021, and 2022, which in total included 130 students from Europe, Asia and Africa. As part of the module plan and assessment, they organised an online event around a specific Sustainable Development Goal. The learning outcomes focused on helping the students’ balance the growth of people and actions through the Design Thinking steps when creating, planning and delivering the event. In this way, while considering how an ethical leader should act, they became familiar with an academic ethical project development process that is also replicable in the working environment.
A collection of theories, qualitative and quantitative primary research data had been collected to support the cohorts. This helped the students to structure, plan and implement a successful event, alongside the development of their academic and employability skills. The results confirmed that ethical leadership can be a tool accessible to everyone if structured as a step-by-step process. The clear and positive feedback from the students also confirmed the successful outcomes.
References
AIPM. (2021). Design Thinking. https://www.aipm.com.au/blog/design-thinking
Anderson, N. (2013, March 25-29). Design thinking as a means of enhancing the creative and innovative abilities of undergraduate students when creating web-based learning activities. [Proceedings of Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education]. 24th Annual Conference Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.
Anderson, N. & Hajhashemi, K. (2014, February 26). Design thinking strategies for design learning environments: What are the advantages and limitations? 8th National and the 5th International Conference on e-Learning and e-Teaching (ICeLeT 2014), Tehran.
Arulselvi, E. (2017). Mind Maps in Classroom Teaching and Learning. The Excellence in Education Journal 6(2). https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1210135.pdf
Association for Project Management. (2019). APM Body of Knowledge (7th edn), Princes Risborough.
Bansal, P. (2002). The corporate challenges of sustainable development. The Academy of Management Executive, 16(20), 122-131. https://www.scirp.org/(S(i43dyn45teexjx455qlt3d2q))/reference/ReferencesPapers.aspx?ReferenceID=1581424
Beckman, S.L. & Barry, M. (2007). Innovation as a Learning Process: Embedding Design Thinking. California Management Review 50(1), 8-296. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/epdf/10.2307/41166415
Belbin, R.M. (1993). Team Roles at Work. Butterworth-Heinemann.
Belbin, R.M. (2010). Management Teams: Why They Succeed or Fail (3rd ed.). Routledge.
Biggs, J.B. & Tang, C. (2007). Teaching for Quality Learning at University (3rd Ed.). McGraw Hill Education & Open University Press.
Boland, R., Jr., & Collopy, F. (2006). Design matters for management. Rotman Magazine, 50-53.
British Library. (2022). Henry Laurence Gantt. https://www.bl.uk/people/henry-laurence-gantt
Burns, H., Vaught, H.D., & Bauman, C. (2015). Leadership for Sustainability: Theoretical Foundations and Pedagogical Practices that Foster Change. International Journal of Leadership Studies, 9(1), 131–143. https://www.regent.edu/acad/global/publications/ijls/new/vol9iss1/6-IJLS.pdf
Carless, D. (2015). Excellence in university assessment: Learning from award-winning practice. Routledge.
Carroll, M. (2014). Learning from What Doesn’t Work: The Power of Embracing a Prototyping Mindset. https://web.stanford.edu/group/redlab/cgi-bin/materials/MentoringDloft.pdf
Circular Fashion Summit. (2020). Circular Fashion Report 2020 — Year Zero. https://www.cfs.fashion/circular-fashion-report-2020
Clark, W. (1922). The Gantt Chart. The Ronald Press Co.
Cooper, J.F. & Nirenberg, J. (2012). Leadership Effectiveness. Encyclopaedia of Leadership, Sage.
Dreier, L.; Nabarro, D. & Nelson J. (2019). Systems Leadership for Sustainable Development: Strategies for Achieving Systemic Change. Harvard Kennedy School. https://www.hks.harvard.edu/sites/default/files/centers/mrcbg/files/Systems%20Leadership.pdf
Ducan, R.D. (2018, October 30). Culture, Leadership, Performance: How Are They Linked? Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/rodgerdeanduncan/2018/10/30/culture-leadership-performance-how-are-they-linked/?sh=7c6031cb5e44
Dunne, D. & Martin, R. (2006). Design Thinking and how it will change Management Education: an Interview and a Discussion. Academic of Management Learning and Education ,5(4), 512-523. http://www-2.rotman.utoronto.ca/rogermartin/DesignThinkingInterview.pdf
Dzhunushalieva, G., & Teuber, R. (2024). Roles of innovation in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals: A bibliometric analysis. Journal of Innovation & Knowledge, 9(2), 100472. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jik.2024.100472
Ehiyazaryan-White, E. (2012). Developing open academic practices in research methods teaching within an HE in FE context. Journal of interactive media in education. https://jime.open.ac.uk/articles/10.5334/2012-13/
Elkington, J. (1998). Partnerships from cannibals with forks: the triple bottom line of 21st-century Business. Environmental Quality Management, 8(1), 37-51. https://www.scirp.org/(S(czeh2tfqw2orz553k1w0r45))/reference/referencespapers.aspx?referenceid=2291101
Fashion Revolution (2018). 5 years since the Rana Plaza tragedy, what’s changed? https://www.fashionrevolution.org/5-years-since-the-rana-plaza-tragedy-whats-changed/
Fashion Revolution (2023). The Transparency Index 2023. https://www.fashionrevolution.org/fashion-transparency-index-2023/
Ferdig, M.A. (2007). Sustainability leadership: Co-creating a sustainable future. Journal of Change Management, 7(1), 25-35. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/14697010701233809
Foster, M. K. (2019) Design Thinking: A Creative Approach to Problem Solving. Management Teaching Review, 6(2), 123–140. https://doi.org/10.1177/2379298119871468
Friis Dam, R. & Yu Siang, T. (2022, May). The History of Design Thinking. Interaction Design Foundation. Interaction Design https://www.interaction-design.org/literature/article/design-thinking-get-a-quick-overview-of-the-history
Fulmer, R. M. (2004). The Challenge of Ethical Leadership. Organizational Dynamics, 33(3), 307–317. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.ORGDYN.2004.06.007
Gibbons, S. (2016, July 31). Design Thinking 101. https://www.nngroup.com/articles/design-thinking/
Gibbs G. (1998). Learning by Doing: A guide to teaching and learning methods. Oxford Polytechnic.
Hamilton, N.W. (2008). Ethical leadership in professional life. Heionline journal, 68-22. https://heinonline.org/HOL/LandingPage?handle=hein.journals/usthomlj6&div=22&id=&page=
Harvey, P., Harris, K. J., Kacmar, K. M., Buckless, A., & Pescosolido, A. T. (2014). The Impact of Political Skill on Employees’ Perceptions of Ethical Leadership. Journal of Leadership & Organizational Studies, 21(1), 5–16. https://doi.org/10.1177/1548051813483834
Hofenk, D., Van Birgelen, M., Bloemer, J. & Semeijn, J. (2019). How and when retailers sustainability efforts translate into positive consumer responses: the interplay between personal and social factors. Journal of Business Ethics, 156(2) 473-492. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10551-017-3616-1
Hofstede. (2022). Culture Compass. https://hi.hofstede-insights.com/the-culture-compass
IISD. (2018, February 15). The Essence of Leadership for Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. https://sdg.iisd.org/commentary/generation-2030/the-essence-of-leadership-for-achieving-the-sustainable-development-goals/
Ilies, V.I. (2018). Strategic personal branding for students and young professionals. Cross-Cultural Management Journal, XX (1). https://www.seaopenresearch.eu/Journals/articles/CMJ2018_I1_6.pdf
ILO (2013). The Rana Plaza Accident and its aftermath. https://www.ilo.org/global/topics/geip/WCMS_614394/lang--en/index.htm
Jisc. (2013, December 4). Feedback and Feed Forward. https://www.jisc.ac.uk/guides/feedback-and-feed-forward
Jisc. (2014, April 2) Making Assessments accessible. https://www.jisc.ac.uk/guides/making-assessments-accessible
Kelly, R. (2012). Educating for creativity: A global conversation. Brush Education.
Kim, K. H. (2016). The creativity challenge: How we can recapture American innovation. Prometheus Books.
Martin, R. (2004, Winter). The design of business. Rotman Management, 5(1), 6-10.
Melles, T., Anderson, N., Barrett, T. & Sanders, P. (2014). Design thinking as inquiry-based learning. Dr Carfora J.M and Blessinger, P. (Ed.) Inquiry-based learning: A conceptual and practical resource for educators. Emerald Publishing.
McKinsey. (2008). Enduring Ideas: The 7-S Framework. https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/strategy-and-corporate-finance/our-insights/enduring-ideas-the-7-s-framework
Miller, K. & Moultrie, J. (2013). Delineating Design Leaders: A Framework of Design Management Roles in Fashion Retail. Creativity and Innovation Management, 22(2), 161-176.
Moldoveanu, M. and Das Narayandas, D. (2019, March-April). The Future of Leadership Development. Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2019/03/the-future-of-leadership-development
Niinimäki, K., Peters, G., Dahlbo, H. et al. (2020). The environmental price of fast fashion. Nat Rev Earth Environ, 1, 189–200. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43017-020-0039-9
Nguyen, H.-H. & Mohamed, S. (2011). Leadership behaviour, Organisational Culture and Knowledge Management practice: an empirical investigation. Journal of Management Development, 30(2) 206–221. https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/02621711111105786/full/html
Nieminena, J.H., Asikainen, H. & Rämö, J. (2021). Promoting deep approach to learning and self-efficacy by changing the purpose of self-assessment: a comparison of summative and formative models. Studies in Higher Education, 46(7). https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/citedby/10.1080/03075079.2019.1688282?scroll=top&needAccess=true
Nixon, N.W. & Blakley, J. (2015). Fashion Thinking: Towards an Actionable Methodology. Fashion Practice, 4(2), 153-175. https://doi.org/10.2752/175693812X13403765252262
Oxfam. (2019). Together, we’re tackling poverty in the fashion industry. https://www.oxfam.org.au/what-she-makes/
Patton, M. Q. (2002). Qualitative research & evaluation methods. Sage.
Proportion Global, (nd). Design Research. https://proportion.global/design-research/#:~:text=Empathy%2C%20by%20definition%2C%20is%20the,meet%20those%20needs%20through%20design
Rauth, I., Köppen, E., Jobst, B., & Meinel, C. (2010). Design Thinking: An Educational Model towards Creative Confidence. First International Conference on Design Creativity, 1–8. Kobe, Japan.
Roberts-Islam, B. (2020, July 30). Why Does The Fashion Industry Care Less About Garment Workers In Other Countries? Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/brookerobertsislam/2020/07/30/why-does-the-fashion-industry-care-less-about-garment-workers-in-other-countries/?sh=3db16e1b2c0d
Sagepub. (2007, August) Why do a Presentation? https://www.sagepub.com/sites/default/files/upm-binaries/17269_01_Chivers_Ch_01.pdf
Serrat, O. (2010). Design Thinking. Knowledge Solutions, 78, 1–6.
Tuckman, B. W. (1965). Developmental sequence in small groups. Psychological Bulletin, 63(6), 384–399. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0022100
Turner, R., & Topalian, A. (2002). Core Responsibilities of Design Leaders in Commercially Demanding Environments. Presentation at the inaugural session of the Design Leadership Forum. Organised by Alto Design Management, London.
UK Parliament. (2019). Fixing fashion: clothing consumption and sustainability. https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201719/cmselect/cmenvaud/1952/full-report.html
UN. (1987). Academic Impact: Sustainability. https://www.un.org/en/academic-impact/sustainability
UN. (2015). Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. https://sdgs.un.org/2030agenda
UN. (2018). Fashion for Global Climate Action. https://unfccc.int/climate-action/sectoral-engagement/fashion-for-global-climate-action
UN. (2022). The 17 Sustainable Development Goals. https://sdgs.un.org/goals
UN. (2022b). Fashion and Sustainable Development. https://unfashionalliance.org/
UN. (2023). The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2023. https://sdgs.un.org/gsdr/gsdr2023
Varouchas, E., Sicilia, M.E., & Sánchez-Alonso, S. (2018). Academics’ Perceptions on Quality in Higher Education Shaping Key Performance Indicators. Sustainability, 10(12), 4752. https://doi.org/10.3390/su10124752
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Guilia Massera, David Jack
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).
Journal of Perspectives in Applied Academic Practice has made best effort to ensure accuracy of the contents of this journal, however makes no claims to the authenticity and completeness of the articles published. Authors are responsible for ensuring copyright clearance for any images, tables etc which are supplied from an outside source.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.
