Flevy Management Insights Q&A
What impact does the rise of remote work have on collaborative aspects of Design Thinking?


This article provides a detailed response to: What impact does the rise of remote work have on collaborative aspects of Design Thinking? For a comprehensive understanding of Design Thinking, we also include relevant case studies for further reading and links to Design Thinking best practice resources.

TLDR The shift to remote work impacts Design Thinking by introducing challenges in collaboration and empathy but also offers opportunities for greater diversity and innovation, requiring strategic adaptation in tools, processes, and culture.

Reading time: 5 minutes

Before we begin, let's review some important management concepts, as they related to this question.

What does Collaborative Innovation mean?
What does Empathy in Design Thinking mean?
What does Digital Collaboration Tools mean?
What does Cultural Adaptation for Remote Work mean?


The rise of remote work has significantly altered the landscape of Design Thinking, a methodology that relies heavily on collaboration, empathy, and iterative processes. The shift from traditional office environments to virtual spaces has introduced both challenges and opportunities for teams engaged in Design Thinking. Understanding these impacts is crucial for businesses aiming to innovate and stay competitive in a rapidly changing world.

Challenges in Remote Collaboration

The essence of Design Thinking lies in its collaborative approach, which traditionally benefits from in-person interactions. Remote work, however, has introduced several challenges in this regard. Firstly, the spontaneity and richness of face-to-face brainstorming sessions are harder to replicate online. The nuances of non-verbal communication, so vital for empathy and understanding in the Design Thinking process, are often lost in virtual environments. Secondly, the collaborative energy and dynamic of a co-located team can be difficult to maintain remotely, potentially impacting the ideation and prototype stages. Lastly, remote work can lead to a sense of isolation among team members, which may affect their ability to engage fully in the empathetic processes central to Design Thinking.

Despite these challenges, there are actionable strategies that organizations can adopt. For instance, leveraging digital collaboration tools that offer rich interaction capabilities—such as Miro or MURAL for brainstorming and prototyping—can help mimic the in-person experience. Regular, structured check-ins and informal virtual gatherings can also maintain team dynamics and morale. Furthermore, training team members in remote communication and empathy-building techniques can enhance their ability to connect with users and each other, even from a distance.

According to a report by McKinsey, companies that have effectively adapted their innovation processes for remote work have seen a significant increase in productivity and speed to market. This suggests that while the transition poses challenges, there are substantial benefits to be gained from rethinking and adapting Design Thinking practices for remote environments.

Are you familiar with Flevy? We are you shortcut to immediate value.
Flevy provides business best practices—the same as those produced by top-tier consulting firms and used by Fortune 100 companies. Our best practice business frameworks, financial models, and templates are of the same caliber as those produced by top-tier management consulting firms, like McKinsey, BCG, Bain, Deloitte, and Accenture. Most were developed by seasoned executives and consultants with 20+ years of experience.

Trusted by over 10,000+ Client Organizations
Since 2012, we have provided best practices to over 10,000 businesses and organizations of all sizes, from startups and small businesses to the Fortune 100, in over 130 countries.
AT&T GE Cisco Intel IBM Coke Dell Toyota HP Nike Samsung Microsoft Astrazeneca JP Morgan KPMG Walgreens Walmart 3M Kaiser Oracle SAP Google E&Y Volvo Bosch Merck Fedex Shell Amgen Eli Lilly Roche AIG Abbott Amazon PwC T-Mobile Broadcom Bayer Pearson Titleist ConEd Pfizer NTT Data Schwab

Opportunities for Broader Collaboration and Diversity

On the flip side, the rise of remote work opens up new opportunities for Design Thinking. One significant advantage is the ability to involve a more diverse set of perspectives in the Design Thinking process. Remote work breaks down geographical barriers, allowing teams to include members from different locations, cultures, and backgrounds. This diversity can lead to richer insights and more innovative solutions during the empathy, ideation, and testing phases of Design Thinking.

Additionally, remote work facilitates access to a broader range of stakeholders and users for research and testing. Virtual interviews, surveys, and usability tests can be conducted more flexibly and cost-effectively, enabling teams to gather deeper insights and iterate more rapidly. This can lead to a more user-centered approach, ultimately enhancing the effectiveness of Design Thinking initiatives.

Real-world examples of companies leveraging remote work for Design Thinking abound. IBM, for instance, has successfully implemented its Enterprise Design Thinking framework in a remote context, engaging over 15,000 employees in collaborative design activities across the globe. This approach has not only fostered innovation but also enhanced team cohesion and engagement, demonstrating the potential of remote Design Thinking when executed with the right tools and strategies.

Adapting Tools and Processes for Remote Design Thinking

To capitalize on the opportunities and mitigate the challenges of remote Design Thinking, organizations must adapt their tools and processes. Digital collaboration platforms that support real-time interaction and visual collaboration are essential. These tools should be complemented by clear processes and guidelines that facilitate remote empathy work, ideation, prototyping, and testing. For example, virtual empathy maps and user personas can help teams maintain a user-centered focus, while online prototyping tools can support rapid iteration.

Moreover, fostering a culture that supports remote collaboration and innovation is critical. This includes promoting an open mindset, encouraging experimentation, and providing ongoing support and training for remote Design Thinking methodologies. Leadership plays a key role in modeling these behaviors and ensuring that teams have the resources and support they need to succeed.

Accenture's research highlights the importance of digital fluency and an adaptive workforce in driving successful remote Design Thinking. By focusing on building these capabilities, companies can enhance their ability to innovate and solve complex problems in a remote work environment.

In conclusion, while the rise of remote work presents challenges to the collaborative aspects of Design Thinking, it also offers unique opportunities for innovation and inclusivity. By strategically adapting tools, processes, and culture, organizations can overcome these challenges and leverage the full potential of Design Thinking in a remote world.

Best Practices in Design Thinking

Here are best practices relevant to Design Thinking from the Flevy Marketplace. View all our Design Thinking materials here.

Did you know?
The average daily rate of a McKinsey consultant is $6,625 (not including expenses). The average price of a Flevy document is $65.

Explore all of our best practices in: Design Thinking

Design Thinking Case Studies

For a practical understanding of Design Thinking, take a look at these case studies.

Global Market Penetration Strategy for Luxury Cosmetics Brand

Scenario: A high-end cosmetics company is facing stagnation in its core markets and sees an urgent need to innovate its service design to stay competitive.

Read Full Case Study

Design Thinking Transformation for a Global Financial Services Firm

Scenario: A multinational financial services firm is grappling with stagnant growth, high customer churn, and decreased market share.

Read Full Case Study

Service Design Transformation for a Global Financial Services Firm

Scenario: A global financial services firm is struggling with customer experience issues, resulting in low customer satisfaction scores and high customer churn rates.

Read Full Case Study

Digital Transformation Strategy for Mid-Sized Furniture Retailer

Scenario: A mid-sized furniture retailer, leveraging design thinking to revamp its customer experience, faces a 20% decline in in-store sales and a slow e-commerce growth rate of just 5% annually amidst a highly competitive landscape.

Read Full Case Study

Design Thinking Revamp for Semiconductor Firm in Competitive Market

Scenario: The organization at the center of this study is a semiconductor manufacturer grappling with integrating Design Thinking into its product development cycle.

Read Full Case Study

Organizational Agility Strategy for Boutique Consulting Firms

Scenario: A boutique consulting firm specializing in digital transformation is struggling to adapt its traditional, hierarchical structure to the fast-paced demands of the industry, despite understanding the importance of design thinking.

Read Full Case Study

Explore all Flevy Management Case Studies

Related Questions

Here are our additional questions you may be interested in.

How can companies ensure alignment between Service Design strategies and overall business objectives?
Organizations achieve alignment between Service Design strategies and business objectives through comprehensive Strategic Planning, cross-functional collaboration, leadership commitment, and a customer-centric approach, driving Operational Excellence and innovation. [Read full explanation]
What metrics should executives use to measure the success of Service Design initiatives?
Executives should measure Service Design success using Customer Satisfaction (NPS, CSAT, CES), Operational Efficiency (turnaround time, error rates, cost per transaction), and Employee Engagement (satisfaction scores, turnover rates) metrics for comprehensive insights and continuous improvement. [Read full explanation]
How are emerging technologies like virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) being utilized in the prototyping phase of Design Thinking?
VR and AR are revolutionizing Design Thinking's prototyping phase by enhancing Creativity and Collaboration, accelerating the Design Process, and reducing Costs, leading to innovative, user-centered products. [Read full explanation]
How can Service Design contribute to a company's competitive advantage in a saturated market?
Service Design enhances competitive advantage in saturated markets by focusing on Customer Needs, leveraging Technology for innovative service delivery, and achieving Operational Excellence. [Read full explanation]
How can companies ensure that Design Thinking does not become just another buzzword but a true driver of organizational change?
To transform Design Thinking from a buzzword into a driver of change, companies must embed it into their culture, secure leadership commitment, align it with Strategic Objectives, and foster continuous learning and adaptation. [Read full explanation]
What role does leadership play in overcoming resistance to Design Thinking practices among employees?
Leadership is crucial in overcoming resistance to Design Thinking by addressing concerns, fostering a culture of psychological safety, actively participating in processes, integrating methodologies into Strategic Planning and Innovation, celebrating successes, and investing in capabilities and infrastructure to embrace innovation and human-centered design. [Read full explanation]

Source: Executive Q&A: Design Thinking Questions, Flevy Management Insights, 2024


Flevy is the world's largest knowledge base of best practices.


Leverage the Experience of Experts.

Find documents of the same caliber as those used by top-tier consulting firms, like McKinsey, BCG, Bain, Deloitte, Accenture.

Download Immediately and Use.

Our PowerPoint presentations, Excel workbooks, and Word documents are completely customizable, including rebrandable.

Save Time, Effort, and Money.

Save yourself and your employees countless hours. Use that time to work on more value-added and fulfilling activities.




Read Customer Testimonials



Download our FREE Strategy & Transformation Framework Templates

Download our free compilation of 50+ Strategy & Transformation slides and templates. Frameworks include McKinsey 7-S Strategy Model, Balanced Scorecard, Disruptive Innovation, BCG Experience Curve, and many more.