The Harvard Business Review recently published a series of articles on Design Thinking, proving that design as a strategic advantage has taken hold in business and contributed to a number of companies success.

In “How Samsung Became a Design Powerhouse“, HBR notes that Samsung understands that the future takes many forms.  Many organizations struggle to plan for 5 or 10 years out because they are constantly worried about the short term.  Others are good at looking 5 to 10 years out, but make mistakes in the present that reduce their chances of success down the road.   And of course, many organizations are so busy with the present that they are not looking toward the future at all.  (We barely have time for the present!).

Samsung not only has dedicated teams to set the course for future products.  They have coordinated these teams to ensure a smooth transition from near-future to far-future products ideas and ensure the ideas keep coming indefinitely.  This kind of coordination requires open communication, collaboration, and embracing a culture of innovation and experimentation.

Samsung has not only succeeded in accepting innovation and Design Thinking. They continue to push the boundaries of it and continue to reap the rewards.

‍