USING DESIGN THINKING TO IMPROVE HOW BUSINESS MODEL DESIGN IS TAUGHT IN HIGHER EDUCATION
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Abstract
This review article explores how design thinking can be used to improve the way business model design is taught in higher education. It explains why traditional teaching methods, such as lectures and case studies, are no longer enough to prepare students for the complex challenges of today’s business world. Instead, design thinking is introduced as a human-centered, creative, and practical approach that helps students learn how to create, test, and improve business models. The article shows how the steps of design thinking such as empathy, define, ideate, prototype, and test, can be used to teach students about customer needs and how to develop valuable products and services. It also discusses how tools like the Business Model Canvas and Lean Canvas help students understand and build business models more clearly. The article shares learning outcomes from real examples, showing that students gain skills in problem-solving, teamwork, and creative thinking. It also discusses the challenges of using design thinking, such as teachers being unprepared and having limited time in courses. It offers suggestions to help solve these problems. Finally, the article offers guidance for educators, curriculum designers, and future researchers who want to use design thinking to improve business education.
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References
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