Abstract:
Design Thinking brings together tools and methods from a number of disciplines, using a human-centred approach to problem solving. This thesis explored these practical tools and methods in identifying the nutritional needs of Chinese consumers in China. The two primary research objectives were: (1) to explore the opportunities and challenges of using Design Thinking for companies like Douglas, and (2) to explore the needs of Chinese consumers regarding aged care nutrition. A six step Design Thinking process was developed and applied by the researcher. The research was conducted in two phases, the first in New Zealand to gain confidence and the second in China to collect data. From the analysis, two overarching themes and seven subthemes emerged regarding aged care and the role of family and also self-care. Findings showed that a strong sense of family duty exists amongst Chinese families and that care giving for the elderly is expected as the norm; many elderly Chinese choose to take an active role in the raising of their grandchildren. As the population demographic shifts towards a greater number of elderly people, the views and attitudes about aged care are changing. It is expected that the aged care industry will boom and many opportunities for new foods products will arise in the near future. The availability of healthy food options will play a key part in the lives of many health conscious people, and safety, authenticity and source security will continue to be important. This thesis identifies a number of opportunities and challenges regarding the use of Design Thinking tools and methods for companies like Douglas, such as: the mind -set of the staff members, having an adequate understanding the Design Thinking process, multidisciplinary teams and having an appropriate work space. This thesis suggests that the incorporation of Design Thinking into existing innovation processes will be challenging yet rewarding for a company like Douglas.
