An Integrated Design Management Concept: Creating Innovative Space for Emergent SMEs and Value for Knowledge Absorbers

This article endeavours to place the integrated and trans-disciplinary theme of design management in the research domains of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). It contributes to our understanding of the value of the design-management-driven processes in SMEs, based on current cross-border practices observed across the emerging South Baltic Sea Region. Matching mature concepts of the research-based view of firms, innovation management and organisation culture with the emergent and increasingly advocated notions of knowledge, innovation and learning, absorptive capacity, competence-based view, strategic planning, entrepreneurial learning and training, this study covers various aspects of design management orientation in the domain of small business and enterprise development. The focus is on design management practices among small businesses and other design management absorbers and practitioners (students, graduates and start-ups) observed and investigated as part of the ‘Design EntrepreneurSHIP’ project carried out under the South Baltic Programme 2007–2013. This article validates an effective application of the conceptual approach to the design management conceptual approach to SMEs business practices and proposes deployment of this trans-disciplinary approach for individual and organisational learning and training as well as for organisational strategy development and operational decision making. This research article is of interest to various stakeholders interested in design management—students, academics, trainers and coaches and SMEs. The revised conceptual design management integration roadmap is likely to facilitate and streamline understanding construct of design management and its increasing recognition for business performance and strategy.