Exploring the Impact of Design Thinking on Developing Minimum Viable Products in South African SMEs

1. Introduction 1.1 Background of the Study 1.2 Problem Statement 1.3 Research Objectives 1.4 Significance of the Study 1.5 Structure of the Thesis 2. Theoretical Framework 2.1 Concept of Design Thinking 2.2 Minimum Viable Product (MVP) 2.3 Design Thinking and MVP Integration 3. Design Thinking in SMEs 3.1 Characteristics of South African SMEs 3.2 Challenges Faced by SMEs 3.3 Role of Innovation in SMEs 4. Methodology 4.1 Research Design 4.2 Data Collection Methods 4.3 Sampling Strategy 4.4 Data Analysis Techniques 5. Application of Design Thinking 5.1 Steps in Design Thinking Process 5.2 Benefits for Product Development 5.3 Case Studies of Successful Applications 6. Impact on MVP Development 6.1 Reducing Development Time 6.2 Enhancing Product Usability 6.3 Increasing Market Readiness 7. Analysis and Discussion 7.1 Interpretation of Findings 7.2 Comparison with Prior Studies 7.3 Implications for Practice 8. Conclusion and Recommendations 8.1 Summary of Key Findings 8.2 Recommendations for SMEs 8.3 Future Research Directions