Competencies and Interactions in Design Management

Abstract

The inclusion of design in corporate strategies has been a recurring research theme, and organizations are using it as strategic element for gaining competitive advantage in the long term. Thus, it becomes evident the need to manage design activities, making use of concepts related to competencies, learning, dynamic capabilities and other aspects. Therefore, this paper aims at investigating what experts think about design management and competencies, joints and intervenient factors in Brazilian fashion industry. In addition, this article aimed at knowing how design teams are structured and the relationship of these with the organization. The methodology was exploratory, qualitative, through in-depth interviews with ten designers working in Brazilian firms in the fashion industry and four specialists in fashion design. We identify phases and activities of design professional, which are decisive for the design management occurrence in enterprises in apparel industry, identifying the coworkers at each stage of this process.

Explanatory factors of collective competencies in fashion design teams

“…Given this reality, Korica and Bazin (2019) draw attention to the fact that the creative processes of fashion design teams demand collective work, corroborating some studies that point to the importance of collective competencies for fashion design teams ( Libânio & Amaral, 2016Silva & Ghedine, 2020). This article aims to identify the factors that explain collective competencies in fashion design teams to contribute to the development and formation of collective competencies.…”

“…For this, they need to seek to develop their deficient collective competencies and form absent collective competencies necessary to improve the performance of their teams and contribute to the achievement of organizational results (Silva & Ghedine, 2020). Added to this, in the fashion industry, identifying collective competencies allows their articulation and development, collaborating in the integration and training of individuals and teams for design management (Libânio & Amaral, 2016).…”

“…The present study was carried out with fashion design teams from companies from Santa Catarina since the state stands out nationally for the concentration of textile and clothing industries (Libânio & Amaral, 2016Lins, 2018), constituting a particular scenario. interest for studies on such issues (Lins, 2018).…”

Classification of competencies in design management: Individual, collective and organizational levels

“…The author also argues that the culture and the organization's actions are connected and in line with the design, aiming to achieve better results for the company. Libânio et al (2016) emphasize, "the understanding of design as a value as well as the design culture in organizations acts and belongs towards work processes and organizational structure upon the occurrence of design management" (Libâ-nio et al, 2016, p. 166).…”

Leader's role in the development of collective competencies of fashion work teams

“…This case study was carried out in a fashion group from Santa Catarina, Brazil, due to the fact that the clothing industry in southern Brazil is considered highly representative in the country's economic and social context (Libânio and Amaral, 2016, 2017). According to the Brazilian Textile and Apparel Industry Association (ABIT, 2023), Brazil is considered the largest complete textile chain in the West, being a world reference in swimwear, jeanswear and homewear design.…”