Professionalizing A Cottage Industry: KTPs and Design Group Development

This paper is an investigation of the factors that influence the growth of design groups when participating in Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs). There have been many published case studies which associate KTPs with successful innovation and the economic success of the client (eg Design Council, 2001), yet a systematic literature review of leading design and educational management journals found limited empirical evidence that shed light on the influence of KTPs on design group development. Two digital asset management KTPs operating within interior design companies have been investigated in depth revealing both intended outcomes, greater efficiency leading to increased profits, but also unintended outcomes, such as cultural change and market repositioning. The interrelationship of these factors with critical incidents during development have suggested drivers for growth including: senior management commitment; linking outcomes to competitive advantage; leadership propensity for change; utilization of KTP associate skills and expertise; and partnership connectivity.