Design-thinking approach to ethical (responsible) technological innovation

Abstract

This chapter presents that a design-thinking approach is potentially conducive to ethical (responsible) technological innovation, especially within emerging and converging technologies. Due to its emphasis on human-centred design and other core attributes such as empathy–although it poses many challenges to implement. The chapter introduces morally contentious technological innovations and their implications and discusses the shortcomings of linear innovation process models. It explores an improved circular responsible innovation process model, especially for non-linear wicked problems, which are difficult to solve due to their complexity and changing requirements and conflicting or contradicting values among the stakeholders concerned. However, many emerging technologies may introduce ethical issues embedded at machine level, for example autonomous vehicles, drones and next-generation robotics that require an understanding of machine-level ethical concerns and considerations. These concerns have been increasingly addressed by the emerging new field of 'machine ethics'. However, it is important to integrate ethical decision-making at both the organizational-level innovation process and at machine level.