Improving Design System Adoption with Inner Source

This study investigates the challenges in adopting SAP's design system, SAP Fiori, across various teams within the organization. Despite its maturity, adoption has been limited due to knowledge gaps, slow system evolution, lack of flexibility, and inefficiencies. A case study involving 76 stakeholder interviews identified these barriers and proposed solutions, including improved documentation, modular technical infrastructure, and an inner source model for shared ownership of the design system. Lessons learned emphasize the value of empowering teams to take ownership, which improved motivation and collaboration. However, capacity and skill gaps, particularly in maintaining high-quality components, remain a challenge. Scaling the design system expertise and refining key roles, like design system experts, will be critical for sustaining adoption and fostering a stronger design community.