Design Thinking in Public Administration: a Systematic Literature Review (2014–2023) Based on the PRISMA 2020 Protocol (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses)

Public administrations have adopted new methodological approaches to improve their processes and services, and design thinking is consolidating itself as a relevant strategy in this context. This article aims to understand the implications of applying design thinking in public administration from an organizational and management perspective, based on the hypothesis that this approach fosters innovation and enhances the alignment of public services with users’ needs. A systematic literature review was conducted using the PRISMA 2020 protocol (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses), covering twelve databases - including open-access journals and high-impact indexing collections, and encompassing studies published between 2014 and 2023. A total of 262 studies in English, Spanish and Portuguese were identified; of these, 15 - published from 2018 onward, when the topic gained prominence in the scientific literature- met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed in depth. The results indicate that design thinking contributes to innovation in the public sector by fostering collaboration, addressing complex problems and aligning public services with users’ needs. However, its implementation faces challenges such as cultural resistance, resource constraints and the prevalence of traditional administrative models. This systematic review provides an analytical overview of the impact and limitations of design thinking in public administration and underscores the need for future research exploring its application in different institutional contexts, enabling the development of more effective adoption strategies.