Design and Design - What's the Link?

When i think of design and showing, i'm thinking showing the work, showing the product, showing the reveal sos. In this regard, i think if you're just showing it, that's only one level of showing. I think you have to drill much deeper. So an example i would think about is if, let's say market share is a really important metric. How are you connecting the dots between the activities and investment in design with the objectives of the business and facy?