Short answer

Embrace a holistic approach to product development that integrates service design and business model innovation from the outset.

Field
Innovation & Design
Source
Chalmers Research (Chalmers University of Technology) (2013)
Method
Qualitative empirical research
Evidence
Strong effect

Companies in competitive sectors like aerospace can enhance customer value, profitability, and sustainability by developing integrated product-service systems (PSS) that combine physical products with services and new business models. This innovation & design research insight is drawn from a 2013 study published in Chalmers Research (Chalmers University of Technology). Using Qualitative empirical research, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Embrace a holistic approach to product development that integrates service design and business model innovation from the outset.

Study
Innovation & DesignHigh ImpactStrong effect

Integrating Product and Service Innovation Drives Aerospace Competitiveness

Companies in competitive sectors like aerospace can enhance customer value, profitability, and sustainability by developing integrated product-service systems (PSS) that combine physical products with services and new business models.

Chalmers Research (Chalmers University of Technology) · 2013

01

Key Findings

  • 01Successful PSS innovation requires developing specific capabilities, including enhanced customer co-creation and cross-functional collaboration.
  • 02Transitioning to PSS innovation demands coordinated changes in established practices, new work methods, and collaborative approaches.
  • 03Service innovation fundamentally differs from product innovation, requiring distinct strategies and organizational adjustments.
02

Application

Design takeaway

Embrace a holistic approach to product development that integrates service design and business model innovation from the outset.

How to apply

When developing new products, consider what services can be bundled to enhance user experience, product longevity, and create new revenue streams.

Project actions

  • 01Consider how your product can be part of a larger service offering.
  • 02Think about the entire user journey, not just the product's initial use.
03

Method & Evidence

AimHow can manufacturing companies develop the capability for product-service system (PSS) innovation?
MethodQualitative empirical research
ProcedureLongitudinal case study involving interviews, observations, and workshops within an aerospace company.
ContextAerospace industry, specifically engine original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and component developers.

Variables

IVOrganizational capability for PSS innovation
DVCustomer value, profit, customer ties, sustainability
CVIndustry sector (aerospace), company size, market conditions
04

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

  • +Longitudinal study provides deep insights into organizational change.
  • +Focus on a specific industry allows for detailed analysis.

Limitations

The complexity of integrating services can be challenging to fully represent in a typical design project.

Reliability & validity

The qualitative nature of the study relies on in-depth understanding, with validity supported by triangulation of data sources (interviews, observations, workshops). Reliability is enhanced by the longitudinal approach.

Think critically

To what extent does the complexity of managing integrated product-service systems outweigh the potential benefits for smaller design firms?

05

Design Principles

"Innovate by integrating product and service offerings to create comprehensive solutions that deliver sustained customer value and competitive advantage."

The shift towards PSS requires a fundamental change in organizational capabilities, moving beyond traditional product-centric innovation. This necessitates fostering new ways of working, cross-functional collaboration, and customer co-creation to successfully deliver integrated offerings.

06

What This Means for Your Design

Companies that sell things can make more money and be better for the environment if they also offer services related to their products, like repairs or upgrades. This means changing how they work and involving customers more.

How to use in your project

  • 1.Use this research to justify a design approach that includes service elements or a business model beyond simple product sales.
07

Add to My Project

08

Quick Cite

Paragraph starter

This research highlights the growing trend of product-service systems (PSS) in competitive industries, where integrating physical products with services and innovative business models is crucial for enhancing customer value, profitability, and sustainability. For design projects, this suggests a move beyond designing standalone products to conceiving integrated solutions that address user needs throughout the product lifecycle.

09

Source

Chalmers Research (Chalmers University of Technology)

Developing Capability for Product-Service System Innovation: An Empirical Study in the Aerospace Industry

journal · 2013

View source

Questions About This Research

What does the research say about integrating product and service innovation drives aerospace competitiveness?
Embrace a holistic approach to product development that integrates service design and business model innovation from the outset. Evidence: Chalmers Research (Chalmers University of Technology) (2013).
Why does "Integrating Product and Service Innovation Drives Aerospace Competitiveness" matter for design?
The shift towards PSS requires a fundamental change in organizational capabilities, moving beyond traditional product-centric innovation. This necessitates fostering new ways of working, cross-functional collaboration, and customer co-creation to successfully deliver integrated offerings.
How can designers apply this research?
Embrace a holistic approach to product development that integrates service design and business model innovation from the outset.
What were the main findings?
Successful PSS innovation requires developing specific capabilities, including enhanced customer co-creation and cross-functional collaboration.. Transitioning to PSS innovation demands coordinated changes in established practices, new work methods, and collaborative approaches.. Service innovation fundamentally differs from product innovation, requiring distinct strategies and organizational adjustments.
What research method was used?
Qualitative empirical research.
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2013 journal from Chalmers Research (Chalmers University of Technology).
What should I do differently in my next project?
When developing new products, consider what services can be bundled to enhance user experience, product longevity, and create new revenue streams.
What are the limitations?
Findings are specific to the aerospace industry and may require adaptation for other sectors.