Short answer
Clearly define the 'smartness' of a product by its specific capabilities and categorize it within a recognized framework to ensure consistent development and communication.
- Field
- Innovation & Design
- Source
- Journal of Product Innovation Management (2020)
- Method
- Systematic literature review and bibliometric analysis, followed by a systematic coding procedure to synthesize criteria and develop a framework.
- Evidence
- Strong effect
Establishing a clear, shared definition of 'smart products' is crucial for advancing research and practice, preventing the conflation of product capabilities with services or ecosystems. This innovation & design research insight is drawn from a 2020 study published in Journal of Product Innovation Management. Using Systematic literature review and bibliometric analysis, followed by a systematic coding procedure to synthesize criteria and develop a framework., researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Clearly define the 'smartness' of a product by its specific capabilities and categorize it within a recognized framework to ensure consistent development and communication.
Defining 'Smart Products' for Consistent Innovation
Establishing a clear, shared definition of 'smart products' is crucial for advancing research and practice, preventing the conflation of product capabilities with services or ecosystems.
Journal of Product Innovation Management · 2020
Key Findings
- 01Existing literature lacks a consensus definition of 'smart products', leading to scattered knowledge.
- 02A framework categorizing smart products into four archetypes (Digital, Connected, Responsive, Intelligent) based on capabilities can provide a common language.
Application
Design takeaway
Clearly define the 'smartness' of a product by its specific capabilities and categorize it within a recognized framework to ensure consistent development and communication.
How to apply
When initiating a design project for a 'smart' product, explicitly define which of the four archetypes (Digital, Connected, Responsive, Intelligent) it belongs to and articulate the specific capabilities that justify this classification.
Project actions
- 01When defining your product, be specific about its 'smart' features and how they contribute to its function.
- 02Consider which of the four archetypes (Digital, Connected, Responsive, Intelligent) best describes your product's capabilities.
Method & Evidence
Variables
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- +Provides a much-needed framework for a complex and often ill-defined concept.
- +Synthesizes a broad range of existing research into actionable categories.
Limitations
The archetypes are based on current understanding and might not cover all future innovations in smart products.
Reliability & validity
The reliability of the framework depends on the consistent application of the defined criteria across different products. Validity is supported by the systematic review of existing literature and the synthesis of multiple criteria.
Think critically
How might the rapid evolution of technology challenge the stability of these 'smart product' archetypes, and what strategies could be employed to maintain their relevance?
Design Principles
"Clarity in conceptualization drives effective innovation."
Without a common understanding, design projects risk developing products that are poorly defined, leading to fragmented knowledge and difficulty in integrating new technologies. A consistent conceptualization enables more systematic innovation and clearer communication among stakeholders.
What This Means for Your Design
To make new 'smart' products, we need to agree on what 'smart' actually means for a product, rather than using it as a vague term.
How to use in your project
- 1.Use the proposed archetypes (Digital, Connected, Responsive, Intelligent) to categorize your product concept and justify its 'smart' features.
- 2.Reference the lack of consensus in existing literature to highlight the importance of your clear definition.
Add to My Project
Quick Cite
Paragraph starter
This design project addresses the ambiguity surrounding 'smart products' by adopting a clear conceptualization. Based on the framework proposed by Raff, Wentzel, and Obwegeser (2020), the product is classified as a [Digital/Connected/Responsive/Intelligent] product, defined by its specific capabilities in [mention capabilities]. This approach ensures a precise understanding of the product's innovation and its intended role.
Source
Journal of Product Innovation Management
Smart Products: Conceptual Review, Synthesis, and Research Directions*
journal · 2020
View sourceQuestions About This Research
- What does the research say about defining 'smart products' for consistent innovation?
- Clearly define the 'smartness' of a product by its specific capabilities and categorize it within a recognized framework to ensure consistent development and communication. Evidence: Journal of Product Innovation Management (2020).
- Why does "Defining 'Smart Products' for Consistent Innovation" matter for design?
- Without a common understanding, design projects risk developing products that are poorly defined, leading to fragmented knowledge and difficulty in integrating new technologies. A consistent conceptualization enables more systematic innovation and clearer communication among stakeholders.
- How can designers apply this research?
- Clearly define the 'smartness' of a product by its specific capabilities and categorize it within a recognized framework to ensure consistent development and communication.
- What were the main findings?
- Existing literature lacks a consensus definition of 'smart products', leading to scattered knowledge.. A framework categorizing smart products into four archetypes (Digital, Connected, Responsive, Intelligent) based on capabilities can provide a common language.
- What research method was used?
- Systematic literature review and bibliometric analysis, followed by a systematic coding procedure to synthesize criteria and develop a framework..
- How strong is the evidence?
- Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2020 journal from Journal of Product Innovation Management.
- What should I do differently in my next project?
- When initiating a design project for a 'smart' product, explicitly define which of the four archetypes (Digital, Connected, Responsive, Intelligent) it belongs to and articulate the specific capabilities that justify this classification.
- What are the limitations?
- The study's framework is based on existing literature and may evolve as technology and product definitions change.