The role of socio-technical experiments in introducing sustainable Product-Service System innovations

This is the pre-print version of the chapter published in 2015 by Springer in the book “The Handbook of Service Innovation” (edited by Renu Agarwal, Willem Selen, Göran Roos and Roy Green). The final publication is available at Springer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-6590-3_18Product-Service System (PSS) innovations represent a promising approach to sustainability, but their implementation and diffusion are hindered by several cultural, corporate, and regulative barriers. Hence, an important challenge is not only to conceive sustainable PSS concepts, but also to understand how to manage, support, and orient the introduction and diffusion of these concepts. Building upon insights from transition studies (in particular, the concepts of Strategic Niche Management and Transition Management), and through an action research project, the chapter investigates the role of design in introducing sustainable radical service innovations. A key role is given to the implementation of socio-technical experiments, partially protected spaces where innovations can be incubated and tested, become more mature, and potentially favor the implementation and scaling up process

Definition of requirements to pursue a Servitization Strategy in SME: the case of AMT firms in the Ornamental Stones cluster

The introduction of advanced services in a servitization business model is under close scrutiny for a SME supplying advanced technologies. The proposed conceptual model is based on three cornerstones, i.e. strategy, organizational structure, ICT requirements. It was developed and checked by using data from semi-structured interviews, unstructured observations and documentation surveying. The outcomes significance support the model usefulness within the Ornamental Stones cluster. Virtual Breeding Environments/Virtual Organizations, Digital Business Platforms, Industry4.0 and open innovation appear to be required to leverage progress towards advanced servitization and so, promote competitive advantage and cluster survival. INOVSTONE4.0 illustrates a collaborative initiative within this domain.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Reviewing literature on digitalization, business model innovation, and sustainable industry : past achievements and future promises

Digitalization is revolutionizing the way business is conducted within industrial value chains through the use of Internet of Things (IoT) technologies, intensive data exchange and predictive analytics. However, technological application on its own is not enough; profiting from digitalization requires business model innovation such as making the transition to advanced service business models. Yet, many research gaps remain in analyzing how industrial companies can leverage digitalization to transform their business models to achieve sustainability benefits. Specifically, challenges related to value creation, value delivery, and value capture components of business model innovation need further understanding as well as how alignment of these components drive sustainable industry initiatives. Thus, this special issue editorial attempts to take stock of the emerging research field through a literature review and providing a synthesis of special issue contributions. In doing so, we contribute by developing a framework that communicates and sets the direction for future research by linking digitalization, business model innovation, and sustainability in industrial settings.fi=vertaisarvioimaton|en=nonPeerReviewed