Conceptualizing product service networks: Towards an initial framework

Product-Service Systems (PSS) are typically developed in heterogeneous networks of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and departments in larger organizations with some kind of end-user involvement. It can be said that these networks do not function as well as they should; in part, because companies need to reshape their organizations to effectively deal with the demands of these networks and processes. In part this is because new techniques are needed to determine end-user needs, and involve end-users themselves in different ways. Although techniques from experience design, product design and service design are promising, using these in practice for networked collaboration has proven difficult. The current article elaborates upon the diversity in these networks using a human-centred design approach. Based on various exploratory workshops reviewing and analysing existing cases a first framework for conceptualization and implementation of PSS has been constructed.