This section describes several tools that may be used to support the various stages of the Method for System Design for Sustainability (MSDS) with an integration of Distributed Economies (DE).Footnote 9 In general, the tools are created to support designers to achieve four objectives:
-
To assess existing systems and define sustainability design priorities;
-
To explore opportunities by generating sustainability-oriented system ideas with a specific focus on S.PSS applied to DE;
-
To visualize the proposed S.PSS and DE concept design;
-
To detail and communicate the proposed S.PSS and DE concept design by highlighting environmental, social and economic benefits.
Seven S.PSS and DE design support tools, newly developed within the LeNSin project, are presented below:
-
Sustainability Design-Orienting Scenarios (SDOS) on S.PSS and DE
-
Innovation Diagram for S.PSS and DE
-
Concept Description Form for S.PSS and DE
-
System Map for S.PSS and DE
-
S.PSS and DE Idea Borads (embedded into the SDO toolkit)
-
Strategic Analysis Toolkit (SAT) for DE for Socio-Economic Ecosystems (SEE)
-
Distributed Manufacturing (DM) applied to PSS design toolkit.
MSDS and other tools for system design for sustainability have been developed to support system design for sustainability for all, and a wide selection of these tools can be found and downloaded from the LeNS platform (www.lens-international.org). This particular section of the book aims to help potential users to apply the newly developed S.PSS and DE tools in practice. For this reason, each tool is described using the following structure:
-
1.
The aim and the components of the tool;
-
2.
The tool’s integration into the MSDS design process;
-
3.
How to use the tool;
-
4.
Availability and resources required.
3.1 Sustainability Design-Orienting Scenarios (SDOS) on S.PSS and DE
Aims
The objective of Sustainability Design-Orienting Scenarios (SDOS) on S.PSS and DE (Fig. 1) is to orient the design process towards sustainable system solutions by using immersive and inspiring scenario videos to stimulate the generation of S.PSS-based DE ideas for all.
Components
The Sustainability Design-Orienting Scenarios on S.PSS and DE consist of:
Integration into the MSDS design process
The SDOS on S.PSS and DE is used in Ideas generation oriented to sustainability to stimulate the generation of ideas (Fig. 2).
How to use the
SDOS on S.PSS and DE
The tool is used in two simple steps:
First, open the SDOS on S.PSS and DE tool. Play the four videos of the four visions, to get initial design inputs through sample stories (Fig. 3).
Secondly, play the three sub-videos, to open up sample stories linked to all options related to:
-
Offer/payment
-
System configuration
-
Sustainability (Fig. 4)
Availability and requested resources
The SDOS on S.PSS and DE tool is an open-access tool that can be downloaded for free from www.lens-international.org, ‘Tools’ section. A computer, a PDF reader and Internet connection are required to access the tool.
The tool may be used by a single designer, though the support of a multi-disciplinary team is preferable.
This tool requires 15 min to explore and get inspired by the proposed visions.
3.2 Innovation Diagram for S.PSS and DE
Aims
The objective of the Innovation Diagram for S.PSS and DE (Fig. 5) is to help designers to position and characterize existing offers and competitors and select promising ideas for new concept profiling.
Components
The diagram consists of:
Integration into the MSDS design process
The Innovation Diagram for S.PSS and DE is used at various stages of the design process (Fig. 6).
How to use the
Innovation Diagram for S.PSS and DE
First, open the tool and move to the “…_existing offer” slide. Work in the “existing offer” slide to position an existing offer (Fig. 7). Select the company/organization icon (1) and choose one of the DE types to substitute the general one. Paste the label in the diagram and write the company/organization name in the free space on the label.
The second step is to characterize the existing offer by specifying all of the following (Fig. 8):
-
Provider (1). Select the company/organization structure label, and choose one of the Offer type characterization icons (Distributed, Decentralized or Centralized and its sector, i.e. energy Generation, Food production, Water management, Manufacturing, Software development or Knowledge) to substitute the general one. Place in the provided section and write the company/organization name in the free space on the label.
-
Customer (2). Select customer/s (B2B–B2C) structure label icon/s and choose one of the characterization icons to substitute the general one. Place in the customer section and write customer/s name in the free space on the label.
-
Type of PSS (3). Select the S.PSS type of the offer (if any): PRODUCT-ORIENTED, USE-ORIENTED, RESULT-ORIENTED and place it in the S.PSS type section. Remember, that in most cases existing offers are not S.PSS.
-
Offered Products & owners (4). Select the product icon representing what the company offers and paste in the products section. Select who retains the product OWNERSHIP (provider or customer) and place the label in the provider/customer label.
-
Offered Services & providers (5). Select the service icon representing what the company offers and paste in the service section. Select who PROVIDES the service and place the label in the provider label.
-
What is paid (6). Select the icon describing what is paid by the customer/s and place the label in the payment section.
-
Offer configuration (7). Select the DE type icon of the offer and paste it in the DE type space. Select its structure icon and place it in the nearby space.
The same process to characterize the existing offer could be done in relation to competitors, by moving to the “…_Competitors” slide. Finally, the Innovation Diagram could be used to insert and position promising ideas designed with the idea boards (SDO toolkit), within the “…_Concept” slide (Fig. 9).
Now it is time to generate new ideas spotting the areas that are left empty (Fig. 10). Identify and cluster those ideas that can be combined to draft the system concept. Write a text (max 200 characters) outlining the preliminary system concept.
Finally, profile an S.PSS and DE draft concept by copying and pasting characterizing icons of the emerging S.PSS and DE concept (Fig. 11).
Availability and requested resources
The Innovation Diagram for S.PSS and DE is an open access tool that can be downloaded for free from www.lens-international.org, ‘Tools’ section. A computer and a PowerPoint reader are needed to access the tool. This tool requires at least:
-
20 min to position and characterize the existing offer, 15 min to position and characterize the competitors,
-
45 min to select promising ideas, generate new ones, cluster them and identify/describe/profile a draft concept.
3.3 Concept Description Form for S.PSS and DE
Aims
The objective of the Concepts Description Form for S.PSS and DE (Fig. 12) is to finalize the description and characterization of a new S.PSS and DE concept.
Components
It consists of a sum-up of the concept with:
-
Concept title
-
Satisfaction unit
-
Concept description
-
Concept profiling, i.e. Provider, Customer, Type of S.PSS, offered Products & owner, Offered services & provider, What is paid, Offer configuration.
Integrating the tool into the MSDS design process
The Concept Description Form for S.PSS and DE is used in System Concept Design to describe and profile the designed S.PSS and DE concept (Fig. 13).
How to use the S.PSS and DE concept description form
The Concept Description Form can be used in three simple steps (Fig. 12). First, write the title and the description of the S.PSS and DE concept. Secondly, indicate the UNIT OF SATISFACTION of the concept. Finally, characterize the concept with the information in all the fields.
Availability and requested resources
Like the previously described tools, the Concept Description Form for S.PSS and DE is an open access tool that can be downloaded for free from www.lens-international.org, ‘Tools’ section. A computer, a PowerPoint reader, and Internet connection are required to access this tool. The tool may be used by a single designer, though the support of a multi-disciplinary team is preferable. This tool requires at least 15 min to complete.
3.4 System Map for S.PSS and DE
Aims
The purpose of the System Map for S.PSS and DE (Fig. 14) is to support (co-)designing, visualization and configuration of the system structure, indicating the actors involved and their interactions in distributed systems providing additional support to its users defining DE configuration.Footnote 10
Components
The System Map for S.PSS and DE contains graphical representations of:
-
Stakeholders involved;
-
Flows/interactions: physical, financial, informational and labour performance;
-
System configurator: Distributed, Decentralized, Centralized.
Integration into the MSDS design process
The System Map for S.PSS and DE is used at various stages of the design process (Fig. 15).
How to use the System Map for S.PSS and DE
The System Map for S.PSS and DE enables comprehensive visualization of the system structure (Fig. 16). To start with, identify boundaries, including offer boundary and system boundary.
Later, identify the actors involved: select a structure icon, then choose a characterization icon to substitute the general one, and finally drag and drop into the system map (Fig. 17).
Now it is time to define interaction flows using arrows and descriptions. Interaction flows can be material flow, information flow, financial flow and labour flow (see the Legend in Fig. 18). Remember that the reading order is essential, thus note the numbering of interaction flows.
Finally, use dashed squares to indicate ownership (owner and product inside) and squares around actors to indicate partnership (Fig. 19).
Availability and requested resources
The System Map for S.PSS and DE can be drawn on paper with no need for software. It is, however, advisable to use slideshow software, in order to facilitate management and modifications. The System Map for S.PSS and DE with labels and icon repositories is open access, available for free download at www.lens-international.org, “Tools” section. The tool is based on a layout and a set of standardized icons, usable with PowerPoint readers. From this base it is possible to modify the various icons and add new ones.
The tool was developed for use by any design team member, and no particular graphic skills are required. The time required to set up a System Map for S.PSS and DE depends on the level of details along the design process; nevertheless, it could range from approximately 60–90 min.
3.5 S.PSS and DE Idea Boards (embedded into the SDO toolkit)
Aims
The objective of S.PSS and DE Idea Boards (embedded into the SDO toolkit) (Fig. 20) is to support designers in orientating the system idea generation design process towards sustainable DE for all S.PSS-based solutions.
Components
The tool consists of 6 Idea Boards, one per criteria as listed below, and a corresponding set of guidelines suggesting S.PSS-based DE ideas through innovative stakeholder interactions:
-
Complement the DE hardware offer with Life Cycle services
-
Offer ownerless DE systems as enabling platform
-
Offer ownerless DE systems with full services
-
Optimize stakeholders’ configuration
-
Delink payment from hardware/resource purchases
-
Optimize DE systems structure.
Integration into the MSDS design process
The S.PSS and DE Idea Boards (SDO) are used in idea generation oriented to sustainability to orientate the system idea generation design process towards sustainable S.PSS-based solutions for all (Fig. 21).
How to use S.PSS and DE Idea Boards (SDO)
The following steps must be performed to access the tool:
-
Download the SDO toolkit from www.lens-international.org
-
Type project name, etc.
-
Click on S.PSS and DE sustainability dimension
-
Click on orientate concept.
To orientate the system idea using the S.PSS and DE Idea Boards (Fig. 22), select the idea tables one by one (one for each criterion) (1). Then, read the guidelines (a set for each criterion) (2) and check the guideline’s example for further inspiration (3). Drag and drop the “digital post-it” and describe the emerged system ideas (for each criterion) (4). You can see and read more information on the case related to the specific guideline (5).
Availability and requested resources
S.PSS and DE Idea Boards are embedded into the SDO toolkit. The tool is also available for free download at www.lens-international.org, “Tool” page. A computer, a PowerPoint reader and Internet connection are needed to use the tool. Idea Boards require at least 75 min to complete.
3.6 Strategic Analysis Toolkit (SAT) for DE for Socio-Economic Ecosystems (SEE)
The Strategic Analysis Toolkit, SAT, consists of tools which first identify the actors and their activities in the ecosystem; then the infrastructure and needs of the actors; clarifies the goal, problem statement definition, design brief and unit of satisfaction using participatory design tools; and, finally a tool for competitor analysis. This section introduces tools related to processes and sub-processes within the Strategic analysis stage in the MSDS methodology (Fig. 23).
Aims
The strategic analysis toolkit aims to help a designer in Sustainable Product-Service System Design with an intervention focus on Socio-Economic Ecosystems (SEE) of multi-cultural and diverse communities engaged in distributed economic activities.
Process 1: Project Socio-Economic Ecosystem Analysis
-
1.
Awesome Actors Tool. The first step of strategic analysis is to identify all the actors and their aspects of activity, best accomplished by interviewing local administrators and visionaries (e.g. local elders, thought leaders, NGOs, etc.). The Awesome Actors Tool helps its users to identify the main value proposition of the local ecosystem, its problems, all actors and their activities (Table 2).
Table 2 Awesome actors tool
-
2.
KFPS Knowledge Mining Tool. This tool helps to identify existing infrastructure and required transformations. Interviewing local administrators/visionaries helps in acquiring information on service, product-service, and infrastructure transformations planned and required in the local ecosystem (Table 3).
Table 3 KFPS knowledge mining tool
-
3.
Empathy Mapping, AEIOU Mapping, Value Opportunity Analysis, SWOT, PESTLE, System Map. A set of tools supports their users in meeting the actual actors and understanding their needs, e.g. Value Opportunity Analysis tool (Table 4).
Table 4 Value opportunity analysis
Process 2: Defining intervention context
-
4.
Co-design using “Clarify Your Goal”. The tool adopted from Frog Design [2] helps to define design goals, identify the problem statement, design brief and unit of satisfaction (Fig. 24).
-
5.
Competitor analysis on form, category, generic, budget level (using Porter's five forces analysis if applicable [5]). The tool helps to collect the competition space knowledge (Table 5). Competitors of the system are found based on the clarified goal of the design intervention and the main value proposition of the local context.
Table 5 Competitor analysis on form, category, generic and budget levels
Currently, the toolkit has been designed and tested on two SEE contexts, both located in Assam, India.
Availability and resources required
Downloadable files of each tool can be found in Banerjee et al. [1] with the following information on resources and time needed to carry out design processes using each tool.
3.7 Distributed Manufacturing (DM) Applied to PSS Design Toolkit
The DM applied to PSS design toolkit (Fig. 25) has been tested with students, experts, manufacturing industry professionals and design practitioners through three rounds of empirical application, to ensure its effectiveness and usability [4].
Aims
The DM applied to PSS design toolkit serves two purposes: (1) it provides its users with knowledge about potential DM opportunities and (2) supports idea generation for PSS solutions improved with DM features.
Components
The toolkit consists of four elements, each of which is described below in detail:
-
40 near-future scenario cards
-
3 scenario cards’ selection diagrams
-
1 introductory card
-
1 idea generation diagram.
Near-future scenario cards
Double-sided near-future scenario cards are brief snapshots illustrating how specific features of Distributed Manufacturing can be applied to Product-Service Systems throughout their life cycle (Fig. 26). Scenario cards are made to inspire and to encourage future-oriented thinking. Furthermore, they serve an educational purpose and contain a sufficient amount of information to support a learning process about DM and PSS.
Scenario cards’ selection diagrams
Scenario cards’ selection diagrams on which scenario cards are mapped illustrate areas tackled by the near-future scenarios. The toolkit contains three scenario cards’ selection diagrams (Fig. 27): [1] the stage-by-stage DM and PSS connection diagram (1); [2] the DM features diagram (2); and [3] the PSS implementation barriers diagram (3). These diagrams are made to facilitate relevant scenario cards’ selection. Each diagram classifies scenario cards according to PSS life cycle stages and/or DM features, or PSS implementation barriers and contains questions helping to select relevant cards.
Introductory card
This toolkit is made to facilitate new PSS development as well as to improve existing PSS solutions. The introductory card allows the toolkit’s users to decide whether they would like to create a new PSS or to improve an existing one (Fig. 28). Depending on their choice, one of the three scenario cards’ selection diagrams must be selected.
Idea Generation Diagram
The Idea generation diagram (Fig. 29) is used for positioning ideas developed using near-future scenario cards.
Integration into the MSDS design process
The DM applied to PSS design toolkit can be best used to facilitate idea generation for S.PSS solutions enabled by DM. In addition, near-future scenario cards can be used to explore and analyse existing examples of DM and learn about the DM potential. Finally, the idea generation diagram can be used to position, cluster and select promising developed ideas for further detailing (Fig. 30).
How to use the DM applied to PSS design toolkit
Each element of the DM applied to PSS design toolkit is created to be used in a purposeful order (Fig. 31): first, the identification of the goal using the introductory card (1); second, the selection of relevant scenario cards using the scenario cards’ selection diagrams (2); third, DM applied to PSS idea generation using near-future scenario cards (3); and, finally, positioning of developed ideas on the idea generation diagram (4).
Availability and resources required
The DM applied to PSS design toolkit is available for free download (from www.lens-international.org, “Tools” section). The toolkit needs to be printed; other required resources are post-it notes and pens.
The toolkit may be used by a team of designers, design students, or multidisciplinary team. It is advisable to involve various system actors. The toolkit requires at least 120 min to conduct a complete ideation process.
3.8 Summary
This chapter has presented several tools supporting the design of S.PSS applied to DE that have been developed or updated during the LeNSin project. Many other tools have been developed to support system design for sustainability for all and a wide selection of those can be found and downloaded from the LeNS platform (www.lens-international.org).