A Technology-Centered Framework for Product-Service Systems

Product-Service Systems (PSS) integrate product and service elements and thus are a basis for better differentiation from the competition, better fulfillment of customer demand and sustainability. Scientific approaches describing PSS often neglect the key resource technology; despite the fact that great potential for innovations can be achieved through disruptive technologies and an extended view on technologies. Extending the view means incorporating services and infrastructure in the technology management of PSS. To meet that research gap, we present a framework describing a layer model for PSS including goals on the upper level, PSS elements at medium level and technologies at the bottom. The layers are connected by means-end relations to highlight the correlations between goals and PSS elements as well as PSS elements and technology.