Thesis (Ph. D.)--Electrical and Computer Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2008. / Laskar, Joy, Committee Chair ; Cressler, John, Committee Member ; Kornegay, Kevin, Committee Member ; Tentzeris, Emmanouil, Committee Member ; Lee, Chang-Ho, Committee Member.

This thesis considers how the development of Product-Service Systems (PSS) relates to cultural changes in the organizations doing the development. On one hand, reducing cultural shift is desirable to absorb shocks and reduce obstacles that come from internal relations. And on the other hand, the cultural changes may be an opportunity and a breakthrough - or even necessary - to develop PSS. In exploring the possibility of managing culture, the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) was used to prioritize three possible actions to support the best culture to help PSS development. A survey was also carried out through sending questionnaires to nineteen experts. The results suggest that when people prioritized the three actions, the most important was related to pursuing “economic benefits”, and adopted “strengthen executive support and performance management”. This study proposes a portfolio of practices which is targeted at deep into the prioritized action and figure out an action plan as well as some sub-activities around the four quadrants which formed by the integration of Fulfillment, Informal, Innovation, and Formal approach. And each action and planning could still be applied to PSS development as well as other changes, prepare organizational culture changes and create a more harmonious enterprise culture. / 46769611005

Mobile commerce, due to its inherent characteristics of mobility and reachability in enhancing personalized services provides an excellent means for life insurers to exploit such avenue in their service offerings. The objective of this study was to determine whether mobile commerce can be used to improve the services of life insurance post-sale activities. This objective was achieved with the relevant literature and empirical study. To accomplish the objective of this treatise, a triangulated research approach was selected and a multiple-case study consisting of four cases was conducted. The four cases selected comprised of leading insurers with large market share in the life insurance market in South-Africa. The primary data were collected through questionnaire and face-to-face interviews with selected respondents. The main finding shows that the respondents had a positive view about mobile commerce and its application in their companies. This was demonstrated by 80 percent of respondents who agreed that mobile commerce was more of an opportunity rather than a challenge or even a threat for the life insurance market. The results also indicate that customer relationship management, mobile messaging services and field service automation functions were used by all the insurers; although minor discrepancies were observed due to the efficiency of each firms IT infrastructure. The Internet was found to assist in the collection of more precise data, to increase service performing abilities. Some of the major obstacles that were found to hinder the deployment of mobile commerce in the industry were security concerns, low and infrequent internet usage and performance by supporting industries. Cumbersome and inefficient legacy systems were declared as the greatest technological weakness particularly by respondents from case 1 and 2. Conversely, hardware and network infrastructure, lack of software packages, lack of technical expertise and the fear of disintermediation was rated low in hindering the deployment of mobile commerce. However, according to the findings the key benefits derived from engaging in increased mobile commerce activities include enhancing customer contact and service, more transparency and speed of claims management, increasing client retention and policy extension rates hence increasing overall company profit.

L’évolution permanente de l’environnement de l’entreprise pousse les décideurs à s’inscrire dans un processus d’innovation. Nous assistons à une mutation des pratiques de certaines entreprises en intégrant de plus en plus une offre d’un système « produits-services ». Notre objectif, à travers cette thèse, est d’apporter une aide à la décision qui reposera sur la capacité à anticiper la performance du système en fonction de différentes décisions de gestion et face à différents types d’aléas lors de la servicisation. Le premier besoin d’aide à la décision est la nécessité de construire une démarche de modélisation et de simulation avec un modèle conceptuel du système de production orienté PSS. Pour cela nous avons proposé une décomposition de notre système entreprise orientée PSS en deux sous-systèmes : (i) Le sous-système d’usage et (ii) le sous système productif. Les deux sous-systèmes sont connectés et interdépendant. Un deuxième besoin qui apparait pour notre problématique est la construction d’un modèle simulable et exploitable. Nous avons utilisé la simulation à évènements discret afin de profiter de l’aspect « évènementiel » de cette approche et ainsi coupler entre le système d’usage et le système productif d’une part, et d’autre part entre les activités de services et les activités de production. Une application de notre démarche de modélisation et simulation sur un cas d’étude (Entreprise ENVIE) a été effectué et une analyses et interprétation des résultats suivies d’un ensemble de propositions de gestion pour une meilleure transition vers une offre PSS ont été apportées. / The ever-continuing evolution of business practices leads the decision-makers to develop strategies based on Innovative approaches. One of them is the transition to a product-services system, called servitization. The main goal of this thesis is to provide a decision support in order to anticipate the performance of a company when different transition management scenarios are implemented. The first step toward this objective is the formalization of a conceptual model of product-service systems. They consist of two subsystems: (i) user-oriented subsystem and (ii) production-oriented subsystem. These subsystems are connected and interdependent. The model developped in the second step of the thesis takes into account this coupling, whose influence on the overall performance of the company is assessed thanks to a discret-event simulation approach. Finally a case study is performed for a french SME (ENVIE) whose line of business is the re-manufacturing of electrical equipment. The analysis results highlight the main areas of improvement for the company, allowing a better transition to a product-service system.

Die Kreislaufwirtschaft wird von den verschiedensten Seiten als wichtige Strategie für eine nachhaltige Zukunft gefordert und gefördert. Schon seit einiger Zeit setzt sich die Erkenntnis durch, dass eine Bewegung weg von Geschäftsmodellen, die auf Produktverkäufen basieren, hin zum Angebot von Produkt-Dienstleistungssystemen das Implementieren von Kreislaufwirtschaft unterstützen kann. Diese These wurde erneut in der Arbeit der Circular Economy Initiative Deutschland (CEID) diskutiert und in Berichten dieser Initiative dokumentiert. Die Autorin, die auch Mitglied der Circular Economy Initiative war, beleuchtet in diesem Text den Zusammenhang und beschreibt anhand von Ergebnissen aus früheren Forschungs- und Beratungstätigkeiten, wie Produkt-Dienstleistungssysteme (Product-Service Systems, PSS) die Circular Economy unterstützen können und wie diese PSS gestaltet werden können, damit das möglichst nachhaltig, also ökologisch, sozial und ökonomisch vorteilhaft, wirkt. Prozesse, Methoden und Tools für PSS Design und Evaluierung werden vorgestellt und durch Fallbeispiele illustriert.

Background – Circular economy (CE) is gaining more and more importance in research, based on the great desire to change the linear fashion economy to a circular. A Product Service System (PSS) can contribute to the achievement of CE, as PSSs, such as take-back or repair services, bring back the garments to the fashion retail company into the CE. Regarding, closed-loop goals have been created from which the third goal needs to be recently achieved by the fashion industry. Closed-Loop Goal 3 deals with the cascading flow of garments, which sends a garment into multiple usage loops. To accomplish the cascading garment flow, this method connects several PSSs to close the loop, and fewer garments end in landfill. To achieve that, the involvement of customers and business partners is essential as they are purchasing and repatriating garments and materials into the cascading loops. Purpose – The research purpose is to offer new knowledge regarding how fashion retailers can implement cascading loop systems in the textile Closed-Loop Supply Chain (CLSC) and narrow the research gap of cascading loop creations. The study aims to investigate how to involve customers and business partners in PSSs through the digitalisation of cascading garment flow. By doing so, the cascading garment flow intends to achieve improved sustainable performance by allowing used garments to enter a cascading garment flow system.  Methodology – This thesis is a single case study that has been conducted through an abductive approach. The research is built on different customer and business partner involvement theories and the triple bottom line theory. Semi-structured interviews have been conducted as primary data collection. Additionally, the data has been supplemented by secondary data in the form of company documents such as sustainability reports. Afterwards, the data has been analysed qualitatively by thematic analysis and by the SDG assessment tool.  Findings – The results have shown that a mixture of smart service tools, stakeholder and customer communication can achieve customers and business partners' involvement in creating a cascading garment flow. Additionally, the findings offer an insight into the potential contribution of the SDG goal achievement, which is showing that the digitalised PSSs involving customers and business partners in the cascading flow can potentially obtain sustainable performance.  Practical implications & Research limitations – The cascading garment flow as the Closed Loop Goal 3 in CE is still a relatively unexplored area. However, the implementation is essential for sustainable performance and development. Therefore, it is suggested that other issues within the cascading garment flow should be investigated. Additionally, this research was mainly districted by the smaller selection of literature of former research, which did not offer much support.

Purpose - The purpose of this study is to explore the challenges that emerge and the capabilities needed when operating within a service network to achieve servitization. In doing so, we provide a contingency framework that presents seven capabilities that mitigate five potential challenges that emerge when operating in a service network, enabling a smoother journey towards servitization. Method - To fulfill the purpose of the study, an explorative single case study research approach has been employed at a Swedish company that acts as an external service facilitator involved in a service network. Consisting of an incumbent OEM firm of consumer durables and construction equipment based in Sweden and its retailers. In total, 22 interviews were conducted in three waves with actors representing the whole network, providing a multi-actor perspective on the network’s operations. These interviews were then analyzed using a thematic analysis. Findings - The study has resulted in seven presented capabilities: Communication, Collaboration, Product and customer knowledge, Adaptability, Leadership, Digitalization, and Innovation. As well as five identified challenges: Implementing a new mindset, Resistance to change, Managing multiple actors, Adopting a new technology, and Identifying the right partners that emerge when operating in a service network. These were then matched in a contingency framework in order to determine the capabilities' proficiency in mitigating each challenge. Theoretical contributions - This study adds to prior literature by applying a multi-actor perspective, highlighting the servitization journey of service networks. We complement current findings by proposing that service network actors, indeed, play a crucial role in a manufacturer's servitization efforts. Furthermore, the study extends prior literature's findings that actors experience different challenges in their servitization efforts depending on their position within the service network. Lastly, we build on prior literature by highlighting important capabilities needed within a service network. Practical contributions - This study contributes to managers' understanding of operating in a service network, which could aid managers to become proactive rather than reactive in their daily operations. Our findings aid managers in being attentive to the five challenges that we have presented, as well as ensuring that the capabilities that can mitigate these are developed within the service network.  Limitations and future research - The study has been conducted as a single case study in the consumer durables industry in the initial stages of servitization. Therefore, future research could benefit from exploring a wider range of industries, collecting a wider set of data to both confirm the identified capabilities and challenges, as well as to finding new ones.

Rural counties in the United States vary drastically on metrics related to socioeconomic status and dominant economic industry as well as health behaviors and outcomes. This study sought to understand the underlying structural reasons why some rural counties have better or worse than expected health outcomes using a positive deviance (PD) approach. The study aimed to: 1) create an area deprivation index and divide counties into quartiles using the index; 2) identify positive, negative, and non-deviant counties using health outcome metrics; 3) analyze differences between deviance on a variety of local public health system metrics; and 4) analyze differences between deviance on a variety of health service system metrics. All data were secondary, with data on public health systems derived from NACCHO’s 2016 National Profile of Local Health Departments (LHDs) and data on healthcare systems derived from HRSA’s 2016-2017 Area Health Resource File. Multivariate analysis, nonparametric analysis, and multinomial logistic regression were conducted. Results indicated that public health systems in positive deviant counties were more likely to have their next year’s budget exceed their current budget compared to negative and non-deviant counties. Public health systems in negative deviant counties had much lower rates of completed community health assessments, community health improvement plans, and strategic plans. LHDs overseen by their local government were 6.20 (p=.001) times more likely to be positive deviant, and negative deviant counties were much less likely (OR=0.12, pp 17.28 physicians per 10,000 population), while negative deviant counties were less likely (OR=.35, pp=.38) compared to non-deviant counties. Future research should continue using the PD approach for population-level studies and seek to understand which components of local public health and healthcare systems are associated with better population health.

Purpose – The purpose of this master thesis was to extend the understanding of the capabilities needed to enable the organizational transformation required throughout the servitization process. This research aims to identify what capabilities for servitization were important for the case company and understand how these capabilities were developed by adopting a dynamic capability perspective. Methodology – This research adopted a single-case study design to collect and analyze in-depth information about the interviewee’s experiences and perceptions about the case company’s servitization process. Findings – This research developed a holistic set of capabilities for servitization which were critical for the case company to enable organizational transformation within the context of product-oriented servitization. Four main capabilities for servitization were uncovered Strategic Alignment, Customer Relationship, PSS Innovation, and PSS Delivery. Moreover, a framework was created dividing the capabilities into higher- and second-order dynamic capabilities, hence explaining the importance of dynamic capabilities for the development of capabilities. Theoretical Implications – This study extended the understanding of capabilities for servitization by mapping them within the context of the case company. This research also displayed the role of high-order dynamic capabilities as the case company’s capacity to transform and manipulate the organization with the purpose to build second-order dynamic capabilities; therefore, denoting a capability hierarchy by which to distinguish between high- and second-order dynamic capabilities within the context of servitization. Managerial Implications – This research provides managers with a comprehensive collection of capabilities to take into consideration when formulating or executing strategy within the context of product-oriented servitization. Additionally, the distinction among high- and second-order dynamic capabilities for servitization may provide servitizating manufacturers with a new approach to map, organize and prioritize capability development based on the understanding of their function and related micro-foundations.

Technological transformations are changing the demands within the transportation industry in terms of services, consequently affecting the value proposition of original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), thus calling for the need for initiatives in servitization. Responding to this, manufacturers are initiating partnerships with external actors to secure resources, competency and similar. However, the topic of this is relatively- unexplored for manufacturers within the heavy-truck industry, contributing to uncertainties regarding the elements needed for partnerships and successful servitization initiatives within this context. Hence, the purpose of this thesis has been to investigate relational changes between actors caused by higher levels of servitization inthe heavy-truck industry. To fulfill this, a case study was conducted with a central focus on two heavy-truck and seven other connected actors OEMs in Sweden. The study has been of qualitative character and utilizes theory concerning ecosystem transformation in conjunction with product-service systems.  The findings underline eight partnership elements crucial for navigating servitization in the heavy-truck industry, with implications for collaborative efforts and in-depth partnerships within the OEM ecosystem. Further, it is argued that these elements have to be considered in the context of transforming the business model for OEMs towards being more service-oriented. Thus, the influences on network tactics are elaborated upon for the business models in the product-service system. Overall, it is concluded that servitization within the heavy-truck industry is necessary for OEMs in order to acquire future competitive advantage parallel to technological transformations, and establishing partnerships is considered to aid in this due to the ever-changing landscape in the transportation industry calling for the need of strategic collaboration efforts. / Utvecklingar inom teknologi förändrar kraven för transportindustrin när det gäller tjänster, vilket påverkar värdeerbjudandet hos så kallade originalutrustningstillverkare (OEM:er), och kräver initiativ för tjänsteutveckling. Som svar på detta inleder tillverkare partnerskap med externa aktörer för att säkra resurser, kompetens och liknande. Detta är dock relativt outforskat gällande tillverkare inom lastbilsindustrin, vilket bidrar till osäkerheter kring vilka delar som behövs för partnerskap och framgångsrik tjänsteutveckling i detta sammanhang. Syftet med detta examensarbete har därför varit att undersöka relationsförändringar mellan aktörer orsakat av högre nivåer av tjänsteutveckling inom lastbilsindustrin. För att uppfylla detta genomfördes en fallstudie med centralt fokus på två svenska lastbilstillverkare och sju andra aktörer med kopplingar till dessa. För att uppfylla detta genomfördes en fallstudie med centralt fokus på två tunga lastbilar och sju andra anslutna aktörer till dessa OEM:er i Sverige. Studien har varit av kvalitativ karaktär och använder teori om ekosystems-transformation i samband med produkt-tjänstesystem.  Resultaten understryker vikten av åtta partnerskapselement som har identifierats som kritiska för att navigera tjänsteutvecklingen inom lastbilsindustrin, och alla ger implikationer för kollaborativa aktiviteter och djupgående partnerskap inom ett OEM-ekosystem. Vidare argumenteras det att dessa element måste beaktas i sammanhanget för att transformera OEM:ernas affärsmodeller mot att bli mer tjänsteorienterade. Fortsättningsvis så diskuteras dessa elements påverkan på nätverksstrategier i produkttjänstesystem. Sammanfattningsvis så dras slutsatsen att tjänsteutveckling inom lastbilsindustrin är viktigt för OEM:erna för att få framtida konkurrensfördelar i en miljö kantad av teknologiska transformationer. Detta ständigt föränderliga landskapet beaktas behöva kollaborativa insatser och slutsatsen dras att etablering av partnerskap hjälper i detta.