The levels of income and employment rates of people with disabilities are often lower than those without them. An effective way to free disabled people from these circumstances would be to design proper job accommodation for them. Ordinarily, physical conditions severely restrict their ability to carry out their work efficiently unless they have are provided with appropriately designed assistive technology (AT). However, due to the physical conditions unique to each disabled person, understanding the requirements of a disabled person is often a challenge to an AT designer. The aims of this research were to develop a design model for an empathy tool that would assist in the process of designing AT for job accommodation, and to explore the relationship between the use of empathy tools and the improvement of design elements in job accommodation AT. The design models employed were developed by analysing interviews with AT users and examining the results of observations and a literature review. The model was then used to build an empathy tool to be used in designing job accommodation AT for a selected subject; the empathy tools were used in a series of assessments of designer users. The results show that, when compared with tools used in traditional design briefs, empathy tools can successfully help designers to improve design elements in terms, respectively, of their understanding of users' physical abilities (22 per cent), work requirements (26.6 per cent), ergonomic requirements (22.8 per cent), and environment characteristics (21.4 per cent). Meanwhile, it is difficult for the tool to improve upon other design elements, about which one must learn by gaining design experience.

Printed electronics (PE) is a disruptive but growing technology that is beginning to integrate its way into viable applications for product design. However, the potential for future impact of the technology on product design and the designer s role and contribution to this has yet to be established. Interest is increasing in the potential for product designers to explore and exploit this technology. Technologies can be seen as being disruptive from both a business, and an adoption point of view. For a business, changing from one technology to another or incorporating a new technology and its production processes can be difficult if they already have their suppliers established and existing relationships in place. Understanding and adopting a new technology can be challenging for a business and individuals working within an established industry as it can cause many questions to be raised around its performance, and direct comparison with the technology they already have in place. However, there have been many technologies that could be seen as disruptive in the past, as they offered an alternative way of working or method of manufacture, such as Bluetooth, 3D printing, and automation (manufacturing/assembly/finishing), etc., and their success has been dictated by individual s perception and adoption of the technology, with their ability to see the worth and potential in the technology. Cost comparison is also an important aspect for a business to consider when choosing whether to change to a new technology or to remain with their existing technology, as changing can disrupt the manufacturing line assembly of a product, and direct cost comparisons of components themselves, such as the cost of buying silicon components in bulk verses printing the components. The new technology needs to offer something different to a product to be worth implementing it in a product, such as its flexible form or lightweight properties of printed electronics being of benefit to the product over what a silicon electronic component/circuit could offer (restricted to rigid circuit boards), the functionality/performance of the components themselves also need to be considered. Performance, availability and maturity of the technology are some of the essential aspects to consider when incorporating a new technology into a product and these can be evaluated using a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) scale. Interest in the stage of development for a technology lies not only with designers; industry and academia also contribute to knowledge by playing a central role in the process of determining a TRL scale that is universally recognised. However, a TRL separation issue occurs between academia (often the technology only reaching an experimental proof of concept stage, a lower number on the TRL scale indicating that the technology is at an early stage of development) and industry (not considering technology for commercialisation until it reaches a stage where there is a demonstration of pre-production capability validated on economic runs, a much higher number on the TRL scale - indicating that the technology is at a much more advanced stage of development). The aim of this doctoral research was to explore the contribution of PE to product design. The researcher experienced the scientific development of the technology first-hand, and undertook a literature review that covered three main topics: 1) printed electronics (the technology itself), 2) impact (approaches to assessing impact and methods of judging new technology) because together they will identify the state of the art of printed electronics technology, and 3) education - educational theories/methods for designers - studying how designers learn, explore different methods in educating them about new technologies, and start to find appropriate methods for educating them about printed electronics technology. A knowledge framework for PE technology was generated and utilised to produce a taxonomy and TRL scale for PE and confirmed by PE expert interview. Existing case studies in which PE technology had been presented to student designers were investigated through interviews with participants from academia and industry to solicit perception and opinions on approaches for the effective communication of PE knowledge to student designers within an educational environment. The findings were interpreted using thematic analysis and, after comparing the data, three main themes identified: technical constraints, designer s perspective, and what a designer is required to do. The findings from the research were combined to create an educational approach for knowledge transfer aimed specifically at meeting the needs of product designers. This resulted in the need for PE technology to be translated into both a visual and written format to create structure and direct links between the technological elements and their form and function in order to facilitate understanding by designers. Conclusions from the research indicate that the translation of this technology into an appropriate design language will equip designers with accessible fundamental knowledge on PE technology (i.e. electrical components: form, function, and area of the technology), which will allow informed decisions to be made about how PE can be used and to utilise its benefits in the design of products. The capabilities and properties of this technology, when paired with product design practice, has the capacity to transform the designs of future products in terms of form/functionality and prevailing/views towards design approaches with electronics. If exposed to a variety of PE elements ranging across different TRLs, designers have the capacity to bridge the TRL separation issue (the gap between academia and industry) through their ability to create design solutions for an end user and provide a commercial application for the technology.

The current study attempted to examine the roles of product functions and form in consumers¡¦ mind when they encounter a new product with state-of-the-art technology. Also, the study tried to explore and understand the moderating effects of consumption schema and using situations on technology acceptance. The research picked e-book reader as the experimental product, while used qualitative research method with phenomenological approach. There were 12 key informants participating separately in the in-depth interviews. Eleven of them are foreign graduate students in the NSYSU. The phenomenological one-to-one interviews were conducted in three phases in different days and with particular aspects of technology acceptance, that is, reading schema, technology beliefs, responses to e-book reader, and the using situations. Findings of the study revealed that positive beliefs and affective connection with the product emerge once consumers find the conformity between product functions, form and their reading schema expectations. Regarding specific situations, consumers have certain goals to be fulfilled. Questions in the survey scale of acceptance confirmed people¡¦s adoption when they see the products meet their goals.

This research investigates the role of product design on technology switching in the context of a capital-intensive product. I focus on switching rather than on new sales because switching is the primary means of changing market share in nearly mature markets. Further, the dominant logic ??? is that, because of switching costs and the related consequences, incumbents have a strong advantage when upgrading or replacing equipment. However, the literature on lead users suggests that those users at the cutting-edge are willing to meet the costs of changing technology because they have the capabilities needed to leverage significant advantages from the new technology. The extant literature on switching focuses primarily on consumers in highly competitive markets. There is little understanding of the antecedents of switching in business markets, especially in markets for capital-intensive technology-based products. This research investigates the influence of product design on switching behavior for capital-intensive high technology products, where buyers are faced with numerous implications and significant costs at each step of the process. The switching behavior for capital-intensive products has not been studied previously; because of this deficiency, we do not know the consequences for theory, that is, how different theoretical assumptions will contribute to the final decision to switch, or for managerial practice, that is, the kind of strategies managers should follow to retain existing buyers under such conditions. Previous literature did not explore explicitly the concept of product design as an influence on switching, because satisfaction and switching cost were widely used as determinants of switching decisions in competitive markets. This gap in knowledge is due to the difficulty in identifying a method that would allow one to differentiate among the products??? performance and how the difference would impact consumers??? objectives. It is also difficult for researchers to define the characteristics of high technology products that make certain products more attractive on the market than others, without substantial assistance from experts in particular products. These conditions create a barrier to investigating switching behavior for high technology products. This research is positioned in the overlapping area between product design and switching behavior. The linkage between these two bodies of literature has never been explored. The research answers two important questions: (1) what are the antecedents of technology switching in a context where there are considerable costs?, and (2) does product design encourage technology switching behavior? Dynamic capabilities theory is used to explain this research, because the decision to switch an old technology for a new one in rapidly changing technology markets is about renewing resources and capabilities to maintain competitive advantages. This research is conducted in the context of the Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) industry as a case study. Considerable switching has occurred in this industry over the last decade, resulting in this industry offering a good opportunity to investigate the reasons why. The market is divided into different segments based on the region and the health care system. I selected the university hospitals segment, MRI research centers, to conduct this research study, because it is feasible to track the technology switching process for this segment over time and because this segment???s market is nearly mature. Data were collected from multiple sources including personal interviews, online surveys, annual conference database, product technical reports, and patent data. In this study, the independent variable is product design and other variables related to switching costs and marketing strategies. The dependent variable is switching behavior, which has two values: (1) ???switched,??? defined as purchasing a new technology from a different supplier, and (2) ???not switched,??? defined as repurchasing from the same supplier. After collecting surveys from decision makers who purchased MRI technology, I use logistic regression analysis to test the hypothesis that the product design has a direct impact on the switching decision of capital-intensive products. Research findings have shown that buyers are willing to switch to a different technology in spite of high associated costs, particularly when they are faced with a product that restricts their capabilities. Product design represents the most influential factor underpinning switching, because it provides more capabilities that motivate switching. Notwithstanding the fact that moving to a new supplier imposes significant challenges, including technology and relationship incompatibility, findings confirm that this distinction in product capabilities has induced some MRI buyers to move to a new supplier in order to maintain a competitive market position. The findings also confirm that support during the transition process can be achieved through marketing strategies. The findings of this research clarify our understanding of the switching behavior of capital-intensive products where successful product design is expected to play a significant role. This behavior is expected to be different from the behavior identified in previous research, because the previous research was conducted using mainly competitive markets with frequently purchased products. For lead users faced with products that restrict their capabilities, switching is an expected option despite high switching costs. Those early switchers, having capitalized on the real value of the new product, serve to encourage other users to pursue the same behavior later. The outcomes from this MRI study ??? as one example of a high technology device ??? could be applied to the different industries that share the same characteristics in terms of high rates of technological change and high switching costs, for example, military devices, aircrafts, and advanced medical and industrial devices.

A literatura sobre métodos de mapeamento de tecnologia tem como foco a aplicação em empresas que orientam a inovação para mercados e produtos previamente determinados, adotando a estratégia market pull de integração tecnologia-produto. Organizações de pesquisa, como institutos e laboratórios independentes, também necessitam de métodos similares, entretanto, nelas predomina-se a estratégia technology push, com inovações orientadas por descobertas científicas. Aplicações de métodos de mapeamento para esse tipo de estratégia são pouco analisadas pela literatura. Os métodos atualmente existentes carecem ainda da sistematização na incorporação de parcerias no processo de inovação, conforme tendência ditada pelo paradigma da inovação aberta. Revisões de literatura sustentam as duas afirmativas, evidenciando a lacuna na teoria. Empregou-se uma pesquisa-ação, realizada durante um ano junto a um laboratório de pesquisas, pertencente a um instituto de pesquisa brasileiro com cerca de 40 anos. O resultado da tese se constitui em um método de mapeamento de tecnologia, considerando a adoção de parcerias e específico para a estratégia technology push de integração. Identificado como MTP, o método preenche as lacunas apresentadas. Seus diferenciais são a inicialização a partir de uma idéia ou oportunidade de tecnologia, um processo para escolha de mercados potenciais e uma sistemática para identificação e planejamento de parcerias. O método foi avaliado sobre dois aspectos: o diferencial e ineditismo frente aos métodos propostos na literatura, e em relação à percepção de usuários sobre a sua viabilidade de aplicação na organização estudada. A primeira avaliação foi realizada através de uma revisão bibliográfica final para a comparação teórica do método com similares disponíveis na literatura. A segunda avaliação foi realizada junto a um grupo de onze pesquisadores pertencentes à organização, que responderam a um questionário previamente estruturado com questões sobre a viabilidade de operacionalização do método. Os resultados das análises indicam o caráter inédito do MTP e a possibilidade de aplicação na organização. Sugerem-se aplicações do método em mais organizações no sentido de aprimorá-lo e validá-lo, possibilitando sua ampla utilização por organizações que apresentem uma estratégia technology push de integração tecnologia-produto e adotem parcerias. / The literature about technology roadmapping method presents a focus to enterprises, which has it innovation process oriented to the market and product predetermined, using the market pull strategy to technology-product integration. The research organizations, like institutes and independent laboratory, also need similar methods, however they have predominance to technology push strategy to integration, with their innovation process oriented to the scientific discovery. The application of mapping method to this kind of strategy has little analysis by the literature. The existing methods presents a lack to systematize the partnership at the innovation process, trend dictated by the open innovation paradigm. Literature reviews support these affirmations, evidencing the lack in the theory. The results of reviews were applied in an action research, conducted during one year in a research laboratory, belonging to a Brazilian research institute with nearly 40 year old. The results of this thesis are a method to technology roadmapping, considering the partnership adoption and specific to the technology push strategy. Identified as MTP, the method fills the gaps presented. Is differentials is the starting from an idea or technology opportunity, a process to choose potentials markets and a systematic to identify and plan partnerships. The method was assessing from two aspects: the differential and originality comparing to another methods proposes at the literature, and related to perception of users about is application feasibility at the organization analyzed. The first evaluation was made by a final bibliographic review to theory comparing the MTP with another ones available at literature. The second one was made at a group with eleven researches from the organization, which answered a structured questionnaire previously with questions related the method operation feasibility. The results of these analyses show the unprecedented nature of the MTP and the application possibility at the organization. Application of this method are suggested in most organizations to improve it and validate it among the scientific community, making possible its utilization from organizations which presents a technology push integration strategy and adopt partnerships.

A literatura sobre métodos de mapeamento de tecnologia tem como foco a aplicação em empresas que orientam a inovação para mercados e produtos previamente determinados, adotando a estratégia market pull de integração tecnologia-produto. Organizações de pesquisa, como institutos e laboratórios independentes, também necessitam de métodos similares, entretanto, nelas predomina-se a estratégia technology push, com inovações orientadas por descobertas científicas. Aplicações de métodos de mapeamento para esse tipo de estratégia são pouco analisadas pela literatura. Os métodos atualmente existentes carecem ainda da sistematização na incorporação de parcerias no processo de inovação, conforme tendência ditada pelo paradigma da inovação aberta. Revisões de literatura sustentam as duas afirmativas, evidenciando a lacuna na teoria. Empregou-se uma pesquisa-ação, realizada durante um ano junto a um laboratório de pesquisas, pertencente a um instituto de pesquisa brasileiro com cerca de 40 anos. O resultado da tese se constitui em um método de mapeamento de tecnologia, considerando a adoção de parcerias e específico para a estratégia technology push de integração. Identificado como MTP, o método preenche as lacunas apresentadas. Seus diferenciais são a inicialização a partir de uma idéia ou oportunidade de tecnologia, um processo para escolha de mercados potenciais e uma sistemática para identificação e planejamento de parcerias. O método foi avaliado sobre dois aspectos: o diferencial e ineditismo frente aos métodos propostos na literatura, e em relação à percepção de usuários sobre a sua viabilidade de aplicação na organização estudada. A primeira avaliação foi realizada através de uma revisão bibliográfica final para a comparação teórica do método com similares disponíveis na literatura. A segunda avaliação foi realizada junto a um grupo de onze pesquisadores pertencentes à organização, que responderam a um questionário previamente estruturado com questões sobre a viabilidade de operacionalização do método. Os resultados das análises indicam o caráter inédito do MTP e a possibilidade de aplicação na organização. Sugerem-se aplicações do método em mais organizações no sentido de aprimorá-lo e validá-lo, possibilitando sua ampla utilização por organizações que apresentem uma estratégia technology push de integração tecnologia-produto e adotem parcerias. / The literature about technology roadmapping method presents a focus to enterprises, which has it innovation process oriented to the market and product predetermined, using the market pull strategy to technology-product integration. The research organizations, like institutes and independent laboratory, also need similar methods, however they have predominance to technology push strategy to integration, with their innovation process oriented to the scientific discovery. The application of mapping method to this kind of strategy has little analysis by the literature. The existing methods presents a lack to systematize the partnership at the innovation process, trend dictated by the open innovation paradigm. Literature reviews support these affirmations, evidencing the lack in the theory. The results of reviews were applied in an action research, conducted during one year in a research laboratory, belonging to a Brazilian research institute with nearly 40 year old. The results of this thesis are a method to technology roadmapping, considering the partnership adoption and specific to the technology push strategy. Identified as MTP, the method fills the gaps presented. Is differentials is the starting from an idea or technology opportunity, a process to choose potentials markets and a systematic to identify and plan partnerships. The method was assessing from two aspects: the differential and originality comparing to another methods proposes at the literature, and related to perception of users about is application feasibility at the organization analyzed. The first evaluation was made by a final bibliographic review to theory comparing the MTP with another ones available at literature. The second one was made at a group with eleven researches from the organization, which answered a structured questionnaire previously with questions related the method operation feasibility. The results of these analyses show the unprecedented nature of the MTP and the application possibility at the organization. Application of this method are suggested in most organizations to improve it and validate it among the scientific community, making possible its utilization from organizations which presents a technology push integration strategy and adopt partnerships.

Context: At the core of choosing what features and level of quality to realize, and thus offer a market or customer, rests on the ability to take decisions. Decision-making is complicated by the diverse understanding of issues such as priority, consequence of realization, and interpretations of strategy as pertaining to the short-term and long-term development of software intensive products. The complexity is further compounded by the amount of decision support material that has to be taken into account, and the sheer volume of possible alternatives that have to be triaged and prioritized; thousands or even tens of thousands of requirements can be the reality facing a company. There is a need to develop the functionality that is strategically most significant, while satisfying customers and being competitive, time efficient, cost effective, and risk minimizing. In order to achieve a balance between these factors, all the stakeholders, within an organization, need to agree on the strategic aspects and value considerations to be considered, and their corresponding relative importance. Objective: The objective of this thesis is to provide enhanced decision support for product managers faced with decision-making challenges. This involves, but is not limited to, enhancing the alignment between the product and portfolio management with respect to product strategies, and enabling the use of value as a basis for product management and development related decisions. Method: A number of empirical studies, set in industry, have been performed. The research methods used span from systematic mapping, and systematic reviews to case studies, all aligned to identify possibilities for improvement, devise solutions, and incrementally evaluate said solutions. Close collaboration with industry partners was at the core of the research presented in this thesis. Result: The MASS method presented in this thesis can be used to evaluate strategic alignment and identify possible root causes for misalignment. To strengthen strategic alignment, the Software Value Map and corresponding decision support material, proposed in the thesis, can be used by product managers for making effective and efficient strategic decisions in relation to portfolios, products and process improvement, following a systematic and aligned process. Conclusions: The area of software product management, in the context of market-driven software intensive product development, is a field with unique challenges. The specifics of the solutions are based on industry case studies performed to gauge state-of-the-art, as well as identify the main challenges. The decision support developed takes the form of maps and frameworks that support software product management on product and portfolio level decisions, strategic alignment, value-based requirements selection, and value-based process improvement.

文化創意產業已成為當今世界各國經濟發展的重要課題，行政院也界定出科技與文化雙主軸的發展策略。根據文建會文化白皮書中指出台灣十三項文化創意項目中，工藝產業發展最具傳統文化價值及突顯地方傳統特色。台灣資訊科技產業發達但如何結合文化創意，以開創新的市場商機便成為本研究主要動機。　 　　本研究主要探討科技商品結合文化創意並運用水平行銷來開創新市場，並透過未來的行銷概念，提供未來進入文化創意產業者一個實用的行銷策略。針對選取個案，採深度訪談法，輔以次級資料蒐集與分析以瞭解運用水平行銷的觀點，分析文化創意與科技產品結合的產品重新定位策略並運用行銷3.0模式，提供新產品與新市場之行銷策略。根據分析結果有以下發現： 　　運用水平行銷法可產生以下效益：1. 創造新市場。2. 新商品價值。3. 新行銷運作模式。而文化商品行銷策略特別在以下幾點更要注重未來的溝通方式。1. 人性行銷：包括品牌認同、品牌誠信與品牌形象。2. 共同創作。3.選擇相互契合的通路夥伴。 / Cultural and creative industries have become worldwide economic development focus, and the Executive Yuan has also formulated a strategy for developing the industry both in technology and culture aspects. According to the 13 cultural and creative industries listed in the White Paper on Cultural Affairs from the Council for Cultural Affairs, the development of the craft industry is most valuable culturally and can highlight local traditions. The Taiwan IT industry has been mature, and the purpose of this research is how to incorporate cultural creativity to create new market opportunities. This research focuses on the integration of technology products and cultural creativity with lateral marketing to create new markets, and on the applications of future marketing ideas to provide practical marketing strategy for any potential cultural and creative industry businesses. This research exercises in-depth interview for selected cases in combination with the collection and analysis of secondary information to gain an insight into lateral marketing. The purpose is to provide new products and new marketing strategy by analyzing the incorporation of cultural creativity into technological products, re-positioning strategy and utilizing Marketing 3.0. The research findings include the followings: The lateral marketing yields the following benefits: 1) creating new markets, 2) new product value, and 3) new marketing models. Besides, the marketing strategy of cultural product should emphasize the following points to improve future marketing communication: 1) human-based marketing: brand recognition, brand integrity, and brand image, 2) cooperative creation, and 3) selecting suitable channel partner.

This thesis describes corporate greening in general, and specifically the environmental technology (ET) sector as a green sector. The thesis has also particular focus on production and products related aspects and the influence of the environmental profile of the ET sector on the environmental engagement of companies in the sector. The study is based on a questionnaire-based survey, online surveys and on semi-structured open-ended interviews. The organizations within the ET sector were identified using existing platforms within this sector: Sustainability Sweden and Swentec. The results show that not all companies and industry associations in the ET sector clearly distinguish between product and production related environmental aspects. Furthermore, the product related environmental profile, which constitutes the legitimacy for the sector, can influence companies’ environmental strategy, not only positively but also negatively. The results from the survey on Global Supersector Leaders 2009/2010 in Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes (DJSI) show that all companies are aware of production and product related environmental issues. Based on results from this survey a model of corporate environmental profile consisting of product and production oriented activities as well as initiatives that go beyond the core business operations is proposed. These initiatives can be divided into two groups: environmental education and environmental projects and sponsorship. This thesis proposes products and production related impacts and environmental activities as bases for defining corporate environmental profiles, corporate greening, and for defining ‘green’ and ‘green-green’ business as well as environmental leaders. The distinction between product and production related environmental initiatives as well as the other dimensions of the proposed model in this thesis can support companies in their communication of environmental performance and environmental activities.  Furthermore, ‘competitive advantage’, ‘environmental responsibility’ and ‘environmental leadership’ should motivate companies within the ET sector to be ‘vocal’ green-green firms.