Assembling infrastructures and business models for service design and innovation

Most of the service innovation in e‐government initiatives has been initially focused on making a digital version of an equivalent physical service, followed by creating new services through either adopting new business models or overhauling existing infrastructures. The former approach uses variants of e‐commerce business models to drive service innovation whereas the latter entails changes to the backend for driving system efficiency and integration, which later serve for reorganising and improving service provision. Each approach presents a different way of assembling services, infrastructures, people and business models. The ramifications of each assemblage to service innovation are less understood. This paper seeks to examine the intended and unintended consequences of these two contrasting approaches inductively and deductively. Our findings show that a frontend approach enables quick improvements and enacts a variety of structures, with each structure inscribing a set of new path‐dependent routines in the infrastructures. In the backend approach it took longer to introduce new services. Yet the services were of a higher quality and required less modification in the long run. Quantitative analyses confirmed these findings. We attributed the alignment advantage of backend approach to better interdepartmental collaboration organised around a technology platform for system and service integration, concentrating resources on a coherent rather than a diverse set of business models. This approach realigns practices and routines and technology internally, whereas the explorative, diverse use of business models in the frontend approach for service innovation is less sustainable.     

支持异常处理的迁移工作流服务方法研究

迁移工作流是迁移实例借助工作位置服务就地执行任务的移动计算模式,如何保证工作位置为迁移实例提供可靠的工作流服务,是迁移工作流管理系统设计中必须解决的一个关键问题。提出了一种基于案例推理的工作流服务方法,它利用服务案例支持迁移实例的正常工作,利用异常案例支持任务的异常处理。实验用例表明,该方法可以大大增强系统处理工作流服务异常的能力。     

An object-oriented database management system for computer-aided design of tall buildings

An effective database and database management system is the key to the success of an integrated approach to software engineering applications in general, and Computer-Aided Design (CAD) for structural applications in particular. Due to the inherent nature of CAD data such as dynamic modeling, a wide range of data types, large data volume, etc., the traditional database models, such as hierarchical, network and relational models, are unable to handle the aforementioned applications satisfactorily. An object-oriented data modeling is known to be the most effective approach. However, many of the commercial object-oriented databases are designed for information management, and they are inadequate for CAD application due to the different features of the object-hierarchy and varying data management objectives during the design cycles. This paper presents a hierarchical index-based object-oriented database management model for CAD applications. To deal with the object hierarchy encountered in CAD for the design of tall buildings, the proposed database consists of several salient features: a hierarchical object model, its related storage structure, a data dictionary, a class factory and an index system. The proposed database management model has been implemented into an integrated CAD system for design application of tall buildings.     

Towards computer-aided configuration design for the life cycle

In modern design, life-cycle concerns such as recycling and service are receiving increased attention. The configuration design phase, where the product and component structure is established, is of particular importance when designing for the life cycle. In this paper, the foundation for a CAD system supporting configuration design for the life cycle is presented. A prototypical CAD system, called CODA (Configuration Design of Assemblies), is under development based on this foundation. A discussion on the supported product and component representation is given, followed by a portrayal of some of the capabilities to support life-cycle design. Specifically, requirements are identified for the information needed to support design for assembly, disassembly, service, recycling, and reuse. A case study involving the (re)design of a hand-held tape recorder with respect to improved disassemblability and recyclability is utilized to highlight some of the capabilities of the current system. With the new product and component representation embodied in CODA, improved support over current CAD systems is provided for configuration design and life-cycle design assessments.     

Service design for intelligent parking based on theory of inventive problem solving and service blueprint

This study refines a structural service design stages based on the Theory of Inventive Problem Solving (TRIZ) and the service blueprint approach. This study uses the case study of intelligent parking services with the mobile application technology and vehicle license plate recognition system in a high-end shopping mall. In the problem definition stage, the research analyzes the enterprise problem. In the service resolution stage, the TRIZ contradiction analysis and the service blueprint of the parking service as it existed is depicted from the principles of problem resolution. In the solution evaluation stage, new intelligent parking mobile applications (apps) are proposed following the principles generated in the second stage. Furthermore, the failure points and waiting points in the prior service blueprint are overcome and the new service performance is significantly improved. It contributes to enriching the service design literature, and extends the range of TRIZ applications for future parking technology.     

A structural service innovation approach for designing smart product service systems: Case study of smart beauty service

Smart Product-service systems (PSS) are the emerging type of PSS that offer market value and dynamic intelligence combining products and services as solutions to consumers based on digital technology. To design a smart PSS with an effective way, a structural design approach is required. Nevertheless, only a few existing researchers discussed this topic. Aiming to bridge this gap, an integrated way is proposed for smart PSS design. This study refines a generic approach for structural service innovation approach which integrates the advantage of PSS engineering and service engineering for designing smart product service systems. The structural design approach is based on the Theory of Inventive Problem Solving (TRIZ) incorporating with service blueprint named PRR method. Three design phases are demonstrated as verification of the PRR method by an elaborated case study of the smart beauty service. Based on PRR, three key design phases are integrated, i.e., (1) problem definition, (2) resolution generation, and (3) resolution design. Empirical results and implications are collected and discussed to obtain valuable insights for value creation.     

Computer-aided embodiment design through the hybridization of mono objective optimizations for efficient innovation process

Current product lifecycle management (PLM) systems properly support the development of a product from the embodiment design stage to detail design and manufacturing phases; on the contrary, marginal support is provided to the earliest stages of conceptual design. Besides, the front end of product development is supported by an emerging technology, namely computer-aided innovation systems (CAI), which nevertheless are still poorly integrated with the following phases of the design process. The paper presents an original computer-based approach aimed at supporting embodiment design phases, which results very efficient for improving the interoperability of CAI and PLM systems and thus at extending the domain of application of these tools. The potential of the approach proposed by the authors is clarified through three exemplary case studies.     

A symbolic system for computer-aided development of surface interpolants

The design and implementation of a symbolic input end computation package and its application to the development of several new surface interpolation schemes are described. Capabilities such as the composition of operators and symbolic differentiation have been incorporated into the system. This allows, in particular, the specification of Boolean sum projectors. The new schemes which have been implemented include an interpolant to randomly spaced data and a 'shape operator1 which has quadratic precision.     

A review and analysis of current computer-aided fixture design approaches

A key characteristic of the modern market place is the consumer demand for variety. To respond effectively to this demand, manufacturers need to ensure that their manufacturing practices are sufficiently flexible to allow them to achieve rapid product development. Fixturing, which involves using fixtures to secure workpieces during machining so that they can be transformed into parts that meet required design specifications, is a significant contributing factor towards achieving manufacturing flexibility. To enable flexible fixturing, considerable levels of research effort have been devoted to supporting the process of fixture design through the development of computer-aided fixture design (CAFD) tools and approaches. This paper contains a review of these research efforts. Over seventy-five CAFD tools and approaches are reviewed in terms of the fixture design phases they support and the underlying technology upon which they are based. The primary conclusion of the review is that while significant advances have been made in supporting fixture design, there are primarily two research issues that require further effort. The first of these is that current CAFD research is segmented in nature and there remains a need to provide more cohesive fixture design support. Secondly, a greater focus is required on supporting the detailed design of a fixture's physical structure.     

Web服务设计时系统的研究与实现

Web服务技术为异构应用之间的集成和互操作提供了有效的解决手段,目前多数的Web服务应用支撑平台没有提供一个集成的设计时系统的支持。提出并研制了一个集成的Web服务设计时系统,为多种异构的服务实现体包装成Web服务提供了支持,设计时系统最终会生成运行时系统需要的部署文件。     

A multiple server location–allocation model for service system design

Service systems are endemic in a service economy, and effective system design is fundamental to the competitiveness of service organizations such as retailers, distributors, and healthcare providers. This is because system design may significantly facilitate (or hinder) the attainment of important organizational objectives such as minimizing system cost and maximizing service level. This paper develops and solves a comprehensive nonlinear location–allocation model for service system design that incorporates several relevant costs and considerations. These include, for instance, transportation, facility, and waiting costs, queuing considerations, multiple servers, multiple order priority levels, multiple service sites, and service distance limits. The model is first converted to an equivalent linear form and then solved using Lagrangian relaxation. A computational study shows problems with 250 service districts, 60 service sites, and 250 candidate locations are solved in about two and a half minutes. An extensive managerial experiment is conducted that evaluates alternative system designs from a number of important perspectives including centralization versus decentralization, system configuration, and service distance limit. Each scenario is evaluated with respect to two fundamental criteria, namely, total cost and service level. The analysis provides insights into important tradeoffs that must be taken into consideration in designing an effective service system.     

基于本体的服务网络平台及其构建方法

在基于语义关系的大规模Web服务组织结构：服务网络模型的基础上,构建了服务网络系统平台。提供了对Web服务和服务关系的描述,使得Web服务的自动化处理成为可能。设计了可动态优化的服务网络系统内核,实现了服务网络的数据存储、网络优化和关系挖掘;设计和实现了系统创建维护工具、系统服务增长工具、可视化工具等一整套核心工具;给出了服务关系构成建的基本方法和流程,完善了网络结构。最后,一些基于服务网络的应用证明了该系统的有效性和广泛适用性。     

Web Service并发系统的设计与研究

由于Internet的发展和大规模应用需求的不断涌现,单个甚至多个WebServices也往往不能很好地满足一些复杂的应用.提出了WebService并发系统的设想.在实现技术上,通过划分小粒度服务,对小粒度服务的调用和整合,最后通过WebService并发总线控制实现WebService的并发系统.从而提高服务的速度和效率,充分利用资源并保证负载平衡.该模型对于改造和开发企业级Web Service有一定的适应性.     

Modularized design-oriented systematic inventive thinking approach supporting collaborative service innovations

The rapid evolution of new service systems raises crucial challenges for service design and requires effective methods. This study depicts a conceptual service design framework, called design-oriented systematic inventive thinking (DSIT) approach, which can be applied in different problem contexts. DSIT is presented as a new systematic and collaborative intelligence approach for creating and evaluating complex service systems using multi-criteria data analytics. DSIT synthesizes the current field of TRIZ service-design knowledge system and the emerging area of non-TRIZ service-design knowledge system. DSIT enables integrated development of service offerings at four dimensions and provides the matching integrated service design approach for each dimension. Four types of service design approaches are conceptualized as “human-independent service engineering,” “problem-clarified service engineering,” “solution-converged service engineering,” and “designing for service.” A new service computer-aided design system (service CAD) named DSIT explorer is developed consisting of customization, compatibility, and extensiveness of DSIT modules. A pervasive and smart collaborative service system (i.e., the smart MOS burger service solution) designed using DSIT explorer is illustrated. DSIT is a holistic, interdisciplinary, and collaborative service design concept, which is incorporated into a collaborative and intelligent service CAD framework to enable systematic inventive thinking throughout phases of service design lifecycle from problem definition, problem resolution, to solution evaluation.     

Using a hybrid method to evaluate service innovation in the hotel industry

This study develops a hybrid method to improve selection decision making in service innovation. Because criteria for customer perceptions tend to be vague and conflicting, the process of evaluating perceptions (qualitative scale) and operational data (quantitative scale) should be combined. This study proposes the concomitant evaluation of qualitative and quantitative scales using a hybrid approach that combines fuzzy set theory, a discrete multi-criteria method based on prospect theory (known as TODIM in Portuguese) and the non-addictive Choquet integral. The study assumes that the criteria possess interdependent relationships. The advantages of the proposed hybrid approach, which exhibits a hierarchical structure, have been demonstrated throughout the hot spring hotel industry. The proposed method demonstrates that it can be extremely useful for recommending operational alternatives because it clearly identifies the main criteria of the expressed alternatives. The results indicate that the approach easily and effectively accommodates criteria with gain and loss functions and can help practitioners improve their performance and reduce overall service innovation risks.     

Service design as an innovation approach in technology startups: a longitudinal multiple case study

While service design has been accepted as a human‐centered and cocreative approach to service innovation, its role in technology‐driven contexts, specifically technology startups, has been largely unexplored. Previous research suggests that technology startups tend to focus on technical aspects of innovation, neglecting the value cocreation potential of service innovation that service design can facilitate. Focusing on value propositions as the main mechanisms of service innovation, this study explores how service design facilitates service innovation in technology startups. This longitudinal study examines the opportunities and challenges of introducing service design for the purpose of service innovation in five technology startups over a period of 11 months. Results reveal how service design facilitates the creation of new value propositions that expand the previous technology‐driven focus towards a human‐centered and cocreative one. Additionally, findings suggest that there are two levels of how service design becomes embedded in technology startups that are contingent on their life cycle stage. This contributes to the service innovation literature that views innovation as development of new value propositions and describes the key role of service design. The study also discusses managerial implications of the findings for technology startups and service designers and provides directions for future research.     

用均匀设计法生成Web服务的测试数据

针对应用等价类划分和边界值分析方法测试Web服务时面临组合策略的选择问题,分析正交试验设计法、全组合法、均匀试验设计法和扩展均匀试验设计法生成Web服务的测试数据集的测试效果;提出扩展均匀试验设计法生成测试数据集;据此实现一个生成Web服务的测试数据集的原型工具。