MT2573 - Transformative Product-service System Innovation

1. Descision

This course is established by Dean 2021-01-07. The course syllabus is approved by Head of Department of Mechanical Engineering 2025-03-05 and applies from 2025-03-05.

2. Entry requirements

Admission to the course requires 180 passed credits, of which 80 credits is from an MSc Engineering Program in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Management and Engineering, or equivalent, including completed course product development methodology (Design Thinking 7,5 credits, Systems Engineering 7,5 credits Value Innovation 7,5 credits or equivalent).

3. Objective and content

3.1 Objective

The objective of the course is for students to gain an understanding of how different solutions are developed in the industry today by applying and integrating knowledge needed for future product and service system innovations (PSS innovation). Students gain proficiency in project management, creative concept development, systems thinking for sustainability, and technical solutions.

The course focuses on implementing product/service development with sustainability and innovation in focus. The purpose of the course is for students to acquire, apply and integrate the core of knowledge to develop sustainable PSS solutions, in close collaboration with the business community. By carrying out reality-based projects, the student gets the chance to apply the acquired theoretical foundation in a real environment and reflect on it. The experiences give the students good qualifications to enter working life.

3.2 Content

Application of:

Team collaboration, including leadership
Innovation engineering
Needfinding
Retrieval of benchmarking information
Creative concept generation and concept evaluation
Systems design
Simulation-driven design
Prototyping
Solution validation and testing
Business models for innovation

4. Learning outcomes

The following learning outcomes are examined in the course:

4.1. Knowledge and understanding

describe and analyse how products and product-service-system (PSS) solutions are developed

4.2. Competence and skills

conduct Needfinding
acquire and integrate theory and practice, taking into account the application area's conditions
develop and analyse conceptual solutions
develop and analyse prototypes
develop and analyse innovative product-/service-system (PSS) solutions
use simulation-driven design tools in applied situations
develop a visual business model as complement to a product- or product-service-system (PSS)-solution
verbally and in writing describe and reflect on their findings and conclusions - in dialogue with other students

4.3. Judgement and approach

analyse, reflect on, and argue for the benefits of the result, with regard to customer desirability, technical feasibility, and commercial viability.
analyse and explain the project results in terms of (environmental, social, and economic) sustainable development.
critically analyse, reflect on, and discuss their own - and others' - approaches, insights, and conclusions

5. Learning activities

The focus is to provide participants with the knowledge to execute and carry out real product-service development, emphasizing sustainability and innovation. Through real-world development projects in close collaboration with industry partners, students will work in groups within a PSS (Product-Service Systems) development process using relevant tools.

With recurring supervision support, participants will practically and independently work in groups with all phases of a generic product-service development process. The goal is for students to acquire knowledge and skills about innovative working methods in integrated product development projects.

In group exercises, methods and tools are introduced and subsequently applied independently within the students’ project work. During group supervision, students will receive support clarifying uncertainties and discussing specific activities to adapt tools to the project’s circumstances.

Through reflection sessions, students will have the opportunity to reflect on and discuss their learning in project activities in relation to theories covering methods and tools.

To achieve the course's learning objectives, active participation and collaboration are expected. Therefore, all students are expected to attend all scheduled group sessions. If students cannot attend a session, they must notify the course coordinator in advance and complete an equivalent assignment assigned by the course coordinator. The assignment will cover the content and activities addressed during the session. Instructions and assessment criteria for the replacement assignment will be provided upon assignment.

Students will complete group-level assignments that will be presented and discussed through both oral presentations and written reports. Peer review will be applied to facilitate discussions on student learning.

Each student will maintain a continuous logbook of their activities and individually analyze and reflect in writing on their learning in relation to the course objectives.

6. Assessment and grading

Modes of examinations of the course

Code	Module	Credit	Grade
2111	Written report 1	1.5 credits	GU
2120	Written report 2	3.5 credits	AF
2131	Written assignment 1	1.5 credits	GU
2140	Written assignment 2	3.5 credits	AF
2150	Practical moment	5 credits	GU

The course will be graded A Excellent, B Very good, C Good, D Satisfactory, E Sufficient, FX Failed result, a little more work required, F Fail.

The examiner may carry out oral follow-up of written examinations.

The examination is conducted through comprehensive group reports and individual reflection reports on learning and project outcomes. Active and professional participation in group work is assessed through the examination component Practical moment, where information on the distribution of individual contributions within the group work is collected via a separate survey, followed up with an oral discussion.

The information before the start of the course states the assessment criteria and make explicit in which modes of examination that the learning outcomes are assessed.

An examiner can, after consulting the Disability Advisor at BTH, decide on a customized examination form for a student with a long-term disability to be provided with an examination equivalent to one given to a student who is not disabled.

7. Course evaluation

The course evaluation should be carried out in line with BTH:s course evaluation template and process.

8. Restrictions regarding degree

The course can form part of a degree but not together with another course the content of which completely or partly corresponds with the contents of this course.

9. Course literature and other materials of instruction

Main course literature:
Lewrick, M., Link, P. & Leifer, L. (2018). Design Thinking Playbook. ISBN: 9781119467489, latest edition.

Ulrich, K.T. & Eppinger, S.D. (2011) Product Design and Development, 7th ed. ISBN: 9781260566437 (eller senare upplaga),
alternativt Ulrich, K.T. & Eppinger, S.D. (2014) Produktutveckling: Konstruktion och design. ISBN: 9789144074214.

Lewrick, M; Link, P.; Leifer, L. The Design Thinking Toolbox. 2020. Wiley, ISBN 978-1-119-62919-1.

Reference literature:
Eklund, S. (2011) Arbeta i projekt: individen, gruppen, ledaren. ISBN: 9789144072753, latest edition.

Kelley, T. (2016) The Art of Innovation. Profile Books. ISBN: 9781781256145, latest edition.

Ries, E. (2011) The Lean Startup. New York, NY, USA. Crown Business. ISBN: 9781524762407, latest edition.

Articles and cases handed out by the teachers.

10. Additional information

This course replaces MT2556

Course syllabus