Modeling as the basis for innovation cycle management of PSS: Making use of interdisciplinary models

Abstract

Common modeling in interdisciplinary contexts, such as innovation management, is a challenge, given that different disciplines often do not fully understand each other's models and paradigms. Building on the work of an interdisciplinary research collaboration, we explore, in which way interdisciplinary modeling can enrich innovation management. We show that models can be described on a general level by delineating what a model generally is in these disciplines, what types of models exist, the object which is modeled by the model and how the model can be tested. We present a use case to demonstrate how different models can be applied. Finally, we derive four fields of application, which are especially fruitful for and can benefit from interdisciplinary modeling: change management, knowledge management, inconsistency management, and user integration. Our next step will be the development of a "designing platform", which will provide scientific results and practical tools regarding interdisciplinary cooperation in the context of innovation cycle management of product-service-systems (PSS).