Towards a meta-model for the description of
the sociotechnical perspective on ProductService Systems
Christoph Hollauer, Julian Wilberg, Sebastian
Maisenbacher, Mayada Omer
Product Development
© 2015 Prof. Lindemann
Technische Universität München
Towards a meta-model for the description of the sociotechnical perspective on PSS | Julian Wilberg | XX. Month 20145
1
Agenda
Motivation
Background
Research Methodology
Approach
Result: Initial Metamodel for sociotechnical systems
Conclusion & Outlook
Product Development
© 2015 Prof. Lindemann
Technische Universität München
Towards a meta-model for the description of the sociotechnical perspective on PSS | Julian Wilberg | XX. Month 20145
2
Motivation
• Initial Situation
– Product-Service Systems (PSS) combine products and services
– Competitive advantage and potential for increased sustainability
– Result: Increased complexity during development process
– PSS represent sociotechnical systems (STS): Close coupling of social and
technical systems that influence each other
• Problems:
– Additional complexity of sociotechnical systems in use phase
– Technical and social systems need equal consideration in development phase
– Difficulty analyzing sociotechnical systems: Lack of comparability
Metamodel to describe sociotechnical system during use phase
Product Development
© 2015 Prof. Lindemann
Technische Universität München
Towards a meta-model for the description of the sociotechnical perspective on PSS | Julian Wilberg | XX. Month 20145
3
Background
Layer 0
Layer 1
Layer 2
Layer 3
Product Development
© 2015 Prof. Lindemann
models
modeling language
meta²-model
...
...
. . . Layer n
• Metamodels
 Definition: „Model of a modeling language“ or „model of models (plural)“
 Metamodels and its modeling languages are capable to describe all relevant
aspects of a subject under consideration
in
describes
conforms
to
metamodel
in
meta modeling language
describes
conforms
to
model
meta² modeling language
in
modeling language
represented
by
Subject under consideration (Sociotechnical Systems)
[1],[2]
Technische Universität München
Towards a meta-model for the description of the sociotechnical perspective on PSS | Julian Wilberg | XX. Month 20145
4
Background
• Ontologies
 Metamodels offer syntax, ontologies offer semantics for a modeling language
 „Formal, explicit specification of a shared conceptualization“
• PSS Integration Framework (PSSIF)
 PSSIF focuses on capturing different modeling approaches
 A Framework for the cross- disciplinary development of PSS
 Flexible and extensible
 Allows the transformation of various discipline-specific models
Element
*
has
Edge
Attribute
Node
has
1-2
isConnected
Product Development
© 2015 Prof. Lindemann
[3], [4], [5], [6]
Technische Universität München
Towards a meta-model for the description of the sociotechnical perspective on PSS | Julian Wilberg | XX. Month 20145
5
Research Methodology
Literature-based approach
• Research of existing approaches for modeling
Literature Review
Existing
metamodels
Root concepts and
relationships
„PSSycle“ Case
Study
Concrete Models
Abstraction of concrete
models
Metamodel
• Identification of root concepts and their relationships
• Modeling of an academic PSS case study
• Abstraction of created models
Modeling approach
Product Development
© 2015 Prof. Lindemann
Technische Universität München
Towards a meta-model for the description of the sociotechnical perspective on PSS | Julian Wilberg | XX. Month 20145
6
Examples for existing PSS/STS Ontologies
Roy et al. 2011 [7]
•
•
•
•
•
Kim et al. 2009 [8]
Ontology on PSS research
No Evaluation
Relationships not fully detailed
Some sociotechnical aspects addressed
Different focus: Improve communication of toplevel PSS concepts
•
•
Generic description of actors, not further
elaborated
Focus on representation of value, function,
and structures as well as the relationships
between them
Müller & Sakao 2010 [9]
•
•
•
Nine “PSS design dimensions”
Actors characterized briefly
No concrete language elements for the
modeling of PSS designs defined
Alter 2009 [10]
• Metamodel for sociotechnical systems
• Different underlying understanding of
sociotechnical systems more focused on
individual-task relationship and work system
Wu et al 2015 [11]
• Framework for model integration
• „STS element hierarchy“
• Technical system addressed, but not structured
further
• No PSS context: Services not explicitly
addressed
Product Development
© 2015 Prof. Lindemann
Technische Universität München
Towards a meta-model for the description of the sociotechnical perspective on PSS | Julian Wilberg | XX. Month 20145
7
Results of Literature Review
• Metamodels exist with focus on specific aspects
– of PSS modeling
– of STS modeling
• Sociotechnical root concepts have been identified
– E.g. Organizations, organizational layout etc.
• Relationships between STS elements have not been addressed systematically
yet
• No PSS metamodel focuses on social subsystems
• Lack of Stakeholder consideration in PSS development
• Lack of overall focus on the sociotechnical perspective
Bridging of PSS and STS modeling
domains necessary
Product Development
© 2015 Prof. Lindemann
[11]
Technische Universität München
Towards a meta-model for the description of the sociotechnical perspective on PSS | Julian Wilberg | XX. Month 20145
8
Case Study „PSSycle“
• Student project within the collaborative research centre
„Sonderforschungsbereich 768 – Managing cycles in innovation processes“
• Concept of a pedelec sharing system
• Focus on development of hardware components
• Additional social subsystems and STS properties have been defined for
modeling
Product Development
© 2015 Prof. Lindemann
Technische Universität München
Towards a meta-model for the description of the sociotechnical perspective on PSS | Julian Wilberg | XX. Month 20145
9
Model Abstraction
Concrete Models
Bike Frame Supplier
Metamodel Elements
Supply Chain
Bike Frame
Manufacturing
Operations
Insurance
Supplier
Bike Station
Infrastructure
Element
Bike Maintenance
Truck
SysML 1.3
Product Development
© 2015 Prof. Lindemann
Implementationneutral
Technische Universität München
Towards a meta-model for the description of the sociotechnical perspective on PSS | Julian Wilberg | XX. Month 20145
10
Conceptual representation of metamodel
Product Development
© 2015 Prof. Lindemann
Technische Universität München
Towards a meta-model for the description of the sociotechnical perspective on PSS | Julian Wilberg | XX. Month 20145
11
Metamodel for the sociotechnical perspective on PSS
• Class diagram
– Abstract classes in italics
<<Edge>>
<<Edge>>
InformationFlow
MaterialFlow
<<Edge>>
<<Edge>>
EnergyFlow
MonetaryFlow
<<Edge>>
– Edges: Flows between
elements
– Nodes: Elements of STS
• Design platform elements
– Technical elements
– Social elements/
subsystems
Flow
<<Node>>
DesignPlatformElement
<<Node>>
<<Node>>
InfrastructureElement
PSSDesignElement
<<Node>>
<<Node>>
PhysicalInfrastructureElement
HardwareElement
<<Node>>
<<Node>>
SupportNetwork
ElectronicsElement
<<Node>>
<<Node>>
OrganizationalSubElement
MechanicsElement
<<Node>>
<<Node>>
ValueChainElement
SoftwareElement
<<Node>>
OrganizationalUnit
<<Node>>
Team
<<Node>>
StakeholderElement
<<Node>>
ServiceElement
<<Node>>
ProductServiceElement
<<Node>>
UserServiceElement
<<Node>>
Organization
<<Node>>
Individual
Product Development
© 2015 Prof. Lindemann
Technische Universität München
Towards a meta-model for the description of the sociotechnical perspective on PSS | Julian Wilberg | XX. Month 20145
12
Metamodel for the sociotechnical perspective on PSS
• Hierarchical deconstruction
and description of social
subsystems
• Description of relationships
between PSS elements and
STS elements
InstanceOf
<<Node>>
SupportNetwork
<<Node>>
SupplyChainNetwork
<<Node>>
1
Hardware 1…*
consistsOf
Element
1…*
isSuppliedBy
<<Node>>
1…*
Supplier
<<Node>>
Provider
InstanceOf
1…*
isProvidedBy
<<Node>>
Organization
<<Node>>
Service
Element
1
has
1…*
<<Node>>
Organizational
SubElement
1
consistsOf
1…*
<<Node>>
Individual
1…*
isPartOf
Product Development
© 2015 Prof. Lindemann
<<Node>>
Team
0…*
Technische Universität München
Towards a meta-model for the description of the sociotechnical perspective on PSS | Julian Wilberg | XX. Month 20145
13
Further Results
• Complexity-based approach for stakeholder analysis (MDM and procedural
model): Procedural model and tools
– Literature-based checklists of stakeholder groups and –types
– Checklist of generic stakeholder interests (25 items)
• primary
• secondary
• external
• internal
• key
• Undecided
• Etc.
•
•
•
•
Control
Job security
Stable relationships
Env. Protection
Product Development
© 2015 Prof. Lindemann
• Customers
• Organizations
• Management
• Public and Media
• Etc.
Stakeholder
Groups
Stakeholder
Types
Stakeholder
Is part of
Is part of
Has
Stakeholder
Groups
Has relation
to
Has relation
to
(has)
Stakeholder
Types
Has relation
to
Has relation
to
(has)
MDM
Interests
Stakeholder
Interests
Conflicts
with
Technische Universität München
Towards a meta-model for the description of the sociotechnical perspective on PSS | Julian Wilberg | XX. Month 20145
14
Conclusion and Outlook
• Conclusion:
– Contribution: Preliminary metamodel for modeling the sociotechnical
perspective on PSS
– Focusing on the social subsystems and their interaction with the technical
subsystems
• Outlook:
– Implementation of full metamodel in a software tool for modeling
– Extensions and Improvements, e.g. List of stakeholder attributes
– Further elaboration of relationships
– Evaluation by a broader spectrum of experts from research and practice
Product Development
© 2015 Prof. Lindemann
Technische Universität München
Towards a meta-model for the description of the sociotechnical perspective on PSS | Julian Wilberg | XX. Month 20145
15
Contact & Literature
Contact:
Julian Wilberg, M.Sc.
wilberg@pe.mw.tum.de
+49.89.289.15129
Dipl.-Ing. Christoph Hollauer
hollauer@pe.mw.tum.de
+49.89.289.15136
Institute of Product Development
Technische Universität München
Boltzmannstr. 15
85748 Garching, Germany
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J.-M. Favre, “Foundations of meta-pyramids: Languages vs. metamodels
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[2]
P. Höfferer, “Achieving Business Process Model Interoperability Using
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[3]
A. Borshchev and A. Filippov, “From system dynamics and discrete event to
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[4]
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[5]
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Lindemann, and H. Krcmar, “Concept for an Integration-Framework to enable
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of the 2013 IEEE IEEM, 2013.
[6]
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Lindemann, and H. Krcmar, “Supporting the Cross-disciplinary Development of
Product-Service Systems Through Model Transformations,” in Proceedings of
the 2014 IEEE International Conference on Industrial Engineering and
Engineering Management, 2014.
[7]
R. Roy, Y. Xu, B. G. Annamalai, R. Hussain, M. Cakkol, S. Evans, and A.
Tiwari, “An Ontology for Product-service Systems,” 2011.
[8]
Y. S. Kim, E. Wang, and M. W. Park, “Value-Function-Structure Modeling in an
Ontological Representation of Product-Service Systems,” in International
Conference on Engineering Design ICED, 2009, pp. 359–370.
[9]
P. Müller and T. Sakao, “Towards consolidation on product-service systems
design,” in CIRP IPS2 Conference 2010, 2010, pp. 219–225.
[10] S. Alter, “Metamodel for Understanding , Analyzing , and Designing
Sociotechnical Systems,” Work. Pap. Inf. Syst., vol. 9, no. 2009.
[11] Vasantha, G.V.A., Roy, R., Lelah, A., Brissaud, D., 2012. A review of product–
service systems design methodologies. J. Eng. Des. 23, 635–659.
doi:10.1080/09544828.2011.639712
Product Development
© 2015 Prof. Lindemann
Technische Universität München
Towards a meta-model for the description of the sociotechnical perspective on PSS | Julian Wilberg | XX. Month 20145
16