Towards co-creation of service research projects: a method for learning in networks

• Published in: International journal of quality and service sciences 2010-03, Vol.2 (1), p.128-145
• Main Authors: Halonen, Minna, Kallio, Katri, Saari, Eveliina
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analysis; Business networking; Customer services; Innovations; Laboratories; Management; Organizational learning; Science; Strategic management; Studies; Workshops
• ISSN: 1756-669X; 1756-6703
• DOI: 10.1108/17566691011026649

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to report a new kind of workshop process which aims at co-creation across disciplines in a service research network. The case concerns Technical Research Centre of Finland (VTT) and took place from January to May, 2009.Design methodology approach - Both foresight and organizational learning methods are combined in the process. During workshops, researchers and management are enabled to co-create interdisciplinary service research proposals and a service research strategy for VTT. The workshops are designed to facilitate a dialogue between users of the research and potential collaborators (universities, funding agencies and societal actors). This initiative reflects the current global service science discourse based on a renewal of service management through service-dominant logic and network thinking.Findings - Although the need for co-creation across disciplines and together with the customer has often been stated in service research, methods enabling such a way of acting have rarely been tested and achieved. This method worked as a concrete way for managing future-oriented networking across organizational borders as a basis for continuous learning and innovation.Research limitations implications - The new approach to service science and the methods used in the VTT network are applicable in research practice.Practical implications - The development process presented in this paper is an embryo for a new kind of research culture that fosters learning in networks as well as the shared and transparent planning of project proposals.Originality value - By creating the service science and business network and a process of learning by foresighting and evaluating our ideas on a concrete case are applied. This is believed to be the first time that methods of foresight and organizational learning have been combined. Furthermore, the process builds a research strategy both from below and above and together with customers and other collaborators thus establishing a network of co-creation.