Functional Product Development: Criteria for Selection of Design Methods on Strategic and Operational Levels

The paper proposes criteria that can be used for selection of design methods on strategic and operational levels in Functional Product development. The paper draws on research from general product development and specific research within Product-Service Systems and Functional Products, combined with empirical data from interviews with four organizations concerned with Functional Product development. The use of many design methods requires resources such as knowledge and skills, which may not always be feasible to keep in-house. However, the key design methods needed in-house should be identified, added to the set of approved design methods and granted adequate resource allocation.