Sustainable smart product-service systems: a causal logic framework for impact design

Lena Ries (), Markus Beckmann () and Peter Wehnert ()
Additional contact information
Lena Ries: Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Chair for Corporate Sustainability Management
Markus Beckmann: Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Chair for Corporate Sustainability Management
Peter Wehnert: Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Chair for Corporate Sustainability Management

Journal of Business Economics, 2023, vol. 93, issue 4, No 5, 667-706

Abstract: Abstract Digital technologies can elevate product-service systems (PSS) to smart PSS, which focus on performance rather than ownership and are considered a means for dematerialization. However, transitioning to smart PSS does not guarantee sustainability. To understand the impact of smart PSS holistically, we take a two-pronged approach. First, we use the theory of change to conceptualize the causal link between sustainable smart PSS and their ultimate impact. We develop a three-step causal logic framework consisting of design, causation, and impact. Within this framework, we identify the business model properties of sustainable smart PSS as design characteristics and categorize the eventual impacts based on the triple bottom line. We introduce the term multi-causal pathway to describe the causation processes underlining the possibility of non-linearity and multi-causality. Second, we conduct a systematic literature review to investigate the mechanisms linking design and impact. Based on an analysis of 63 publications, we identify 17 specific mechanisms and group them into four types: information, resource, empowerment, and adverse mechanisms. Visualizing our results, we develop a morphological box as a toolkit for managers to develop their own impact-oriented logic model by identifying and activating the multi-causal pathway that fosters the desired sustainability effects. Moreover, discussing our framework, we develop research propositions and managerial questions for impact design. By linking the theory of change with the business model impact, we contribute toward a conceptual synthesis for understanding the impact of (sustainable) smart PSS.

Keywords: Sustainability; Smart technology; Product-service system; Theory of change; Logic model; Business model; Morphological box (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: M14 O14 O32 Q01 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

Downloads: (external link)
http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s11573-023-01154-8 Abstract (text/html)
Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:spr:jbecon:v:93:y:2023:i:4:d:10.1007_s11573-023-01154-8

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
http://www.springer.com/journal/11573

DOI: 10.1007/s11573-023-01154-8

Access Statistics for this article

Journal of Business Economics is currently edited by Günter Fandel

More articles in Journal of Business Economics from Springer
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Sonal Shukla () and Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing ().