The engineering rationale, composed of established logic for the design and development of products, has been confronted by a shift to a circular economy. Digitalization (e.g., Industry 4.0) enables transformation, but it also increases relational complexities in scope and number. In Product–Service Systems (PSSs), the combination of manufactured goods and services should be delivered in new business models based on value-adding digital assistance. From a systems science view, such combinations cannot be managed by the same approach as if they were one uniform system; rather, it is an interdependent mix of technical, social, and digital designs. This paper initializes an updated conceptual discourse on PSSs and provides a reflection on the expected challenges in the transformation from linear to circular models. For example, the role of systems thinking to guide early design stages is discussed and the importance of processes for creating shared visions at different systems levels is suggested to be addressed in future research. The intention is to formulate thoughts about radical cognitive changes in order to realize the PSS paradigm.

This paper problematizes and discuss a change towards new business models in order to highlight some basic challenges of digital transformation needed for Industry 4.0. A particular effort is to discuss if SMEs may have sufficient means to capitalize on such a new paradigm. As an approach to enable problematization and discussion, the paper presents concepts and standpoints that are related to the fourth industrial revolution. For example, the idea of new business models is a concept taken for granted, and is not sufficiently contextualized into digital transformation and Industry 4.0. The discussion sheds some light on the benefit of SMEs' flexibility, while simultaneously it finds mindsets challenges related to change and transformation as critical.

This paper presents an explorative study and the results of 17 interviews with informants from different companies. Its purpose is to identify the challenges associated with implementing agile methods along with the established procedures for early design. The study exemplifies project leaders’ experiences and implementation efforts. As leaders of design projects, they have proposed the use of a new method that involves teams engaging in testing and evaluation, which aids in the understanding and introduction of change initiatives. The challenges that are identified are as follows: (1) a lack of approval not only from top managers but also from critical peers; (2) an unprepared organization that did not allow teamwork; and (3) a lack of specific company success factors to support new methods.

This paper presents the rationale for the design of a card deck game sustaining information security training. The efforts have followed design thinking, been inspired by an approach for problem-based learning, and used gamification. The card deck game primarily aims to support entrepreneurs in small and medium-sized manufacturing companies, heading towards the introduction of digital services, yet is also useful for anyone to practice risk awareness. Information security, here in short representing the efforts to protect information and mitigate risks to uphold confidentiality, integrity and availability, is by SMEs often seen as a technical problem, but is depending on human behaviour. Literature on security training, emphasises the relevance of interpersonal dialogues and reflection, such reflection is not supported by traditional education, as for instance reading theory and answering questions. The application of gamification has shown to increase awareness, where the play becomes an eye-opener to progress focused dialogues and learning.

Digitalization is a source for Industrial Internet, which solutions influence businesses and everyday life in many different ways. The digital transformation calls for understanding, not only about your customers, but also your whole organization. A digital business world opens up for seamless and borderless collaborations in product, service and production development, yet such a visionary future need both systematic and systemic changes in companies. As such open innovation approaches including participatory research studies could support regional growth and increase competitiveness among SMEs. This article describes how these issues have been managed in a transnational project for the Northern Nordics.

Small and medium sized firms' businesses in rural regions typically address a home market and the delivery of niched products. This makes them exposed to business downturns, innovation is thus one way to survive and prosper. Small-scale product development is typically very hands-on, a sort of trial and error process. This experimental way is in favour for the implementation of innovation processes, but one challenge is the limited resources that firms can, or are willing to, spend on innovative work. A challenge is that procedures for organisational learning are lacking in the straightforward approach. The article describes the background and rationale for supporting small-scale manufacturing by introducing a support toolbox for early product development work. The support toolbox's rationale is built upon learning cycles and communicative prototyping which may enhance innovation process capabilities.