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Sustainabilty integration in product portfolio for sustainable development: Findings from the industry
Blekinge Institute of Technology, Faculty of Engineering, Department of Strategic Sustainable Development.ORCID iD: 0000-0003-2015-3349
Blekinge Institute of Technology, Faculty of Engineering, Department of Strategic Sustainable Development.ORCID iD: 0000-0002-7382-1825
2021 (English)In: Business Strategy and the Environment, ISSN 0964-4733, E-ISSN 1099-0836, Vol. 30, no 1, p. 388-403Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Many companies decide which services, products, and technologies to include in their product portfolio using evaluation criteria, which often consider cost, quality, risk, revenue, time, and market position. Incorporating sustainability in the portfolio evaluation criteria could ensure the development of sustainable solutions from the early stages of the product development process, where there is more room for innovation. The aim of this paper is to understand how sustainability can be integrated in the company portfolio development. Semi-structured interviews were performed with experts in the field and representatives from multinational manufacturing companies with operations in Sweden. Main findings from this study include a proposed definition of a sustainability product portfolio concept and suggested portfolio evaluation criteria from an industry perspective. Future research will develop a method to guide manufacturing companies in sustainability integration and implementation in product portfolios. © 2020 The Authors. Business Strategy and The Environment published by ERP Environment and John Wiley & Sons Ltd

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
John Wiley & Sons, 2021. Vol. 30, no 1, p. 388-403
Keywords [en]
Product portfolio, sustainability product portfolio, sustainable product development, portfolio evaluation criteria, strategic sustainability, strategic plan.
National Category
Social Sciences Interdisciplinary
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:bth-19081DOI: 10.1002/bse.2627ISI: 000565359500001Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-85090140081OAI: oai:DiVA.org:bth-19081DiVA, id: diva2:1383292
Part of project
Model Driven Development and Decision Support – MD3S, Knowledge Foundation
Note

open access

Available from: 2020-01-07 Created: 2020-01-07 Last updated: 2023-01-30Bibliographically approved
In thesis
1. Integration of Sustainability Aspects in Product Portfolio
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Integration of Sustainability Aspects in Product Portfolio
2020 (English)Licentiate thesis, comprehensive summary (Other academic)
Abstract [en]

Several environmental issues are incrementing systematically, and many of them are linked to manufacturing activities. To mitigate these issues, it is necessary to develop sustainability solutions in the early stages of the innovation process, where there is room for creativity and innovation. The integration of sustainability at the strategic level of the company, where the essential decisions, the strategic plan, and the portfolio are developed, might ensure the implementation of sustainability aspects in products and services. Many companies develop product portfolios to organize and offer services, products, technologies and operations following the company strategy and targets. The portfolio components are assessed and selected using evaluation criteria. The most common criteria include: cost, quality, risk, revenue, time and market position. Usually sustainability is not included in the portfolio evaluation criteria.

The aim of this research is to obtain a better understanding of how sustainability can be integrated in the product portfolio development of manufacturing companies. The main research targets are to: 1) define sustainability product portfolio based on a comprehension of the academic and industry perspectives, 2) identify how companies currently implement sustainability in their portfolio, 3) determine which evaluation criteria and tools are used for portfolio development and 4) how the product portfolio is developed, implemented and managed.

A systematic literature review was performed to understand the state of the art about sustainability product portfolio. The literature review results supported the development of semi-structure interviews with companies and field experts. The interviews outcome provided a better understanding of the industry perspective. Afterwards, a workshop helped to understand what aspects are more significant for the portfolio evaluation criteria. Finally, a strategic sustainability assessment tool SLCA 2.0 was used to assess a technology product portfolio of a specific industry case.

The results from the studies created a foundation to: a) determine the state of art of the sustainability product portfolio field and its relevance for integration and implementation of sustainability in the early stages of the product innovation process, b) define the concept of sustainability product portfolio, c) have a better understanding of the setting and the application of the portfolio evaluation criteria and how to include sustainability in the evaluation, d) identify key factors to integrate and implement sustainability in the product portfolio, e) apply and test a tool for assessing a technology portfolio from a sustainability perspective and f) create a prototype of a model to develop  the product portfolio with a strategic sustainability perspective.

This research provides a knowledge foundation of how sustainability can be integrated in product portfolio. In future research a model will be developed to support companies of how to include a strategic sustainability perspective into their product portfolio to enhance development of more sustainable solutions.

 

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Karlskrona: Blekinge Tekniska Högskola, 2020. p. 157
Series
Blekinge Institute of Technology Licentiate Dissertation Series, ISSN 1650-2140 ; 2
Keywords
Product portfolio, sustainability product portfolio, sustainable product development, portfolio evaluation criteria, early design phase, strategic sustainability, strategic plan.
National Category
Other Environmental Engineering
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:bth-19037 (URN)978-91-7295-398-7 (ISBN)
Presentation
2020-02-14, 09:30 (English)
Opponent
Supervisors
Note

Contact the author to receive a pdf of the full thesis (papers included): dcv@bth.se or telephone +46455385569

Available from: 2019-12-18 Created: 2019-12-18 Last updated: 2021-01-18Bibliographically approved
2. Guidance in developing a sustainability product portfolio in manufacturing companies
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Guidance in developing a sustainability product portfolio in manufacturing companies
2023 (English)Doctoral thesis, comprehensive summary (Other academic)
Abstract [en]

During the last decade, manufacturing companies have experienced an increased demand for solutions that promote socio-ecological sustainability. To succeed in the sustainability transformation, companies need to systematically and strategically implement sustainability performance in their product portfolios. Many companies decide which services, products, and technologies to include in their product portfolios using evaluation criteria related to, for example, cost, quality, risk, revenue, time, and market position. However, often, sustainability aspects are not integrated into such criteria. Incorporating sustainability aspects in the portfolio evaluation criteria could ensure the development of sustainability-promoting solutions. This should be done in the early stages of the product development process, where there is more room for innovation than later in the process. 

The aim of this research is to provide a better understanding of how sustainability performance can be implemented in the product portfolio process of manufacturing companies and thereby support the companies’ sustainability transformation. The research has focused on: 1) how to define the concept of sustainability product portfolios based on the state of the art and the state of practice, 2) determining the current situation in industry related to implementation of sustainability performance in product portfolios, 3) identifying the most used criteria and tools for product portfolio evaluation, and 4) determining how product portfolios are planned, implemented and managed. 

Literature reviews, interviews and workshops were used to collect data from seven large manufacturing companies located in Sweden, one small company located in Colombia, and several research groups and master level student groups. The collected data from industrial cases was organized, processed, analyzed, and verified to provide academic and industry background, to guide the implementation of sustainability performance in the product portfolio

The results from the studies provided a basis for creating guidance in developing a sustainability product portfolio in a company. The guidance includes: i) a definition of the sustainability product portfolio concept; ii) a list of common product portfolio evaluation criteria to be used for a  selection of  portfolio components; iii) key factors to succeed with the integration of sustainability aspects in portfolio development and to implement sustainability performance in the product portfolio; iv) an initial conceptualization model to support the sustainability implementation process in product portfolios; and, v) a digitalized and game-based prototype of the strategic layered double-flow scenario modeling for sustainability risk and portfolio management (STARDUST) method, to guide companies in the implementation of sustainability in their product portfolio. 

With the outcome of this research, practitioners can be supported in their decision-making, especially in the planning stages, with a strategic sustainability perspective to identify sustainability hotspots. Moreover, evaluate portfolio components with a sustainability-informed market-success perspective, compare solutions, and identify benefits and risk that might modify the product portfolio over time.  

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Karlskrona: Blekinge Tekniska Högskola, 2023
Series
Blekinge Institute of Technology Doctoral Dissertation Series, ISSN 1653-2090 ; 1
Keywords
Product portfolio, sustainability product portfolio, sustainable product development, portfolio evaluation criteria, early design phase, strategic sustainability, strategic plan.
National Category
Other Environmental Engineering Environmental Management Production Engineering, Human Work Science and Ergonomics
Research subject
Strategic Sustainable Development
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:bth-24254 (URN)978-91-7295-448-9 (ISBN)
Public defence
2023-03-24, J1630, Campus Gräsvik, Karlskrona, 09:15 (English)
Opponent
Supervisors
Available from: 2023-01-31 Created: 2023-01-30 Last updated: 2023-03-01Bibliographically approved

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Villamil Velasquez, CarolinaHallstedt, Sophie

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