Adapting Eco-Innovation Tools to the Needs of the Company: A Case Study
Year: 2009
Editor: Norell Bergendahl, M.; Grimheden, M.; Leifer, L.; Skogstad, P.; Lindemann, U.
Author: O’Hare, Jamie; Dekoninck, Elies; Turnbull, Aidan; McMahon, Chris
Series: ICED
Section: Design for X, Design to X
Page(s): 265-276
Abstract
In this paper we consider the problem of the lack of industry uptake of eco-design and eco-innovation tools. We take a change management perspective on this problem and focus on eco-innovation tool selection and implementation activities. We introduce a systematic process for these activities which emphasises the development of contextual tool criteria and the adaptation of the tool to meet both company and design-team requirements. The process is tested by applying it to the 9-Windows Operator tool with six manufacturers of electrical or electronic equipment. The preliminary results suggest that the proposed process is effective in producing successful tool adaptations but that further evidence is required to validate the process. We conclude that: the development of contextual tool criteria is effective in gaining design team "buy-in"; the design team can be a useful source of ideas for tool adaptation ideas; eco-innovation tools, more so than other types of design tool, must be easy to learn and use; and that eco-innovation tool adaptations must take into account the business need that the tool fulfils, and the language preferences and knowledge of the design team
Keywords: Eco-innovation, eco-design, design tools, change management