Regional Network for Service Design

Purpose and goal

The network for service design (NTD) has attracted about 100 participants with interest for need-driven development within municipal and regional activities. Network meetings focusing on knowledge exchange and development met well with the goal to be a support on an individual level. The project has also contributed to increased knowledge and understanding of needs-driven development in the three organizations where a more focused work has been carried out. It is too early to say whether NTD has contributed to the long-term goal to increase the regional design capability.

Expected results and effects

Six network meetings for knowledge exchange and development was conducted with an average of 30 participants. The research partners contributed with in-depth knowledge at two meetings. A digital platform for participants to communicate and share content on has not been developed. Questions about information security and the responsibility of the host constituted an obstacle. Development and testing of support other than the network meetings were carried out with project partners. The outcome confirms the need for such support, but the node lacks resources to offer this.

Planned approach and implementation

Planning and facilitation of node meetings was a well-defined assignment that was handled within the node´s working group and did follow the plan. Development of a digital platform proved more complex than expected and required competence not represented in the node´s working group. This was not considered when planning the work package and has affected the outcome. Development and testing of support offers has been hampered by a poorly described purpose which has affected the anchoring of the work within the problem owners. A lesson is to start by ensuring consensus on the purpose.