Transformative Approaches to Sustainability: Case Studies in Industry Strategy and Service Design

Abstract

Since the Industrial Revolution, industries have undergone multiple transformations, evolving from mass production to diverse business models. Corporate sustainability has become a global focal point as awareness grows about the environmental and social challenges stemming from industrial development. With the evolution of ESG concepts, the United Nations' "2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)" has prompted businesses to prioritize social responsibility. Sustainable reporting requirements across various countries have created unprecedented transformation pressures for enterprises. In this context, design thinking and business strategies are intrinsically interconnected during transformation processes. In Taiwan's current industrial development, small and medium enterprises are increasingly required to provide sustainability reports and implement sustainable development policies. The demand for sustainability professionals is gradually rising, necessitating talents who possess comprehensive knowledge and can develop strategic approaches.This research aims to conduct an in-depth literature review exploring the developmental context of international sustainability policies and industrial standards, analyzing their impact on corporate operations. The study particularly focuses on the potential applications of service design methods in sustainable transformation, investigating how innovative design approaches can assist enterprises in developing sustainability-related product service processes. Through case study methodology, the research will select enterprises with different service models to analyze their implementation strategies within the current sustainability industry chain. The study will explore the diverse service strategies and customer value creation models established during service processes by conducting in-depth interviews with sustainability consultants or corporate sustainability officers. Semi-structured interviews will consist of 2-3 open-ended conversations lasting approximately one hour each. Qualitative analysis will be employed to derive key themes and business models.The research will synthesize customer service strategies and methods of interviewed enterprises in the sustainability industry, providing practical references through case analysis. The findings will reveal the current gaps between corporate sustainability strategy implementation and international sustainability goals and potential practical limitations in service design implementation. These discoveries will serve as a reference for students and practitioners in related fields to understand the industry landscape, offering planning recommendations for small and medium enterprises adapting to sustainability goals, and providing a foundation for subsequent research.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Keywords: Sustainability Transformation, Industry Strategy, Service Design, ESG Practices, Circular Economy.

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe1006421