Introduction
The following key elements will be described and evolve in Living Lab standard versions.
1. Living Lab Lexicon (LLL) – terms and definitions: LLL introduces, lists and shortly defines a comprehensive catalogue of terms associated and included in different parts of the living lab standard (i.e. 2 to 9). The LLL is grounded on Wikipedia type of user interface, where definitions including overlapping terminology, will enable quick jumping between different descriptions and to in-depth descriptions in other standard sections. LLL will help to discuss living lab related issues among the different stakeholder, who currently are using varying terminology.
2. Living Lab Business Model (LLBM): “A business model describes the rationale of how an organization creates, delivers, and captures value” (Osterwalder and Pigneur, 2010). LLBM part is grounded on Business Model Canvas (BMC) approach (Ibid.), which consists of the following nine different elements. (1) key activities, (2) key resources, (3) partner network, (4) value proposition, (5) customer segments, (6) channels, (7) customer relationships, (8) cost structure and (9) revenue streams. The purpose of the LLBM part is to identify different attributes associated with each nine BMC element. Having a unified way to describe LLBM, enables quantitative business model comparison between different living labs as well as open ups possibilities to track changes in business model strategies.
3. Research process: Living lab research process part focuses on defining the key steps to execute and define a living lab research methodology. The part is comprised of (1) a common template to define research protocol, (2) ethical and data management plans, (3) participant recruitment procedures, (4) infrastructure selection procedure, (5) data collection procedures, (6) data analysis and comparison practices and (7) fair data practices for opening data. Each phase consists of aim, outcome and maturity level description. Furthermore, research process phases are interlinked other living lab standard parts in order to identify which other items are relevant for each research process phase. Having a standard way to describe living lab research design, helps developing a unified research methodology, which enables a robust results comparison a cross the different studies and increases the research quality.
4. Innovation process: Living lab innovation process part focuses on defining in an unambiguous way, the different innovation management process phases which are or can be covered during the living lab data collection phase. This part defines an iterative and agile user-centered innovation and design process and align the phases with Technology Readiness Level (TRL) concept. TRL is widely adopted concept to describe developed solution maturity level. Respectively to research process, different innovation process phases are interlinked other living lab standard parts in order to identify which of the other items are relevant for each process phase. Each phase key activities, aim, methods, outcome and TRL maturity level description.
5. R&D services: R&D services part defines a group of common R&D services, which a Living Lab can offer to its’ customers during the different Living Lab R&D process phases. Each service combines one or more data collection approaches or other activities or parts of the Living Lab standard, needed to accomplish living lab R&D project as whole or part of it. Each service description defines the type of service and additional details related to service delivery such as technical and functional quality. In longer run, the aim is to define the Minimum Acceptable Service Level for each service type in order ensure service quality across the different living labs.
6. Living lab Research Infrastructure (RI): This part provides a classification schema and definitions for different types of living lab infrastructures. In regulation No 1291/2013, European Union Parliament and Council of the European Union (2013) defines RIs as “facilities, resources and services that are used by the research communities to conduct research and foster innovation in their fields”. The definitions and descriptions for (1) single-sited, (2) distributed, (3) virtual and (4) mobile living lab facilities are provided.
7. Data collection approaches. Data collection approaches consists of the following three sub-parts: (1) methods and tools, (2) devices and technologies and (3) validated questionnaires and instruments. This part provides a collection of practical data collection approaches, which can be combined in multiple variation when defining a living lab project research methodology. 7A Methods and tools part identifies and describes the different types of specific research methods, tools, and practices, which can be used for data collection during a living lab project. Among these are e.g. interviews, workshops and surveys. In the future, the standard will used for sharing the best practices and defining the appropriate ways to utilize the particular method in different living research contexts. 7B Devices and technologies defines a commonly used technological solutions to collect and analyse living lab research data. Correspondingly to 7A methods and devices, the standard will used for sharing the best practices and defining the appropriate ways to utilize the particular technology in a research setting. 7C. Validated questionnaires and instrument consists of a bunch of scientifically validated surveys, scales, interventions or similar, which are known to reliable measure certain phenomenon. Standard will promote especially questionnaires and instrument which are multilingual and freely available. If multiple instruments are available to measure same phenomenon, standard will make recommendation to make selections.
The structure followed in this deliverable includes information about the proposed title and description of the work along with Key characteristics, Pre-tasks: Participants’ role, Objectives, Methods and Tools/online tools: It is common that a set of information is not yet identified for each service that is why some categories are removed from specific services.
To conclude, it is important notice that the above described conceptual overview and the included key elements of the living lab management system are preliminary concepts. Therefore, the names, details and concept itself can be changed in follow-up versions.