Context-specific process design: An integrated process lifecycle model and situations for context factor use

The development of complex systems such as e.g. Product-Service Systems relies on complex processes. Corresponding design contexts are often complex and evolving over time, with factors such as e.g. organizational structures, location, product type, impacting the development process. Companies rely on process models for a number of purposes. However, process models used within companies are often flat" and the context the process models are used in is often inadequately acquired and considered during modelling. This becomes evident, e.g. when process models are used as a basis for tailoring project-specific processes. In this paper, we first present a literature-based integrated lifecycle model for product development processes and models thereof. From it we derive situations (application cases), in which identified context factors can be used to improve activities such as reference process modelling, process model use, process analysis, and process evolution. The situations have been partially validated in industrial case studies and serve as the foundation to further develop methodological support to increase context awareness in product development process modelling and management.