Start Date
6-10-2025 9:00 AM
End Date
8-10-2025 7:00 PM
Description
Stakeholder co-benefits are critical in public service design, yet existing tools lack systemic capacity to articulate multi-stakeholder values and resources. To address this, the study responds to public service design complexity by leveraging structural coupling theory to identify actionable co-benefit opportunities. Grounded in this theory, it proposes a three-phase service innovation framework—Structural Coupling Status (CS), Structural Coupling Gap (CG), and Structural Coupling Opportunity (CO)—as a design tool that integrates diverse stakeholders’ motivations, activities, and rights/responsibilities (M.A.R.) into a reciprocal analytical structure. Validated through a case study on Shanghai’s public childcare services, the framework identifies coupling mismatches and enhances resource integration among grandparents, parents, active elderly neighbours, service providers, and governments. By operationalizing structural coupling theory in service design, this research contributes a practical framework for policymakers and designers, offering actionable insights to optimize public service systems and foster stakeholder co benefits.
Citation
Wanq, Y., Li, W.,and Hu, F.(2025) Structural coupling as a strategy for achieving stakeholder co-benefits: A Case of Public Service Design in Shanghai Community Childcare.. https://dl.designresearchsociety.org/servdes/servdes2025/researchpapers/65
Structural coupling as a strategy for achieving stakeholder co-benefits: A Case of Public Service Design in Shanghai Community Childcare
Stakeholder co-benefits are critical in public service design, yet existing tools lack systemic capacity to articulate multi-stakeholder values and resources. To address this, the study responds to public service design complexity by leveraging structural coupling theory to identify actionable co-benefit opportunities. Grounded in this theory, it proposes a three-phase service innovation framework—Structural Coupling Status (CS), Structural Coupling Gap (CG), and Structural Coupling Opportunity (CO)—as a design tool that integrates diverse stakeholders’ motivations, activities, and rights/responsibilities (M.A.R.) into a reciprocal analytical structure. Validated through a case study on Shanghai’s public childcare services, the framework identifies coupling mismatches and enhances resource integration among grandparents, parents, active elderly neighbours, service providers, and governments. By operationalizing structural coupling theory in service design, this research contributes a practical framework for policymakers and designers, offering actionable insights to optimize public service systems and foster stakeholder co benefits.