Prescreening Questions to Ask Product Service Systems Designer

What experience do you have in designing product-service systems?

Experience is often the first thing we look at when screening for potential hires. Why? Because it tells us a lot about what the candidate has encountered in the real world. Ask them to detail their specific experience with PSS. Have they focused on a particular industry or worked on varied projects? Their insights and anecdotes can provide a window into their capabilities.

Can you describe a project where you integrated both products and services into a coherent system?

This question is designed to unearth how candidates think and work. Request a detailed description of a full-fledged project. What was the product? What services were incorporated? How did they ensure these elements harmonized into a seamless solution? The answers will highlight their problem-solving skills and creativity.

What tools and software are you proficient in for PSS design?

In today’s tech-driven landscape, proficiency in the right tools can significantly impact a project’s success. Query about the software they use. Are they skilled in CAD? Do they use specific PSS design frameworks or platforms? Their familiarity with these tools can save you both time and resources.

How do you approach user research when designing product-service systems?

Successful PSS designs pivot on a deep understanding of the end user. Ask candidates about their approach to user research. Do they use surveys, interviews, or observation? Understanding their methodology will give you confidence in their ability to create user-centric designs.

What methods do you use to ensure the sustainability of your PSS designs?

Sustainability is more than a buzzword—it is a necessity. So, how do they ensure their designs are eco-friendly and sustainable? Look for candidates who consider the lifecycle of materials, energy consumption, and potential waste reduction in their designs. Their commitment to sustainability can be a vital differentiator.

How do you balance innovation and practicality in your designs?

Innovation is awesome, but it must be feasible. Ask about their balancing act between cutting-edge innovation and real-world practicality. Can they provide examples where they had to scale back or adapt their innovative ideas to fit practical constraints?

Can you give an example of a difficult problem you solved in a PSS project?

Problems are inevitable, but how they tackle these challenges can reveal much about a candidate’s resilience and creativity. Ask them to recount a tough problem they faced and how they solved it. This will give you a glimpse into their problem-solving toolkit.

How do you incorporate feedback from stakeholders into your design process?

Stakeholder feedback can make or break a project. Probe into their process for incorporating feedback. Do they have structured touchpoints throughout the project? How do they ensure that the feedback is actionable and integrated effectively?

What strategies do you use to keep up with the latest trends in product and service design?

The design world is ever-evolving. Ask candidates how they stay updated. Do they attend conferences? Subscribe to journals? Follow influencers in the design space? Their commitment to continuous learning will impact how future-proof their designs are.

How do you ensure that your designs meet business objectives and user needs simultaneously?

Designs must align with both business goals and user needs. Understanding their strategy to achieve this balance can be crucial. Do they use personas, user stories, or another framework to ensure alignment? The right approach can lead to a win-win scenario.

What role does prototyping play in your design process?

Prototyping is vital to validate ideas quickly and make improvements. But to what extent do they use it in their process? Do they create low-fidelity prototypes first or jump straight to high-fidelity ones? Their prototyping strategy can reveal their approach to iterative design.

How do you handle scope changes or unexpected challenges during a project?

Flexibility and adaptability are key. Ask about their approach to handling scope changes or unexpected hurdles. Are they adept at renegotiating timelines and resources? Their strategy here can be crucial to your project's success under fluctuating conditions.

Describe a time when you had to work with a cross-functional team. How did you ensure successful collaboration?

PSS design often involves cross-disciplinary work. Discover how well they manage collaborations across teams. What methods do they use—regular meetings, collaborative tools, or something else? Their ability to work seamlessly in diverse teams can accelerate project timelines.

How do you prioritize features when designing a product-service system?

Prioritization can make a significant difference in meeting deadlines and budgets. Ask how they decide which features to focus on first. Do they rely on user feedback, stakeholder input, or a mix of both? Understanding their prioritization strategy can ensure crucial elements of your project aren’t overlooked.

What considerations do you take into account for the lifecycle of your designed systems?

Lifecycle considerations extend beyond sustainability. Probe into their understanding of how the system will perform over time. Do they think about maintenance, upgrades, and eventual decommission? Their long-term thinking can save you headaches down the line.

Can you explain how you measure the success of your PSS designs?

Understanding how success is measured is crucial for evaluating a candidate’s effectiveness. Do they rely on KPIs, user satisfaction surveys, or other metrics? Their success measurement strategy can offer a glimpse into their project evaluation methods.

Describe a situation where you had to pivot your design approach due to market feedback or technological constraints.

Pivots can be game-changers. Ask about instances where they had to switch gears based on feedback or constraints. How did they handle the transition? Their adaptability can be a strong indicator of their problem-solving abilities.

What techniques do you use to visualize complex systems and communicate them to stakeholders?

Effective communication is key in PSS design. Investigate the techniques they use to visualize and present complex systems. Do they create detailed flowcharts, use specialized software, or employ simple drawings? Their visualization skills can affect stakeholder buy-in.

How do you conduct competitive analysis for your PSS projects?

Competitive analysis can provide invaluable insights. Ask about their methods for researching competitors. What tools and techniques do they use? Understanding their approach to competitive analysis can help you gauge their strategic thinking.

What is your experience with service blueprints and customer journey mapping?

Service blueprints and customer journey maps are foundational tools in PSS design. Inquire about their experience with these methodologies. How do they create and leverage these maps to improve designs? Their expertise in these tools can be a valuable asset to your team.