Study Guide

Learning outcomes

The student is able to
- plan, implement and evaluate a Service Design project with service design methods
- develop sustainable practices in organisations

Teaching methods

The project is completed in cooperation with a working life partner in a P2P learning environment. Working life partner is Laurea UAS' research, development, and innovation project SURE – Performance, Resilience and Vitality through Continuous Learning at Work.

The enrolled students will develop their competencies related to the study in question during this project implementation.

Interactive online implementation:
The project is conducted online and does not require attendance on campus. The project includes, in addition to teamwork, scheduled guidance online, which is not recorded and requires participation. An independently studied part (in Canvas) supports the project implementation. Studying requires active participation and commitment to interactive project work. You will receive individual feedback for assignments from the teacher, and working life or peer feedback are also utilised.

Project’s guidance and working sessions can be viewed in Timetable Engine / Tuudo. Communication practices are agreed on a project-specific basis.

Laurea reserves the right to make changes.

Quality of implementation has been evaluated and self-evaluation report is available Teams.

Location and time

Please refer to the Timetable Engine at https://lukkarit.laurea.fi/ for the schedule information. Laurea reserves the right to modify the timetable.

Learning materials and recommended literature

The source materials needed for the subject area of the project are selected separately after the project assignment.

Alternative completion methods of implementation

According to the degree regulations (2024), "Students are entitled to apply for recognition of prior learning regardless of where, when and how the competence has been acquired. ... At Laurea, there are two different procedures for the recognition and accreditation of prior learning: a) accreditation of prior learning (competence acquired in higher education studies at another institution) and b) demonstration of competence (competence acquired in other ways). The recognition and accreditation of prior learning is initiated by the student themselves. The student is responsible for demonstrating and verifying their competence. The student is entitled to guidance for the recognition and accreditation of their competence." Further information in the student intranet.

Co-operation with working life and/or RDI

Working life partner: Laurea UAS' research, development, and innovation project SURE – Performance, Resilience and Vitality through Continuous Learning at Work

Important dates

Kick-Off (mandatory participation): Wednesday, January 15, 2025 at 11-12, Teams.

It is compulsory to participate in the project kickoff meeting so that everyone participating in the project will receive the information on the project task.

Project guidance is offered on a weekly basis. The student can compare the available guidance sessions in Timetable Engine and select those projects/studies that do not overlap.

According to the degree regulations (2024) "the student must be present at the first contact lesson or notify the teacher in charge of their absence to confirm their participation in the study. Registration will be rejected if the student does not report their absence at the start of the study or the reason for the absence cannot be considered justified. Another student can be taken in their place. In project studies the first contact lesson is the first meeting of the project team and guiding lecture(s).

Forms of internationality

The project is suitable for exchange students.

Students workload

Workload of the study is measured in a way that to acquire the goal competence of the study, one credit corresponds to an average of 26.7 hours of work done by the student. The actual time needed varies e.g. according to prior competence.

Content and scheduling

Project Goal:
This project aims to support the deployment of a generative AI solution tailored for the Finnish export industry. The solution will help SMEs plan for their future skills needs over the next 3–5 years. Students will focus on creating a clear service promise, making the tool user-friendly, and ensuring its deployment aligns with sustainability and ethical principles.
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Key Tasks:
1. Service Promise Design:
o Identify the key strengths and benefits of the AI solution.
o Create a clear, easy-to-understand service promise that explains how the tool helps SMEs plan for future skills needs.
o Visualize the customer experience by creating a journey map or a service blueprint to identify key touchpoints where SMEs interact with the tool and areas for improvement.
2. User Research:
o Conduct light research to understand SMEs’ needs, challenges, and expectations related to the AI tool.
3. Making the Solution User-Friendly (Productization):
o Define the tool’s most important features and explain them in simple terms.
o Identify how SMEs with varying levels of digital expertise can use the tool easily.
o Prepare supporting materials such as:
 A user guide.
 FAQs.
 Quick-start instructions or a step-by-step process.
4. Implementation Roadmap:
o Develop a plan to introduce the AI tool to SMEs, including outreach strategies and communication plans.
o Suggest simple ways to raise awareness about the tool, such as through professional networks or online platforms.
5. Sustainability and Ethics:
o Reflect on how the AI solution can support environmental, social, and economic sustainability.
o Consider key ethical issues, such as GDPR compliance, fairness, accessibility, and inclusivity.
6. Pilot Workshops or Training Simulations:
o Design materials for a mock workshop or training session to demonstrate how the tool could be introduced to SMEs.
7. Communication Practice:
o Use LinkedIn or other professional platforms to:
 Share project updates and insights.
 Practice stakeholder engagement.
 Build awareness of the AI solution.
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Expected Outcomes:
By the end of the project, students will have:
• Defined a clear and compelling service promise tailored to Finnish SMEs’ needs.
• Created a journey map or service blueprint outlining SMEs' interaction with the AI tool.
• Conducted light user research.
• Produced supporting materials to make the AI tool user-friendly.
• Developed an implementation roadmap for introducing the tool to SMEs.
• Reflected on sustainability and ethical aspects to ensure responsible deployment.
• Designed materials for a pilot workshop or training session.
• Practiced professional communication and stakeholder engagement through LinkedIn or similar platforms.

Further information for students

The study unit corresponds to the requirements of Bachelor's level education.

This study implementation is a P2P project meaning that the project is completed in a small group and guided by a teacher. Participating in the project requires attendance in the project guidance meetings and group meetings.

The prerequisite for participation is always that the possible competence prerequisites according to the curriculum (previous study or similar competence) are fulfilled. The student is responsible for taking into account the prerequisite conditions.

Grading scale

H-5

Further information

The project provides similar competences as study units R0216 Service Design ja Corporate Social Responsibility. Thus if you have completed this study entity you can not include the these two in your degree.