Table 1 Sample verbatim extracts... | Emerald Publishing

Table 1

Sample verbatim extracts concerning boundary definitions, knowledge accumulation, domain integration and legitimization

Key areas	Specific issues	Main suggestions
Definition of boundaries, knowledge accumulation and domain integration	Lack of precision in describing the phenomena. (Associate Professor 5) Development of a unified body of knowledge. (Assistant Professor 2) … getting a consistent theoretical underpinning – currently I feel there are too many competing/rival streams of research in the area. (Professor 7) Theoretical development of the field has been spotty and fragmented, which is understandable given the cross-disciplinary nature of the field and complexity of the phenomenon. (Associate Professor 2) Lack of using existing contributions as a background for new contributions. (Associate Professor 16) …Servitization literature refers to concepts without defining them properly and that generates confusion. (Associate Professor 17) We now have specific conferences dealing with servitization, which contributes to integrating different research fronts: Business models, service innovations, operations and digitalization. However, we do not have formal structures like a journal devoted specifically to servitization topics. (Associate Professor 7)	The creation of “boundaries” to state more clearly which cases, offerings and business models can be considered servitized and which cannot. (Assistant Professor 2) First of all, the clarification of terms used in this field of research. Unification of different synonyms (e.g. hybrid product, functional sale). (Assistant Professor 2) Try to develop a common lexicon, so at least everyone is talking about the same thing when words such as “advanced services”, “servitization”, “service infusion”, “solutions” and PSSs are discussed. Make authors aware that related research is published in different streams from the one they may currently be trying to publish in. (Associate Professor 4) Supporting already extant research. It seems to me that researchers on servitization just look at the servitization literature instead of comparing their findings with those from other operations management literature. (Professor 1) …Further elaboration of connections to base disciplines as well as within the servitization literature might help. (Associate Professor 2) Consolidating research output by combining or juxtaposing results from existing studies. (Assistant Professor 9) …A more interdisciplinary approach may be needed. (Associate Professor 17) …Further maturing of the methodologies and theory will enable combining insights between qualitative and quantitative studies and hence moving the field forward. (Associate Professor 13) …Through research done by multidisciplinary teams. (other 1) …With journals accepting cross-fertilization. (Professor 5)
Legitimization of the domain	It will be to overcome the validity challenge. Servitization needs to follow other examples like TQM (total quality management). There is a necessity to clarify its principles, conceptual frameworks and tools. (Associate Professor 7)	In order for servitization research to gain wider recognition also beyond the core field, theory building is crucial. (Assistant Professor 4) That said, trying to better use existing theories (from outside servitization) also seems important to receive attention from prestigious journals (hence I “agree” with the middle question). (Associate Professor 4) …Increasing the quality at subject-specific conferences. We also need to consider how we have special sessions/tracks in other conferences to draw attention. (Assistant Professor 7) Invite reviewers from research fields that have applied the theories in depth. (Assistant Professor 9)

Key areas	Specific issues	Main suggestions
Definition of boundaries, knowledge accumulation and domain integration	Lack of precision in describing the phenomena. (Associate Professor 5)Development of a unified body of knowledge. (Assistant Professor 2)… getting a consistent theoretical underpinning – currently I feel there are too many competing/rival streams of research in the area. (Professor 7)Theoretical development of the field has been spotty and fragmented, which is understandable given the cross-disciplinary nature of the field and complexity of the phenomenon. (Associate Professor 2)Lack of using existing contributions as a background for new contributions. (Associate Professor 16)…Servitization literature refers to concepts without defining them properly and that generates confusion. (Associate Professor 17)We now have specific conferences dealing with servitization, which contributes to integrating different research fronts: Business models, service innovations, operations and digitalization. However, we do not have formal structures like a journal devoted specifically to servitization topics. (Associate Professor 7)	The creation of “boundaries” to state more clearly which cases, offerings and business models can be considered servitized and which cannot. (Assistant Professor 2)First of all, the clarification of terms used in this field of research. Unification of different synonyms (e.g. hybrid product, functional sale). (Assistant Professor 2)Try to develop a common lexicon, so at least everyone is talking about the same thing when words such as “advanced services”, “servitization”, “service infusion”, “solutions” and PSSs are discussed. Make authors aware that related research is published in different streams from the one they may currently be trying to publish in. (Associate Professor 4)Supporting already extant research. It seems to me that researchers on servitization just look at the servitization literature instead of comparing their findings with those from other operations management literature. (Professor 1)…Further elaboration of connections to base disciplines as well as within the servitization literature might help. (Associate Professor 2)Consolidating research output by combining or juxtaposing results from existing studies. (Assistant Professor 9)…A more interdisciplinary approach may be needed. (Associate Professor 17)…Further maturing of the methodologies and theory will enable combining insights between qualitative and quantitative studies and hence moving the field forward. (Associate Professor 13)…Through research done by multidisciplinary teams. (other 1)…With journals accepting cross-fertilization. (Professor 5)
Legitimization of the domain	It will be to overcome the validity challenge. Servitization needs to follow other examples like TQM (total quality management). There is a necessity to clarify its principles, conceptual frameworks and tools. (Associate Professor 7)	In order for servitization research to gain wider recognition also beyond the core field, theory building is crucial. (Assistant Professor 4)That said, trying to better use existing theories (from outside servitization) also seems important to receive attention from prestigious journals (hence I “agree” with the middle question). (Associate Professor 4)…Increasing the quality at subject-specific conferences. We also need to consider how we have special sessions/tracks in other conferences to draw attention. (Assistant Professor 7)Invite reviewers from research fields that have applied the theories in depth. (Assistant Professor 9)