Smart service systems enable innovative value propositions based on smart products and data-driven value creation. Grounded in service-dominant logic as our theoretical lens, we argue that smart service innovation takes place in ecosystems of collaborating actors, as a single actor does not possess all required resources and competencies. We empirically explore smart service innovation using an interview study of 14 experts who were involved in real-world smart service systems engineering projects. As a result, we conceptualize 17 roles that describe the resources and competencies required for smart service innovation at an abstract level. Through the analysis of actor-role constellations in our sample of projects, we further identify four patterns that exhibit different strategic approaches to smart service innovation. Our results advance the theoretical understanding of smart service systems through an empirically grounded systematization of roles, which reflect the resources and competencies required for smart service innovation. With this study, we shed light on the multi-actor and inter-organizational settings of service innovation processes, which have been under-researched so far. Our insights are further helpful for practitioners, who participate in the smart service innovation and who need to analyze their strategic position in service ecosystems.

智能服务系统可基于智能产品和数据驱动的价值创造来实现创新的价值主张。我们以服务主导型逻辑作为我们的理论视角，我们认为智能服务创新发生在协作参与者的生态系统中，因为单个参与者没有拥有所有必需的资源和能力。我们通过对14位参与现实世界智能服务系统工程项目的专家的访谈研究，以经验方式探索智能服务创新。结果，我们概念化了17个角色，这些角色从抽象的角度描述了智能服务创新所需的资源和能力。通过对我们的项目样本中的角色角色星座进行分析，我们进一步确定了四种模式，这些模式展示了智能服务创新的不同战略方法。我们的研究结果通过以经验为基础的角色系统化，进一步提高了对智能服务系统的理论理解，这反映了智能服务创新所需的资源和能力。通过这项研究，我们揭示了服务创新过程的多参与者和组织间设置，到目前为止，这些设置尚未得到充分研究。我们的见解进一步为从业者，参与智能服务创新并需要分析其在服务生态系统中的战略地位的从业者提供帮助。到目前为止，尚未对此进行深入研究。我们的见解进一步为从业者，参与智能服务创新并需要分析其在服务生态系统中的战略地位的从业者提供帮助。到目前为止，尚未对此进行深入研究。我们的见解进一步为从业者，参与智能服务创新并需要分析其在服务生态系统中的战略地位的从业者提供帮助。