An umbrella review of product-service systems: Analysis of review papers characteristics, research trends and underexplored topics

Product-Service systems (PSS) is a somewhat established field, and many literature reviews looking at the stateof-the-art in PSS research have been conducted. Nevertheless, a broad picture of all research developed over the years and the progress of the field is still missing. Aiming to provide a clear picture of how the literature has evolved over the years and the status of the body of knowledge on the topic, this paper analyzes PSS-related literature review papers, identifies what aspects of this body of research are well developed, the progress achieved so far and remaining underexplored topics. An umbrella review (i.e., a review of reviews) was conducted, selecting 45 PSS-related review papers. The characteristics of the reviews are classified according to seven review types. A PSS-related literature review timeline is developed, divided into four research periods according to the publications' focus (themes, macro-topics and topics), similarities, timeframe, and review types. The results show that descriptive reviews are the most common in PSS-related literature. The paper provides a general picture of PSS-related literature review papers, focusing on the review types, thematic evolution, topics covered by the analyzed reviews, and underexplored research topics that could contribute to bring new insights to PSS-related research. There is a lack of quantitative studies in PSS literature; therefore, meta-analyses have not been developed in the area until now. Research on PSS business model and innovation topics are scare, and could be connected with marketing and strategy. The research opportunities highlighted in this study offer a broader perspective to readers as those cover the point of view of different authors from different research fields. More studies synthesizing the results of PSS-related research and contrasting the opinions of the different research communities should be conducted to advance PSS knowledge.

Automated summary

This study aims to provide a clear picture of the literature on Product-Service Systems (PSS), analyzing 45 PSS-related review papers. The results show that descriptive reviews are the most common, indicating a lack of quantitative studies and meta-analyses. The study highlights the need for more research on PSS business models, innovation, and their connection with marketing and strategy.