Case Studies on SGE - System Generation Engineering and Product Evolution

Structure of the file

The Excel file contains several worksheets. Each worksheet represents a specific part of the research dataset. The exact sheet names may vary depending on the published version of the file, but the dataset generally includes the following types of information:

1. README / Dataset Documentation: This sheet explains the purpose, structure, terminology, and limitations of the dataset.

2. Case Studies: Overview of the 12 Case studies.

3. I_Cases (System Generations and Product Profiles): This sheet contains information about the investigated system generations and their associated product profiles. A system generation represents a specific generation of a technical system within one case study. Product profiles describe the intended or communicated benefit bundle of a system generation, including customer, user, and provider benefit where reconstructable.

4. II_SGE Data (Variations and Reference System Elements): This sheet contains information about observed variations between system generations and the corresponding reference system elements. Variation types are classified according to the SGE terminology: Carryover Variation (CV), Attribute Variation (AV), and Principle Variation (PV). The sheet may also include information about the origin of reference system elements, such as predecessor generations, competitors, other internal product lines, other industries, standards, or planned future generations.

5. III_Context Data: This sheet contains context factors identified in the retrospective case studies. Context factors describe contextual influences on the development and market success of system generations. They may include macroeconomic, microeconomic, and company-internal factors.

6. 1-12: Visualizations for each Case Study: The data vor each case study is visualized via dynamic visualizations.

If you use this dataset, please cite the associated dissertation:

Pfaff, F. (2026). Die Evolution technischer Systeme: Untersuchung der Zusammenhänge von SGE – Systemgenerationsentwicklung, Produktumfeld und Innovation. The Evolution of Technical Systems: Investigation of the Relationships between SGE – System Generation Engineering, Product Context, and Innovation. In A. Albers & S. Matthiesen (Hrsg.), Forschungsberichte des IPEK - Institut für Produktentwicklung. Systeme, Methoden, Prozesse (Bd. 200). Karlsruhe: Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT). https://doi.org/10.5445/IR/1000195977