Translational Service Research And Design Methodology (TSRDM)
A new Service Research and Design Methodology in EXPLORATION
Cocreated by: Warg, Markus; Böhmann, Tilo; Spohrer, Jim; Neuhüttler, Jens; Gruhn, Volker; Carrubbo, Luca; Burmeister, Marc-Alexander;
Translational Service Research And Design Methodology (TSRDM) is a structured approach used to localizing and operationalizing conceptual service research insights and to transfer them into the design of practical outputs, ensuring their relevance, usability, and sustained implementation in real-world systems.
Key Features of Translational Service Research And Design Methodology (TSRDM)
- TSRDM bridges the Gap between Theory and Practice by combining Service Research, Translational Research and Design Research
- Supplementary to existing service research methodologies which focus either on the theoretical / conceptual foundations or on the design of artifacts and solutions, TSRDM focuses on the transfer, the translation of the foundations into the design of practical outputs
- At the core of TSRDM are the linkages and translational services, concepts, structures or frameworks
- Scientific rigor and practical and societal relevance
- Iterative and continuous process
The TSRDM Process:
1. Objectives definition
2. Methodical considerations
3. Knowledge base
4. Objectives related solution mechanisms
5. Translation to practice
6. Design principles and patterns
7. Implementation research
8. Outcomes research, findings and knowledge building
Warg et al. (2025), The TSRDM Process
Why?
At the Naples Forum on Service 2025 I (Markus Warg) asked Steve Vargo, co-founder of Service-Dominant Logic (S-D L), what he thought needed to be done to make S-D L or Service Science more relevant to practice. He replied that in his opinion this is not the role of base or grand theories.
After repeated reflection, I have come to the conclusion that Steve Vargo is right. The task of a basis or grand theory is to explain social and economic mechanisms in an abstract and holistic way; developing relevance for practice is not its task.
However, this left open my question of how the discoveries of theories can be better transferred into practice. The usual research methods such as conceptual paper, design science research or case studies are either conceptual or practical in nature and if they combine both sides then they usually bridge the gap in a very specific way of object definitions.
Summarized: how to bridge the gap between basic and applied research and how to systematically use scientific knowledge to improve human life?
Translational research as the missing piece of the puzzle. The concept of translational research originally comes from clinical research and is intended in bridging two key “gaps” by first moving discoveries from "bench to bedside" and second "into clinical practice" (Sung et al., 2003). Translational research is to bridge basic and applied research to find innovative treatment for societal benefit (Dayal & Heath, 2025; Kong & Segre, 2010; Murdock & Stephenson, 2024). This intention expanded to the translational research continuum, emphasizing the broader process of translating research into practice and community health impact (Woolf, 2008). Khoury et al. (Khoury et al., 2007) introduced a four-phase (T1–T4) model, representing the evolution in how translational research is conceptualized.
Several influential papers are recognized as foundational in defining and shaping the field of translational research. A systematic review identified three main "families" of definitions, each anchored by highly cited original papers:
- Sung et al. (2003): This paper is widely credited with formalizing the concept of translational research as bridging two key “gaps” (T1 and T2) in moving discoveries from bench to bedside and into clinical practice. It is one of the most cited and influential works in the field (Sung et al., 2003).
- Westfall et al. (2007): This work expanded on the translational research continuum, emphasizing the broader process of translating research into practice and community health impact (Westfall & Mensah, 2018).
- Woolf (2008): Woolf’s paper is notable for defining translational research as a continuous process, rather than discrete gaps, and is heavily cited in subsequent literature (Woolf, 2008).
- Khoury et al. (2007): Introduced a four-phase (T1–T4) model, representing a further evolution in how translational research is conceptualized (Khoury et al., 2007; Dayal & Heath, 2025; Khoury et al., 2007)
References
Blümel, Clemens, Gauch, Stephan, Hendriks, Barbara, Krüger, Anne K, & Reinhart, Martin. (2015). In search of translational research. Report on the Development and Current Understanding of a New Terminology in Medical Research and Practice. iFQ-BIH-Report. Berlin institute of health.
Dayal, S., & Heath, J. (2025). What is Translational Research? Retrieved from https://www.leicabiosystems.com/de-de/educational-resources/articles/what-is-translational-research/
Haile, M. (2022). Bridging the Gap: The Benefits of Scientific communication for Scientists and Society by Mulatwa Haile. Retrieved from https://newkirkcenter.uci.edu/2022/05/31/bridging-the-gap-the-benefits-of-scientific-communication-for-scientists-and-society-by-mulatwa-haile/
Khoury, Muin J, Gwinn, Marta, Yoon, Paula W, Dowling, Nicole, Moore, Cynthia A, & Bradley, Linda. (2007). The continuum of translation research in genomic medicine: how can we accelerate the appropriate integration of human genome discoveries into health care and disease prevention? Genetics in Medicine, 9(10), 665-674.
Kong, Heidi H, & Segre, Julia A. (2010). Bridging the translational research gap: a successful partnership involving a physician and a basic scientist. The Journal of investigative dermatology, 130(6), 1478.
Murdock, Lan, & Stephenson, Rose. (2024). Advancing Translational Research. Journal of Translational Research, 1(1), 2432753.
Sung, Nancy S, Crowley, William F, Genel, Myron, Salber, Patricia, Sandy, Lewis, Sherwood, Louis M, . . . Getz, Kenneth. (2003). Central challenges facing the national clinical research enterprise. Jama, 289(10), 1278-1287.
Westfall, John M, & Mensah, George A. (2018). T4 translational moonshot: making cardiovascular discoveries work for everyone. Circulation research, 122(2), 210-212.
Woolf, Steven H. (2008). The meaning of translational research and why it matters. Jama, 299(2), 211-213.
