Strengthening Capacity in Industrial Revolution 4.0 (IR 4.0): A Case Study on Training Product-service Systems Between the US and Vietnam

This case study analyzes how value is created in the development process of a collaborative training product-service system (PSS) designed for provincial government officials in Vietnam. This initiative, part of the USAID Strengthening Provincial Capacity (USAID SPC) project, encapsulates a series of training solutions designed to empower officials with key skills in engineering and technology management, including the knowledge to improve global value chains, upgrade technology infrastructure and sustainable production models. A primary driver for the “four-day course delivery”, the PSS analyzed in this study, was to bolster economic competitiveness at the provincial level in the context of Industrial Revolution 4.0 (IR 4.0). This case study offers lessons on stakeholder-value mapping and recommendations for future approaches to training courses development that enhances capacity development. These trainings aligned with the demands of balancing organizational development and public value creation in the context of developing countries transitioning to a knowledge economy, such as Vietnam. The learnings from this case study may provide a blueprint for similar endeavors in other countries navigating the complexities of digital transformation of public services.