Study on Effective Collaboration Process in the Product Development of Type B Continuous Vocational Aid Centers Products

Abstract

The Services and Supports for Persons with Disabilities Act requires that Type B Continuous Vocational Aid Centers (VACs) develop marketable products. However, most social welfare agencies cannot design and market high-quality sheltered work products, so they need to collaborate with external experts. In this study, we focused on non- food products and two successful examples of such collaborations, one with the local government and the other with a commercial company, were analyzed to identify the factors underlying their success. Results showed that important success factors included application of active learning methods to encourage VACs members to take their own initiatives, designers’ on-site design process with VACs staff and disabled workers to create new ideas that utilize the workers’ characteristics, and sales site oriented product development with help of connoisseur of merchandise which attracts consumers. We applied these factors to a smaller scale collaboration project and found them effective.