The general aim of the Laboratory of Service Systems (SeSLab) is to study possibilities of services provision and their IT support (which is similarly provisioned as a service), so that they bring maximal value to their users. The specific research in separate laboratory sections is then based on this general idea.
In all the sections we try to apply a complex approach, based on a 4 diamonds model. It's a specific model which helps to understand the connections between different contexts of the cities and their mutual relationships. It allows us to include non technical aspects into our model examples (human factors, social dimensions, etc.). This approach leads to a definition of new solutions that are better accepted by the cities, their residents and other stakeholders - because it brings more added value that all the involved parties clearly understand.
Laboratory Sections
Service Design
Service Design team focuses on projects addressing current challenges faced by cities and municipalities related to the implementation of Smart City methodologies, particularly from the perspective of IT services utilization. We conduct research on the added value of "smart services," examining the role of IT in this added value and seeking the best ways to develop, maintain, and manage these services.
We also engage in the application of IT within the concept of urban and community resilience. We explore how to properly design IT services to contribute to city development according to the latest requirements, such as carbon neutrality, resilience, and green cities.
Section supervisors:
Ing. Leonard Walletzký, Ph.D., Mgr. Zuzana Hruška
Multi-agent systems and Knowledge Graphs
Our team focuses on researching the use of multi-agent systems and knowledge graphs in the context of smart city services. We address challenges such as connecting contexts across different urban service domains, modeling knowledge about the environment and city actors, and exploring how agent-based approaches can contribute to adaptive, collaborative, and sustainable management of urban systems. We are particularly interested in the coordination of heterogeneous agents, the representation and sharing of knowledge through semantic technologies and graph structures, and the application of these approaches to support decision-making, predictive modeling, and autonomous control of city processes. Our goal is to develop intelligent, interconnected, and explainable systems capable of effectively responding to the dynamics of urban environments.
Section supervisor:
Ing. Patrik Procházka
T-shape
The laboratory is dedicated to cultivating T-shaped skills—deep technical IT expertise combined with a broad understanding across other fields. This skill set is increasingly valued in both research and industry.
Currently, the team is collaborating with several IT companies to study how interdisciplinary knowledge shapes today’s workforce and whether employees embody the T-shaped skill profile. We are examining if employees are developing skills beyond their core IT expertise and how familiar they are with the T-shaped concept.
This research helps us equip students with T-shaped skills to thrive in versatile, interdisciplinary roles. The goal? To build a generation of adaptable, well-rounded professionals ready for tomorrow’s challenges.
Section supervisors:
Mgr. Bc. Klára Kubíčková, Mgr. Janka Marschalková
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History of the Laboratory
The Laboratory of Service Systems has been established along the new program Service Science, Management and Engineering (SSME), now called Software Systems and Services Management. The program was brought to the Faculty of Informatics by Ing. Jaroslav Zelený, CSc. (now also a laboratory member), an IBM Czech Republic employee of the time responsible for collaboration with academia. The historically first supervisor of the laboratory was RNDr. Zdenko Staníček, Ph.D. He was also a key person in the SSME program, thanks to whom it grew from 18 students in 2008 to over 200 in 2010.
The increase of students led to organizational problems and discussions about the program contents. Big changes happened in the extent and structure of the study courses and also in the organization of external internships. These changes were prepared and made by the current members of the laboratory, Ing. Leonard Walletzký, Ph.D. and Ing. Jaroslav Zelený CSc. The present-day version of Services development management specialization of Software systems and services management program is built on these changes.
The laboratory has always synergically supported research through a multidisciplinary approach to services. Zdenko Staníček has created the 4 Diamond Theory on its premises, which is being taught in the program up until today.
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Vision of the Laboratory
The laboratory has been growing since year 2018, when the Smart City field has entered the main stage of its research. The goal is to build from the Laboratory of Service Systems in 4 years a renowned facility, collaborating with municipalities and companies dealing with service science (on the fields of Smart City and Open Data, in the past also ERP systems), and assure lasting transfer of research results to applications and practice, including adequate grant financing.
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Values and Rules
We cultivate team collaboration of all laboratory members, always seeking synergies, how to improve our work together. Bi-weekly meetings of the whole laboratory, during which we discuss such opportunities, help assure that. We follow the motto "Success of an individual is the success of the laboratory and vice versa." We collaborate with faculty through Masaryk University, namely with Faculty of Economics and Administration and Faculty of Social Studies.
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Strategy
The laboratory recruits new members among students. All students, not only of SSME and RSSS programs, are welcome if they wish to partake in research. All students who write their final thesis under the supervision of a senior laboratory member automatically become laboratory members. It is also possible to earn credits for involvement in the laboratory: members enroll in the PV202 Laboratory of Service Systems course. The course can be registered repeatedly.
All student members of the laboratory, when they communicate interest, can participate in academic activity of the laboratory, such as co-authoring scholarly conference and journal papers.
Videopresentation of the laboratory
The laboratory created their own videopresentation for the Open Doors Day at FI in 2021. For now, the video is only available in Czech language.