Professor Hsin Kuan Brought New Momentum to the College of Management Through Service Design

Assistant Professor Hsin Kuan of the Business Administration Division in the College of Management at Yuan Ze University brought substantial practical expertise to the college through her specialization in service innovation, digital transformation, and strategic responses. Professor Kuan focused on exploring how enterprises could integrate technology with service design to strengthen organizational competitiveness.

Professor Kuan possessed extensive research and practical experience. She had previously participated in research and transformation projects such as the innovation redesign of Louisa Coffee’s chain stores, the digital transformation of Singapore Changi Airport, and the scenario design for the Future Community Project in Hangzhou. These experiences convinced her that digital transformation was not merely about adopting technology; rather, it involved organizational culture, internal decision-making, and user experience. She emphasized that enterprises seeking innovation could not rely solely on technology—they needed to design operational models that truly aligned with user needs.

In her teaching, Professor Kuan stressed “learning by doing” and insisted on starting with real-world problems before introducing theoretical frameworks, enabling students to achieve genuine integration of knowledge and practice. She stated that the value of knowledge lies in its ability to respond to real-world issues. This was also the reason she chose to join the College of Management at Yuan Ze University—she strongly agreed with the college’s emphasis on integrating academia and industry and encouraging scholars to apply theories to real business contexts. She hoped to promote more projects related to digital transformation and service innovation, allowing students to experience industrial change firsthand through case analysis, decision-making simulations, and corporate collaborations.

During her participation in a United Nations Future Literacy Workshop, Professor Kuan also developed a deeper appreciation for the importance of “two-way dialogue.” She observed that while scholars cared about smart cities and digital governance, community residents were more concerned about local interaction and “friendly healthcare services.” This experience reminded her that innovation was not a one-directional process but one that required deep dialogue and empathy.

If her philosophy were to be summarized in three keywords, they would be “innovation, practice, and interdisciplinarity.” For her, “innovation” was not merely technological breakthroughs but a mindset centered on discovering new possibilities and making existing systems better aligned with market needs. “Practice” reflected her belief that research should not remain theoretical but must be translated into actionable strategies grounded in market insight and execution. “Interdisciplinarity” characterized her approach to problem-solving, allowing her to analyze issues from diverse perspectives, understand user needs, and enhance experiential value through innovative solutions.

Beyond academia, Professor Kuan enjoyed traveling—she had visited 16 countries—and also engaged in scuba diving, rock climbing, and volleyball. She loved observing consumer behavior across different cultures to gather creative inspiration and believed that physical activities provided opportunities for self-discovery and challenge. She firmly believed that true innovation stemmed from careful observation of the world and that the best changes arose from the courage to embrace the unknown.