Digital Twin in the IoT context: a survey on technical features, scenarios and architectural models

Digital Twin is an emerging concept that is gaining attention in various industries. It refers to the ability to clone a physical object into a software counterpart. The softwarized object, termed logical object, reflects all the important properties and characteristics of the original object within a specific application context. To fully determine the expected properties of the Digital Twin, this paper surveys the state of the art starting from the original definition within the manufacturing industry. It takes into account related proposals emerging in other fields, namely, Augmented and Virtual Reality (e.g., avatars), Multi-agent systems, and virtualization. This survey thereby allows for the identification of an extensive set of Digital Twin features that point to the “softwarization” of physical objects. To properly consolidate a shared Digital Twin definition, a set of foundational properties is identified and proposed as a common ground outlining the essential characteristics (must-haves) of a Digital Twin. Once the Digital Twin definition has been consolidated, its technical and business value is discussed in terms of applicability and opportunities. Four application scenarios illustrate how the Digital Twin concept can be used and how some industries are applying it. The scenarios also lead to a generic DT architectural Model. This analysis is then complemented by the identification of software architecture models and guidelines in order to present a general functional framework for the Digital Twin. The paper, eventually, analyses a set of possible evolution paths for the Digital Twin considering its possible usage as a major enabler for the softwarization process

Exploring Implementation Strategies of IoT Technology in Organizations: Technology, Organization, and Environment

AbstractAfter organizations successfully adopt the internet of things (IoT) technology, many corporate information technology (IT) leaders face challenges during the implementation phase. Corporate IT leaders\u27 potential failures in implementing IoT devices may impede organizations from integrating IoT solutions and promoting business benefits. Grounded in technology-organization-environment (TOE) theory, the purpose of this qualitative, pragmatic inquiry study was to explore strategies that corporate IT leaders use to implement IoT technology in their organizations. The participants were six corporate healthcare IT leaders who successfully used implementation strategies for implementing IoT solutions for their organizations. Data were collected using semistructured interviews and industry security documents. After using the thematic analysis for the data analysis process, six themes were identified: using all identified internal project staff skills, aligning current IoT technology with business needs, using all identified current internal infrastructure, using all identified external support technologies, taking full advantage of vendor support, and using all identified external influencers and influences. A key recommendation for IT leaders is to use the IoT ecosystem from the implemented IoT solutions to promote benefits and profits. The implications for positive social change include the potential to improve technology to support and encourage benefits to organizations and increase the number of organizations successfully implementing IoT technology. Businesses and end-users can benefit from the IoT ecosystem with IoT devices in smart cities, offices, hospitals, or homes

Exploring Implementation Strategies of IoT Technology in Organizations: Technology, Organization, and Environment

AbstractAfter organizations successfully adopt the internet of things (IoT) technology, many corporate information technology (IT) leaders face challenges during the implementation phase. Corporate IT leaders\u27 potential failures in implementing IoT devices may impede organizations from integrating IoT solutions and promoting business benefits. Grounded in technology-organization-environment (TOE) theory, the purpose of this qualitative, pragmatic inquiry study was to explore strategies that corporate IT leaders use to implement IoT technology in their organizations. The participants were six corporate healthcare IT leaders who successfully used implementation strategies for implementing IoT solutions for their organizations. Data were collected using semistructured interviews and industry security documents. After using the thematic analysis for the data analysis process, six themes were identified: using all identified internal project staff skills, aligning current IoT technology with business needs, using all identified current internal infrastructure, using all identified external support technologies, taking full advantage of vendor support, and using all identified external influencers and influences. A key recommendation for IT leaders is to use the IoT ecosystem from the implemented IoT solutions to promote benefits and profits. The implications for positive social change include the potential to improve technology to support and encourage benefits to organizations and increase the number of organizations successfully implementing IoT technology. Businesses and end-users can benefit from the IoT ecosystem with IoT devices in smart cities, offices, hospitals, or homes