Complexity of Configurators Relative to Integrations and Field of Application

Configurators are applied widely to automate the specification processes at companies. The literature describes industrial application of configurators supporting both sales and engineering processes, where configurators supporting the engineering processes are described more challenging. Moreover, configurators are commonly integrated to various IT systems within companies. Complexity of configurators is an important factor when it comes to performance, development and maintenance of the systems. Yet, a direct comparison of the complexity based on the different application and IT integrations is not addressed to great extent in the literature. Thus, this paper analyses the relationship of complexity of the configurators, which is based on parameters (rules and attributes), in terms of first different applications of configurators (sales and engineering), and second integrations to other IT systems. The research method adopted in the paper is based on a survey followed with interviews where the unit of analysis is based on operating configurators within a company

Future Digital Workplace - Developing a Tool for the Hardware Selection of Knowledge Workers

In the recent past, researchers have conducted investigations with different implications for the design of the future digital workplace. Several researchers advocate user autonomy regarding the selection of the workplace hardware. Other scholars advise enterprises to keep governance in terms of knowledge workers hardware selection. Because of that, companies are in a conflict: On the one hand they want to allow their knowledge workers more independence and autonomy regarding the selection and deployment of hardware. On the other hand they want to keep a minimum of governance within the hardware selection process. In our ongoing research project we are following the Design Science Research Methodology in order to develop and design a need-based configurator prototype for the selection of knowledge worker’s workplace hardware. The configurator shall serve as a solution for the conflict described above and consider the interests of employees and employers