Analytics Use Cases for Mass Customization – A Process-based Approach for Systematic Discovery

Nowadays, mass customization (MC) is shaped by the application of digital technologies like computer-aided design, computer aided manufacturing, and distribution planning. Within a MC process, various data is created, which can be used to gain knowledge about past and future business activities by means of modern data analytics methods. The paper at hand applies design science research and presents a process-based approach for identifying potential analytics use cases for MC. For this purpose, a generic MC process is derived from previous literature and a systematic analysis is carried out using the work systems method. The resulting artifact offers a differentiated view on customers, products, activities, participants, technologies, and information as well as on the information flows within the MC process. It enables manufacturers to identify valuable opportunities for analytics and to optimize current MC processes. Furthermore, it can be used to develop a systematic process for the discovery and evaluation of analytics use cases and novel business models in the future

An evaluation of user acceptance of a corporate intranet

Intranets represent an important organisational resource for knowledge sharing. However, as yet, there has been little research into the quality of intranets and the impact of quality on intranet user acceptance. In the study reported in this paper, an intranet quality assessment tool comprising the dimensions usability, design, and information quality, is combined with perceived usefulness and social influence from the technology acceptance literature to create an intranet acceptance model. The model is applied to the sales and marketing division of an international manufacturing company. Data is collected via a Web survey (n=131, response rate = 65.5%) and tested using the partial least squares approach to structural equation modelling. The results show that intranet quality is a significant factor in determining behavioural intention to use, although it is less important than perceived usefulness and social influence. Comments collected from respondents are used to illustrate the findings and provide an insight into user behaviour. The discussion considers the implications, future research (e.g., the role of social influence in intranet usage) and limitations. The paper rounds off with a short summary

COVID-19 and Digital Transformation -- Developing an Open Experimental Testbed for Sustainable and Innovative Environments (ETSIE) using Fuzzy Cognitive Maps

This paper sketches a new approach using Fuzzy Cognitive Maps (FCMs) to operably map and simulate digital transformation in architecture and urban planning. Today these processes are poorly understood. Many current studies on digital transformation are only treating questions of economic efficiency. Sustainability and social impact only play a minor role. Decisive definitions, concepts and terms stay unclear. Therefore this paper develops an open experimental testbed for sustainable and innovative environments (ETSIE) for three different digital transformation scenarios using FCMs. A traditional growth-oriented scenario, a COVID-19 scenario and an innovative and sustainable COVID-19 scenario are modeled and tested. All three scenarios have the same number of components, connections and the same driver components. Only the initial state vectors are different and the internal correlations are weighted differently. This allows for comparing all three scenarios on an equal basis. The mental modeler software is used (Gray et al. 2013). This paper presents one of the first applications of FCMs in the context of digital transformation. It is shown, that the traditional growth-oriented scenario is structurally very similar to the current COVID-19 scenario. The current pandemic is able to accelerate digital transformation to a certain extent. But the pandemic does not guarantee for a distinct sustainable and innovative future development. Only by changing the initial state vectors and the weights of the connections an innovative and sustainable turnaround in a third scenario becomes possible.Comment: 21 pages, 11 figures and 17 tables; keywords: soft computing; fuzzy cognitive maps; digital transformation; COVID-19; decision making; sustainability; integrated world system modelin

CPS Platform Approach to Industrial Robots: State of the Practice, Potentials, Future Research Directions

Approaches, such as Cloud Robotics, Robot-as-a-Service, merged Internet of Things and robotics, and Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) in production, show that the industrial robotics domain experiences a paradigm shift that increasingly links robots in real-life factories with virtual reality. However, despite the growing body of research to date, though insightful, the paradigm shift to CPS in industrial robotics remains an under-researched area. Findings from the present paper make several contributions to the current state of research: We provide a potentially reusable framework of analysis and apply this framework in order to reveal whether and to what extent the industrial robotics branch implements abilities and characteristics of CPS. We examine the top five industrial robot manufacturers ABB, Fanuc, Kawasaki, Kuka, and Yaskawa and identify considerable, current implementations. However, concerning one of three perspectives—the perspective on CPS as industry platform constructs, takes the industrial robotics branch only certain small steps towards CPS platforms. We discuss them and outline a set of business model patterns that can transform product innovations, enabled by abilities and characteristics of CPS, into business model innovations in the industrial robot domain. In order to enable the industry to exploit the full potential of industrial robots understood as CPS, we question the right degree of openness in the context of industry platform constructs. Our methodological approach combines conceptual with empirical research

Integrated Value Configurations in the Sharing Economy

Sharing has become a new trend in business that heavily affects the ways how firms do business. Despite this important development, research by now only provides rudimentary insights into value configuration mechanisms applied in the sharing economy. Our paper that is inspired by extant research on value creation configurations as well as recent business model research develops a model of an integrated value network for the sharing economy. We explain that focal firms in sharing economy networks ground their business model configuration in the application of web-based technology. We further point to two dimensions that determine the positioning of the business model: the degree of individualization vs. standardization of the content and the degree of completeness of property rights

Data-Based Supply Chain Collaboration - Improving Product Quality in Global Production Networks by Sharing Information

In times of globalization and digitalization, silo mentality and protectionism lead to competitive disadvantages for all partners of a production network. High scrap rates and low supplier margins in the production of high-precision products can be identified as resulting inefficiencies. Supply chain collaboration can contribute to significantly increase product quality by simultaneously reducing the associated costs, globally. We introduce batch allocation as a data-driven method for cross-company quality control of differing component batches based on both, supplier data and internal data. The industrial application is demonstrated within a global production network for manufacturing high-precision products

Structuring Digital Transformation: A Framework of Action Fields and its Application at ZEISS

Digital products and services are an integral part of everyday life for both individuals and organizations. Further, given that digitalization greatly impacts our society and in particular how customer and organizations interact, organizations need to react to changing business rules and to leverage opportunities associated with digital technologies. Accordingly, the chief information officer (CIO) role is frequently a flexible one in the sense that it encompasses a much broader perspective on organizations than before. Most of the CIOs or newly appointed chief digital officers (CDOs) whom we interviewed in the course of our study recognized the need for change catalyzed by emerging digital technologies, but they typically lacked comprehensive knowledge on how to scope digital transformation initiatives. Against this background, we develop and validate a holistic framework of action fields for digital transformation. Our framework builds on extant literature and a series of exploratory interviews with over 50 organizations, and we have validated it in numerous contexts. In this paper, we present our framework and demonstrate its application at ZEISS, one of the organizations that participated in our study

An Integrative Design Framework for New Service Development

Service innovation is focused on customer value creation. At its core, customer-centric service innovation in an increasingly digital world is technology-enabled, human-centered, and process-oriented. This requires a cross-disciplinary, holistic approach to new service design and development (NSD). This paper proposes a new service strategy-aligned integrative design framework for NSD. It correlates the underlying theories and principles of disparate but interrelated aspects of service design thinking: service strategy, concept, design, experience and architecture into a coherent framework for NSD, consistent with the service brand value. Application of the framework to NSD is envisioned to be iterative and holistic, accentuated on continuous organizational and customer learning. The preliminary framework's efficacy is illustrated using a simplified telecom case example. © Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2014

THE ROLE OF UNDERLYING MECHANISMS IN ACHIEVING CONSISTENT HYBRID COMBINATIONS OF COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES

This thesis takes a step beyond the current discussion on hybrid competitive strategies (HS) by identifying the underlying mechanisms and common elements of successful hybrid strategies. Reviewing empirical and theoretical literature revealed a significant gap in this respect. Therefore, the activity-based view of strategy is introduced to the discussion on HS. In a first step, four consistent and sustainable HS concepts are developed providing the basis for deriving specific HS models. A second step identifies commonalities among these HS types and theoretically derives a synthesized, common HS model. Thirdly, the critical realist stance was selected for answering this thesis’ research questions addressing consistent HS concepts, implementations, common activities achieving external and internal fit, as well as common capabilities and resources supporting these activities. In a case study approach, semi-structured, open ended interviews combining appreciative and laddering methods are conducted with twelve interviewees from five firms. The separate analysis of ladder elements and ladders allowed distinguishing constitutional from relational elements. Based on this, fourth, an empirically revised research construct is substantiated. This research finds HS firms applying intended and consistent, but mixed strategy concepts based on generating high customer benefits through combining competitive weapons of differentiation and price or total customer cost. Moreover, HS concepts centre on three strategic building blocks: customer centricity, fulfilment of customer needs and employee orientation. Additionally, the research indicates that firms apply activities primarily for achieving fit. While all firms combine both views, no activities are directed to both fit types simultaneously. Activities deploy capabilities and resources in general on two adaptive and two absorptive mechanisms. Several practical implications derive from this thesis. First, firms can apply the synthesized model as a kind of ‘blueprint’ providing orientation for how to combine competitive advantages. Second, policy makers can apply the outcomes as principles steering firms or industries to ‘higher’ levels of performance. Last, firm managers can adapt their own as well as their firm’s behaviour accordingly