Emphasizing a Service Phase Perspective for Machine Manufacturers Seeking Digital Servitization - a Taxonomy for Industrial Service Phases

The ongoing shift to solution-oriented business models and growing digitalization lead to an increasing importance of services in manufacturing industry. Machine manufacturers in particular struggle to grasp the extent of transformational impact enabled or required by service developments. This is due to a narrow perspective on specific service characteristics, but not on the entire service process. Therefore, a service-dominant perspective is essential in the value creation of manufacturers, placing relevant service phases in the foreground. However, the process-related character of services is rarely considered in the literature. For this purpose, this study provides a taxonomy that classifies services based on phases. In addition to a systematic literature analysis, this study builds on practical insights by conducting eight expert interviews. The applicability and usefulness of the taxonomy is then demonstrated through exemplary application based on a case study, enabling practitioners to adopt a phase-oriented perspective on digital servitization

Digital Innovation and Transformation: a Quasi-Systematic Literature Review

Nowadays there are several examples of successful companies that run innovative digital business models. Studies indicate that companies that do not follow the technological tendencies will possibly cease to exist in the next years. Besides, Digital Transformation has a direct impact on relations and forms of consumption. However, although much have been said about this topic, the literature has not established yet a common ground about the meaning of Digital Innovation and Digital Transformation. The purpose of this paper is to identify, analyze and synthesize the various aspects of the main concepts related to Digital Innovation and Transformation (DI&T). We have done a quasi-systematic review of the literature, generating as a primary outcome a list of the main constructs related to DI&T, as well as their definitions. Our main contribution is a map that conceptualizes and relates DI and DT that could be used as a base for future researchers

EMPOWERING PRACTITIONERS: A CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK FOR VALUE CO-CREATION THROUGH SMART SERVICE INNOVATION METHODOLOGIES

Smart services offer great innovation potential by incorporating digital technologies into non-digital value-creation processes. As smart service innovation poses significant challenges to organizations, existing research has contributed to understanding and addressing this phenomenon by developing various methods, tools, and processes. Yet, the academic community often still fails to bridge the “last mile” and help practitioners apply this knowledge in their specific application contexts. This article outlines how research can empower practitioners by systematically providing methodological knowledge for smart service innovation. We review and contrast existing methodologies and present a conceptual framework for value co-creation through smart service innovation methodologies. In addition, we identify six essential resource types required in these methodologies and propose emergent research avenues to guide future contributions to smart service innovation research

Empowering Practitioners: A Conceptual Framework for Value Co-Creation through Smart Service Innovation Methodologies

Smart services offer great innovation potential by incorporating digital technologies into non-digital value-creation processes. As smart service innovation poses significant challenges to organizations, existing research has contributed to understanding and addressing this phenomenon by developing various methods, tools, and processes. Yet, the academic community often still fails to bridge the “last mile” and help practitioners apply this knowledge in their specific application contexts. This article outlines how research can empower practitioners by systematically providing methodological knowledge for smart service innovation. We review and contrast existing methodologies and present a conceptual framework for value co-creation through smart service innovation methodologies. In addition, we identify six essential resource types required in these methodologies and propose emergent research avenues to guide future contributions to smart service innovation research

Re-Figuration of Spaces as Long‐Term Social Change: The Methodological Potential of Comparative Historical Sociology for Cross-Cultural Comparison

Die Analyse sozialen Wandels aus soziohistorischer Perspektive ist eine der am längsten etablierten Strategien des soziologischen Vergleichs. Zahlreiche soziologische Klassiker*innen untersuchten kulturübergreifenden (langfristigen) sozialen Wandel mittels historisch-vergleichender Methodologie, durch welche Unterschiede und Regelmäßigkeiten von Transformationsprozessen in der Gegenwart durch die Rekonstruktion ihrer Vergangenheit zugänglich gemacht werden. Es existiert also ein umfassender historisch-soziologischer Forschungsstand, den Forscher*innen zur Analyse des langfristigen und fundamentalen sozialen Wandels nutzen können, der derzeit zu einer grundlegenden, weltweiten Restrukturierung räumlicher Ordnung führt und als Re-Figuration von Räumen bezeichnet wird. Dennoch wurde die vergleichende Methodologie der historischen Soziologie in der empirischen Analyse der Re-Figuration von Räumen noch nicht angewendet. Stattdessen beschränken sich Re-Figurationsforscher*innen derzeit auf Forschungsdesigns, die sich auf die Gegenwart konzentrieren. Daher schlage ich vor, das methodologische Potenzial der historisch-vergleichenden Sozialforschung für die Analyse der Re-Figuration von Räumen zu nutzen. Ich beginne mit der Diskussion geeigneter historisch-soziologischer Vergleichsstrategien für die Analyse kulturübergreifenden sozialen Wandels und der möglichen Nutzung von Struktureigentümlichkeiten als Vergleichsdimensionen. Anschließend führe ich aus, wie die Re-Figuration von Räumen als langfristiger sozialer Wandel verstanden werden kann. Auf dieser Grundlage skizziere ich eine universell vergleichende, kausal-analytische historisch-soziologische Methodologie für die Re-Figurationsforschung.Analyzing social change from a historical perspective is one of the longest established strategies of sociological comparison. Numerous classic sociologists have examined cross-cultural (long-term) social change with a historical-comparative methodology in an effort to understand the differences and similarities of transformation processes in the present by reconstructing their past. As such, there are comprehensive historical-sociological preliminary works, which are intended as a means of analyzing the long-term and large-scale social change that is currently leading to a fundamental, worldwide restructuring of spatial orders, referred to as the re-figuration of spaces. Nevertheless, no one has applied the comparative methodology of historical sociology to the empirical analysis of the re-figuration of spaces so far. Instead, research on the re-figuration is currently restricted to research designs focused on the present. Therefore, I propose considering the methodological potential of historical-comparative methodology for research on the re-figuration of spaces. I start by discussing existing preliminary historical-sociological work on comparison strategies for analyzing cross-cultural, large-scale social change. Then, I will show how the re-figuration of spaces can be understood as long-term social change. On this basis, I will outline a universally comparative, causal-analytic, historical-sociological methodology of research on the re-figuration o

Applying Normalization Process Theory to Explain Large-Scale Agile Transformation

Given the prevalence and effectiveness of agile methods at a team level, large organizations are now attempting to mimic this success at large-scale by adopting large-scale methods such as Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe), Spotify, and Large-Scale Scrum (LeSS). However, compared to insights on traditionally small-scale methods, the extant literature provides sparse coverage on theories to examine large-scale agile transformations. In this article, we focus on the challenge of normalizing large-scale agile transformations and apply Normalization Process Theory (NPT) to support theorize about this process. We present our initial case study findings and outline future research on the application of NPT for large-scale transformations. From a research and practice perspective, we explain how NPT can be adopted to focus on the processes of embedding and sustaining practices – activities which are very often ignored, yet central to the success or failure of transformations

Money and sustainability: Transitioning to an ecological monetary system

A profound transformation of our monetary paradigm is urgently needed. To re-think, re-imagine, and re-design our monetary system is of critical priority if we want to have a chance at sustainability. The current dominant monetary-banking-financial system is inherently, and by design, a source and a force of unsustainability lying at the core of our economies and societies. It's a system actively contributing to ecological degradation, socio-political crises, and economic instability, uncertainty, and alienation. But there are alternatives and these must be given the spotlight. Not tweaks or reforms to the system, but radical shifts in how we deal, use, relate to, and feel regarding money. The societal challenge we must embrace is rapidly transitioning our monetary reality into a purposeful ecological monetary ecosystem aligned with the regeneration of our planet and all life in it. This Doctoral thesis contributes to the emergence and development of a new monetary paradigm with planet and people at its core. The research is intrinsically transdisciplinary and based on mixed-methods. Different methodologies were used, combining qualitative with quantitative methods and more passive research with more action-oriented transformative research, including field visits, interviews with practioners, and direct interaction with local and regional complementary currency experiments. By combining a transdisciplinary literature review with an action-research approach this thesis offers novel insights into the transition process to an ecological monetary ecosystem. A set of regenerative principles and priorities for monetary reform that would enable us to root money back into the real economy, coherent with the laws of physics and aligned with an ecology of life is offered. Moreover, a model for a multi-currency ecosystem is explored and presented at the end of this thesis. The implications of such a fundamental revolution in the core design of our increasingly monetized economies could potentially put us back on track and re-align our socio-economic and political system with our climate agreements, our SDG and our intentions for peace and prosperity.Uma profunda transformação do nosso paradigma monetário é urgentemente necessária. Re-pensar, re-imaginar, e re-desenhar o nosso sistema monetário é uma prioridade societal crítica se quisermos garantir a nossa sustentabilidade. O actual sistema monetário-bancário-financeiro dominante é inerentemente, e por design, uma fonte e uma força de insustentabilidade que se encontra no cerne das nossas economias e sociedades. É um sistema que contribui activamente para a degradação ecológica, crises sócio-políticas, e para a instabilidade, incerteza e alienação económica. Mas existem alternativas e estas têm de ser objecto de atenção especial. Não ajustamentos ou "reformas" ao sistema, mas mudanças radicais na forma como lidamos, utilizamos, nos relacionamos e sentimos em relação ao dinheiro. O desafio social que temos de abraçar é a rápida transição das nossas realidades monetárias para um ecossistema propositadamente alinhado com a regeneração do nosso planeta e de toda a vida. Esta tese de doutoramento contribui para a emergência e desenvolvimento de um novo paradigma monetário com o planeta e as pessoas no seu âmago. A investigação é intrinsecamente transdisciplinar e baseada numa abordagem de métodos mistos. Foram utilizadas diferentes metodologias, combinando métodos qualitativos com métodos quantitativos, e investigação mais passiva com investigação transformadora mais orientada para a acção, incluindo visitas de campo, entrevistas e interacção directa com experiências de moedas complementares locais e regionais. Ao combinar uma revisão transdisciplinar da literatura, com uma abordagem de investigaçãoacção, esta tese oferece novas ideias e concepções sobre o processo de transição para um ecossistema monetário ecológico. É oferecido um conjunto de princípios regenerativos e prioridades para a reforma monetária que nos permitiria enraizar o dinheiro de volta à economia real, coerente com as leis da física e alinhado com uma ecologia da vida. No final da tese é ainda explorado e apresentado um modelo para um ecosistema monetário com base na co-existência de múltiplos circuitos monetários. As implicações de uma tal revolução no nosso sistema monetário e no centro das nossas economias, cada vez mais monetizadas, poderão ser potenciadoras de uma transição para um novo caminho societal, alinhado com os nossos acordos climáticos, os nossos ODS e as nossas intenções de paz e prosperidade

Instrumentalization in the Public Smart Bikeshare Sector

This thesis is concerned with understanding how smart technologies are conceived, created and implemented, and explores the ways these processes are shaped by historical, geo-political, economic and technical contexts. At its core the thesis is concerned with understanding how technical citizenship and democracy can be preserved within the design process against a backdrop of increasing neoliberalism and technocracy. This is investigated by means of a comparative study of smart public bikeshare schemes in Dublin, Ireland and Hamilton, Canada. These schemes are configured and systemized using a variety of technical and ideological rationales and express the imaginaries of place in significantly different ways. Utilising a conceptual framework derived from Andrew Feenberg’s critical theory of technology, the thesis unpacks and problematizes the innovation process in order to understand how the outcomes of these schemes support the way of life of one or another influential social group. The philosophical orientation of the study is critical constructivism which combines a form of constructivism with more systematic and socially critical views of technology. The axis of comparison between the schemes is democratization and the manner in which the rationalizations and embedded cultural assumptions characterizing particular places operate to support or resist more egalitarian forms of participation. Methodologically, Feenberg’s critical framework is supported both by theory-driven thematic coding and critical hermeneutics which is an interpretative process that compliments the theoretical framework and positions issues of power and ideology within a wider, macro-level context. Data sources supporting the research comprise interviews, a variety of documentary sources and the architectures and technical specifications of both smart bikeshare systems. The findings from the research illustrate that despite the pervasiveness of a neoliberal orthodoxy conditioning technology production, citizen-centric design is still possible within a climate of consensus building and cooperation. As such, the thesis adds to the body of knowledge on philosophy of technology, critical urbanism, smart city development, democratic engagement and collaborative infrastructuring. In addition, the conceptual framework, developed in response to the empirical cases, represents an elaboration of Feenberg’s work and so the thesis also makes an important contribution to the analytic and methodological potential of critical theory of technology

Digital Fitness – The Goal of Digital Transformation

Digital Transformation forces a technology-driven change in organizations and society. Due to this change, companies fear that they will not be able to keep up with innovations. Although digital transformation is a very popular topic in business and research, a precise state a company should strive for, is not discussed adequately. Thus, the aim of this paper is to understand and conceptualize the target state of digital transformation. To achieve this goal, we discuss literature and expert interviews. We found out, practitioners themselves are not aware of the target state, although they have to decide what is to reach on the digital transformation journey. Based on these findings, we propose a model of digital fitness that conceptualizes the target state of digital transformation comprising of three dimensions: digital adoption, digital expertise and the adoption rate of digital innovations

Internal Crowdsourcing in Companies

This open access book examines the implications of internal crowdsourcing (IC) in companies. Presenting an employee-oriented, cross-sector reference model for good IC practice, it discusses the core theoretical foundations, and offers guidelines for process-management and blueprints for the implementation of IC. Furthermore, it examines solutions for employee training and competence development based on crowdsourcing. As such, the book will appeal to scholars of management science, work studies, organizational and participation research and to readers interested in inclusive approaches for cooperative change management and the IT implications for IC platforms