An IS-Perspective on Omni-channel Management: Development of a Conceptual Framework to Determine the Impacts of Touchpoint Digitalization on Retail Business Processes

The retail industry is continuously changing. Now, the digital transformation is yet again changing the way how retailers operate their business. After the introduction of different channel types, retailers now try to systematically manage these channels and thereby, blur the lines between those and the various customer touchpoints. This digitally-enabled channel management approach is called omni-channel management. One enabler of this approach is the digitalization of traditional customer touchpoints in brick & mortar stores. However, omni-channel management currently lacks an Information Systems (IS)-perspective and most publications mainly deal with technical or marketing aspects. Thus, the impacts and opportunities of the digitalization of specific customer touchpoints are not entirely clear, making it hard for retailers to prioritize their store innovation projects. Therefore, the overall goal of this research is the generation of a theory, which supports retailers with their decisions regarding the digitalization of customer touchpoints. In this article, a guiding conceptual framework is developed as a basis for the research design. This research design guides the ongoing research efforts to determine the impacts of customer touchpoint digitalization on retail business processes

Identifikation funktioneller genetischer Varianten in entzündlichen Darmerkrankungen durch Genom- und Transkriptomsequenzierung

Dissertation dealing with 1) the analysis of the whole genome and transcriptome of a family with a severe case with early onset of Crohn's Disease and 2) the development of an application for the genome-wide analysis of antisense transcription in Next-Generation-Sequencing.Dissertation, die sich mit der Analyse des gesamten Genoms und Transkriptoms einer Familie mit schwerem Fall und frühem Ausbruch von Morbus Crohn beschäftigt, so wie mit der Entwicklung einer Applikation zur genomweiten Analyse von Antisense-Transkription durch Next-Generation-Sequencing

Mastering Omni-Channel Retailing Challenges with Industry 4.0 Concepts

Omni-Channel Management is an important trend, which allows retailers to improve customer experiences. Notwithstanding, entirely seamless integration of all channels, for example, in terms of customer or pricing data or consistent product offerings, is still a challenging endeavor. Technological developments, such as Industry 4.0 (I4.0), lead to innovation opportunities in the production industry. As there are intersections between I4.0 and Omni-Channel retailing, we propose that prominent Omni-Channel retailing challenges can be overcome by integrating knowledge from both research domains. Therefore, the purpose of this article is to investigate, which I4.0 concepts are utilized in scientific literature to overcome challenges and how these concepts can be transferred to Omni-Channel Management. To make this knowledge tangible for retailers, this article deduces opportunities on the application of I4.0 concepts in Omni-Channel retailing. The results show that especially IoT networks offer numerous deployment options and even Cyber-Physical Systems and Smart Factories provide related potentials

Semantic Shopping: A Literature Study

The digitalization of the economy and society overall has a significant impact on customers’ shopping behavior. After being conditioned by experiences in entertainment or simple Internet search, customers increasingly expect that a smart shopping assistant understands his/her shopping intentions and transfers these to shopping recommendations. Thus, the emerging opportunity in this context is to facilitate an intention-based shopping experience similar to the way semantic search engines provide responses to enquiries. In order to progress this new area, we differentiate alternative types of shopping intentions to provide the first set of conversation patterns. Grounded in the Speech Act Theory and a structured literature review, semantic shopping is defined and different types of shopping intentions are deduced

The improvement of learning by an improvement of learning motivation

Im ersten Teil der Arbeit wird ein Überblick über Trainingsprogramme gegeben, mit Hilfe derer seit Beginn der sechziger Jahre der Versuch unternommen wird, systematische Veränderungen des Leistungsmotivs und dadurch der Lernmotivation vorzunehmen. Dabei werden drei theoretische Ansätze unterschieden, denen die Programmentwicklung folgte: a) der von McClelland initiierte Ansatz der Harvard-Programme; b) der auf Weiner zurückgehende Ansatz der Modifikation von Attribuierungsvoreingenommenheiten und c) der von Heckhausen initiierte Ansatz der Veränderung wichtiger, das Leistungsmotiv konstituierende Komponenten der Selbstbewertung. Im zweiten Teil werden Ergebnisse eines Trainingsprogramms kurz dargestellt, das mit älteren Menschen mit dem Ziel durchgeführt wurde, eine fähigkeitsangemessenere Festsetzung von Leistungszielen, eine flexiblere Erklärung von Handlungsergebnissen und eine positivere Selbstbewertung zu erzielen. (DIPF/Orig.)The article gives an overview over training programmes which try to change the learning motivation systematically. The authors differentiale between three approaches: the Harvard Programmes initiated by McClelland, the concept going back to Weiner, and a concept to change the self-evaluation initiated by Heckhausen. In a second part of their article the authors report on a training programme for older people which aims at a more positive self-evaluation

Mirroring E-service for Brick and Mortar Retail: An Assessment and Survey

The digital transformation increasingly impacts the competitive retail market structure in favor of e-commerce and digital business models, while many Brick and Mortar (BaM) retailers are struggling to meet customers’ expectations. Supported by the customer adaption of e-commerce and digital technologies, this paper applies the lens of channel complementary theory to BaM. We examine, which e-service touchpoints from e-commerce can be transferred to the physical servicescape of BaM retail to complement customer journeys. Drawing from the dominant design theory, we first assess leading e-commerce solutions to identify dominant e-service touchpoints, which are then mirrored for their application in BaM retail. Second, we surveyed 250 shoppers to elicit the likeliness of use regarding these touchpoints. Our results provide a foundation for both academia and retail to advance the knowledge of relevant e-service touchpoints in BaM

Design of a Software Tool Supporting Orientation in the Context of Digital Transformation

The digital transformation is a continuous and complex but indispensable endeavor. Because practice and academia regularly develop new digital technologies, companies face difficulties in selecting appropriate technologies to innovate their business model. Step-by-step instructions may guide companies to identify, evaluate, and select potential digitalization ideas. Software tools can support these activities in a structured way. Thus, the research objective of this paper is to design a software tool supporting the orientation phase of a company's digital transformation. To reach this objective, we conduct an action design research approach in cooperation with three companies. As an evaluation step, a focus group discussion with practitioners and end-users is carried out. The final tool design comprises 18 design principles that serve as the basis for a set of visual mockups and a prototype implementation of the intended tool