Efficient simulations of tubulin-driven axonal growth

This work concerns efficient and reliable numerical simulations of the dynamic behaviour of a moving-boundary model for tubulin-driven axonal growth. The model is nonlinear and consists of a coupled set of a partial differential equation (PDE) and two ordinary differential equations. The PDE is defined on a computational domain with a moving boundary, which is part of the solution. Numerical simulations based on standard explicit time-stepping methods are too time consuming due to the small time steps required for numerical stability. On the other hand standard implicit schemes are too complex due to the nonlinear equations that needs to be solved in each step. Instead, we propose to use the Peaceman--Rachford splitting scheme combined with temporal and spatial scalings of the model. Simulations based on this scheme have shown to be efficient, accurate, and reliable which makes it possible to evaluate the model, e.g.\ its dependency on biological and physical model parameters. These evaluations show among other things that the initial axon growth is very fast, that the active transport is the dominant reason over diffusion for the growth velocity, and that the polymerization rate in the growth cone does not affect the final axon length.Comment: Authors' accepted version, (post refereeing). The final publication (in Journal of Computational Neuroscience) is available at Springer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10827-016-0604-

Developing Mobile Information Systems: Managing Additional Aspects

Despite the numerous stories in academic journals and the business press of systems that fail to deliver anticipated benefits, mobile information systems (IS) are still gaining ground. The nature of mobile IS introduces additional aspects that require attention during the development process, compared to more traditional information systems built for stationary computers. The underlying assumption in this paper is that successful management of these aspects is crucial in order to harness the possibilities of mobility. This paper presents the AUDE- (Application, User, Device, Environment) framework; an analytical framework that addresses the additional aspect of mobile IS. The framework integrates previous research on mobile IS and is tested retrospectively on a case with mobile service technicians. Of the 19 attributes covered by the AUDE framework 2 attributes were not applicable in the investigated case. Of the remaining 17 attributes only 6 were actively handled (3 of them only partly), 8 were not taken into account, and for 3 we were not able to retrieve data. With the ignorance of specific attributes for mobile IS development it was possible to explain why the developed IS did not meet expectations and was considered a failure by its users

Managing the IT Integration of Acquisitions by Multi-Business Organizations

Acquisitions are standard components of the growth strategies of many organizations. Frequently, acquisitions raise important questions concerning how and to what extent the acquisition’s information technology (IT) needs to be integrated into the IT of the acquirer. We investigate how the initial conditions of business and IT alignment in the acquirer and the acquisition affect the complexity of the post-acquisition IT integration process, in acquisitions of business units by multi-business organizations. Adopting an IT alignment model for multi-business organizations, we explain the complexity of IT integration paths in two acquisitions made by the industry group Trelleborg AB. We identify four initial business and IT strategic alignment conditions where the IT integration process is a simple one-step process exploiting existing business and IT capabilities. Low compliance with these conditions leads to increased complexity because additional business and/or IT capabilities have to be developed to leverage the full potential of the acquisition

TAKING STOCK AND LOOKING FORWARD: A SCIENTOMETRIC ANALYSIS OF IS/IT INTEGRATION CHALLENGES IN MERGERS

The last decade has seen a rise in research on the topic of challenges associated with information systems (IS) in corporate mergers and acquisitions (M&As). Although this proliferation of research has the potential to significantly improve our understanding of IS challenges in M&A activity, absent is the necessary step of consolidating and integrating extant knowledge. In this paper, we review the domain of IS integration in M&As with focus on the theory building in the area. We identify and analyse 48 articles, published in 13 journals and 5 conference proceedings based on their theoretical contribution. Based on the analysis we point out gaps in the literature and suggest directions for future research

Technology-based Transformation of Digital Ecosystems: The DETT Framework

This article develops the Digital Ecosystem Technology Transformation (DETT) framework for explaining technology-based transformation of digital ecosystems. In digital ecosystems, the fusion relation between business and technology means that the decision of technical compatibility of the offering is also the decision of how to position the firm relative to the coopetive relations that characterize business ecosystems. The DETT framework depicts ecosystem transformation as distributed and emergent from micro-, meso-, and macro-level coopetition, based on interrelated business and technology ecosystems positioning. As such, the DETT framework consists an alternative to the existing explanations of digital ecosystem transformation as the rational management of one central actor balancing ecosystem tensions. We illustrate the use of the framework by a case study of technology-based transformation in the digital payment ecosystem

Post-acquisition IT Integration: The sequential effects in growth-by-acquisition programs

The extant research on post-acquisition IT integration analyzes how acquirers realize IT-based value in individual acquisitions. However, serial acquirers make 60% of acquisitions. These acquisitions are not isolated events, but are components in growth-by-acquisition programs. To explain how serial acquirers realize IT-based value, we develop three propositions on the sequential effects on post-acquisition IT integration in acquisition programs. Their combined explanation is that serial acquirers must have a growth-by-acquisition strategy that includes the capability to improve IT integration capabilities, to sustain high alignment across acquisitions and to maintain a scalable IT infrastructure with a flat or decreasing cost structure. We begin the process of validating the three propositions by investigating a longitudinal case study of a growth-by-acquisition program

Governing and managing enterprise systems integration in corporate M&A

Corporate mergers and acquisitions (M&A) have established themselves as prominent tools for corporate strategy. Consequently more and more organizations direct their attention towards the potential benefits of an M&A and the problems of leveraging these potentials. Governing and managing enterprise systems (ES) integration in M&A means understanding how ES integration relates to the M&A context and act upon the environmental pressure on the integration solution. We present a six dimensional framework for ES integration in corporate M&A by integrating previous research on M&A and ES integration. We also present and discuss the ES integration in a corporate M&A: The Trelleborg AB’s acquisition of CMP/Kléber Industrie. Trough the combination of the framework’s dimensions, the dynamics of different parts of the M&A process is captured. We suggest that the framework may be used in further research to build cumulative knowledge about how to govern and manage ES integration in M&A. We also suggest that the framework can be used by firms in their acquisitions as it shows, through the combination of dimensions, ES integration issues, decisions, and actions a firm has to consider in acquisition processes

Barriers to IT-driven Governmental Transformation

A number of separate studies have concluded that governmental organizations could greatly improvetheir efficiency as well as their quality of service by embracing state of the art IT. However, in realityfew of the potential benefits are actually leveraged. Even those organizations that have succeeded inestablishing online service delivery often fail in transformational aspects such as service orientationand a networked organizational structure. This paper adds to the theoretical body of TransformationalGovernment by a longitudinal study of barriers to IT-driven change in a European Customsorganization. In a first workshop we identified sixty-two potential barriers, which were later assessedto understand their impact on the transformation process. Our findings show that some of the barrierscould not be controlled within the project, thereby framing the ‘window of opportunity’ anddetermining the outcome of the transformation process. We also found differences in the importance ofovercoming the barriers and in the mechanisms that influenced organizational transformation

A sad story: The case of constrained infrastructures caused by IT

Customs is one domain which has faced the need for information systems in a globalizing world. In customs there is a need for close collaboration between business and government in order to build robust technological infrastructures supporting processes related to export and import of goods. This has led to a move towards eCustoms. This case study reports from a longitudinal study of a Danish exporter which has faced the challenges of implementing eCustoms in its daily operations. The introduction of eCustoms to replace the existing customs infrastructure based on the Single Administrative Document (SAD) has led to new challenges for the Danish exporter such as destandardized procedures and increased reporting. The particular contribution of the study is the observed longing to the “good old paper-based days” where things were more standardized than after the digitalization of the processes. The study is interpreted through the lens of “double infrastructures”. The underlying assumption guiding the study is that eCustoms represents one infrastructure on top of another well established infrastructure of global trade

Platformization and Internationalization in the LEGO Group

Internationalization, to expand a firms territorial footprint, is an important but difficult strategic act for a growing business. Simultaneously, digital technologies are increasingly shaping businesses world-wide and by implication also their internationalization activities as well as strategies. Using experiences from the LEGO Group, the toy-manufacturer well-known for its iconic modular bricks concept, we explain how the transformation of the Information Systems (IS) landscape towards a platform architecture is a key enabler for internationalization. Platformization of the IS landscape contributes to mitigate the issues of psychic distance that needs to be overcome when expanding internationally. Based on the insights gained from the LEGO Group, we provide lessons learned for CIO’s when enabling an internationalization strategy