The emergence of smart service ecosystems—The role of socio-technical antecedents and affordances

2023 | Information Systems Journal | Citations: 0

Authors: Herterich, Matthias M.; Dremel, Christian; Wulf, Jochen; vom Brocke, Jan

Abstract: As physical products are increasingly augmented with digital technology, manufac ... Expand

Abstract: As physical products are increasingly augmented with digital technology, manufacturing firms have become part of the development of so-called smart products and smart services. As such, manufacturing firms are challenged by new market participants and ecosystem partners, particularly from the software development industry, and by the dynamic nature of business relationships. While the academic literature on the distinctive characteristics of ecosystems, particularly digital ecosystems, is rich, the effect of smart service ecosystems' emergence on the foundation of smart products remains uncertain. This study reports on case study research based on 47 semi-structured interviews with four companies that participate in an industrial smart service ecosystem. Taking an affordance-theoretic perspective, we uncover the antecedents of and the process of emergent smart service ecosystems. We find that smart service ecosystems have three socio-technical antecedents: a shared worldview, structural flexibility and integrity, and architecture of participation. We explain the emergence of smart service ecosystems as the result of specialisation in shared affordances and integration of idiosyncratic affordances into collective affordances. We derive seven propositions regarding the emergence of smart services, outline opportunities for further research, and present practical guidelines for manufacturing firms. Collapse

Topics: affordance smart device value creation user experience innovation management

Methods: qualitative interview qualitative coding case study focus group personal interview

Theories: theory of affordance stakeholder theory service-dominant logic

Going Digital First while Safeguarding the Physical Core: How an Automotive Incumbent Searches for Relevance in Disruptive Times

2023 | International Conference on Information Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Liu, Shiyuan(Eric); Essén, Anna; Mähring, Magnus

Abstract: Incumbent firms typically face significant risk of losing the relevance of thei ... Expand

Abstract: Incumbent firms typically face significant risk of losing the relevance of their physical core when facing industry disruption driven by digital technologies. Existing literature emphasizes a digital first approach, whereby firm offerings are fundamentally redeveloped from a digital point of view, from the point of conception. While this prescription can help accelerate innovation, it does not tell us how incumbents might safeguard the relevance of their traditional physical core resources when going digital first. This is important, since major discontinuities in strategic repositioning, while often celebrated in digital innovation and transformation literature, create significant risks to firm survival. To this end, we conduct a grounded analysis of a European automotive firm's innovation journey over an eight-year period. We contribute to the digital innovation and transformation literature by developing a process model explaining how a digital first approach can be employed in a way that also safeguards the physical core. Collapse

Topics: innovation management digital innovation digital transformation internet of things mobile system

Methods: qualitative interview business process modeling design pattern conceptual modelling qualitative coding

A Process-Based Approach to Information Security Investment Evaluation: Design, Implementation, and Evaluation

2023 | Americas Conference on Information Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Matschak, Tizian; Nastjuk, Ilja; Niedzela, Laura; Kuehnel, Stephan; Trang, Simon

Abstract: In recent years, the importance of information security has grown significantly ... Expand

Abstract: In recent years, the importance of information security has grown significantly due to the rise of cyber threats and attacks. However, evaluating investments in information security can be challenging, as traditional methods often rely solely on monetary factors and fail to capture the dynamic nature of business processes. This paper introduces a novel process-based evaluation method for assessing the effect of investments in information security on business processes. The paper outlines practical design requirements for the method and its instantiation as a prototype, which is then evaluated using a threestep approach with two companies from the healthcare and energy sectors. The evaluation results demonstrate the proposed method's usefulness in information security investment decisions. This paper contributes to the field of information security investment evaluation by providing a proof-of-concept that potentially paves the way for future research to increase the quality and economics of investments in information security. Collapse

Topics: data security usability business process management knowledge base user requirement

Methods: design artifact design requirement usability testing design process design principle

The role of design patterns in the development and legal assessment of lawful technologies

2022 | Electronic Markets | Citations: 2

Authors: Dickhaut, Ernestine; Li, Mahei Manhai; Janson, Andreas; Leimeister, Jan Marco

Abstract: Novel technologies such as smart personal assistants integrate digital services ... Expand

Abstract: Novel technologies such as smart personal assistants integrate digital services into everyday life. These services use personal data to offer personalized services. While they are subject to special data protection regulations at the time of development, there are few guidelines describing the transition from legal requirements to implementation. To reduce risks, services depend on external legal assessments. With developers and legal experts often missing either legal or technical knowledge, the challenge lies in bridging this gap. We observe that design patterns support both developers and legal experts, and we present an approach in which design patterns are leveraged to provide twofold value for both developers and legal experts when dealing with novel technologies. We conducted a revelatory case study for smart personal assistants and scaffolded the case interpretation through cognitive fit theory. On the basis of the findings, we develop a theoretical model to explain and predict the twofold value of design patterns to develop and assess lawful technologies. Collapse

Topics: systems development problem solving legal context General Data Protection Regulation legal information system

Methods: design pattern case study simulation theory development qualitative interview

Theories: cognitive fit theory

Collaborate to Innovate: Utilizing Design Patterns Cards for Accelerating the Digital Transformation of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises

2022 | HICSS | Citations: 0

Authors: Gerling, Christoph; Bickel, Fabrice; Haskamp, Thomas; Uebernickel, Falk

Abstract: As more and more organizations reach the limits of their internal capabilities t ... Expand

Abstract: As more and more organizations reach the limits of their internal capabilities to deal with the challenges induced by digital transformation, they are increasingly forced to seek external digitalization opportunities. In particular, small and medium enterprises are affected by this due to their limited human and financial resources. Currently, there is a lack of overview of options considering limited internal digital capabilities and resources. Thus, we choose an action design research approach to develop an external digitalization activity navigator. As a result, we derive five design principles for successful navigation and 30 activities, which are presented as design pattern cards. Our work can help practitioners and scholars alike to structure external digitalization activities. Collapse

Topics: open innovation digital transformation innovation management digital ecosystem IT skill

Methods: design pattern design principle qualitative interview design requirement action design research

A Digitization Pipeline for Mixed-Typed Documents Using Machine Learning and Optical Character Recognition

2022 | DESRIST | Citations: 0

Authors: Matschak, Tizian; Rampold, Florian; Hellmeier, Malte; Prinz, Christoph; Trang, Simon

Abstract: Although digitization is advancing rapidly, a large amount of data processed by ... Expand

Abstract: Although digitization is advancing rapidly, a large amount of data processed by companies is in printed format. Technologies such as Optical Character Recognition (OCR) support the transformation of printed text into machine-readable content. However, OCR struggles when data on documents is highly unstructured and includes non-text objects. This, e.g., applies to documents such as medical prescriptions. Leveraging Design Science Research (DSR), we propose a flexible processing pipeline that can deal with character recognition on the one hand and object detection on the other hand. To do so, we derive Design Requirements (DR) in cooperation with a practitioner doing prescription billing in the healthcare domain. We then developed a prototype blueprint that is applicable to similar problem formulations. Overall, we contribute to research and practice in multiple ways. First, we provide evidence for selected OCR methods provided by previous research. Second, we design a machine-learning-based digitization pipeline for printed documents containing both text and non-text objects in the context of medical prescriptions. Third, we derive a nascent design pattern for this type of document digitization. These patterns are the foundation for further research and can support the development of innovative information systems leading to more efficient decision making and thus to economic resource usage. Collapse

Topics: open source knowledge base usability database system data accuracy

Methods: design artifact design pattern experiment qualitative interview machine learning

Fog and Edge Oriented Embedded Enterprise Systems Patterns: Towards Distributed Enterprise Systems That Run on Edge and Fog Nodes

2022 | HICSS | Citations: 0

Authors: Sadler, Hamish; Barros, Alistair; Kelly, Wayne

Abstract: Enterprise software systems enable enterprises to enhance business and managemen ... Expand

Abstract: Enterprise software systems enable enterprises to enhance business and management reporting tasks in enterprise settings. Internet of Things (IoT) focuses on making interactions possible between a number of network-connected physical devices. Prominence of IoT sensors and multiple business drivers have created a contemporary need for enterprise software systems to interact with IoT devices. Business process implementations, business logic and microservices have traditionally been centralized in enterprise systems. Constraints like privacy, latency, bandwidth, connectivity and security have posed a new set of architectural challenges that can be resolved by designing enterprise systems differently so that parts of business logic and processes can run on fog and edge devices to improve privacy, minimize communication bandwidth and promote low-latency business process execution. This paper aims to propose a set of patterns for the expansion of previously-centralized enterprise systems to the edge of the network. Patterns are supported by a case study for contextualization and analysis. Collapse

Topics: enterprise information system microservice architecture customer loyalty privacy

Methods: design pattern case study

“Designing” Design Science Research – A Taxonomy for Supporting Study Design Decisions

2022 | DESRIST | Citations: 0

Authors: Smuts, Hanlie; Winter, Robert; Gerber, Aurona; van der Merwe, Alta

Abstract: The Design Science Research (DSR) paradigm is highly relevant to the Information ... Expand

Abstract: The Design Science Research (DSR) paradigm is highly relevant to the Information Systems (IS) discipline because DSR aims to improve the state of practice and contribute design knowledge through the systematic construction of useful artefacts. Since study designs can be understood as useful artefacts, DSR can also contribute to improving conceptualizing a research project. This study developed a taxonomy with relevant dimensions and characteristics for DSR research. Such a taxonomy is useful for analyzing existing DSR study designs and successful DSR study design patterns. In addition, the taxonomy is valuable for identifying DSR study design principles (dependencies among characteristics) and subsequently for systematically designing DSR studies. We constructed the DSR study taxonomy through a classification process following the taxonomy development approach of Nickerson et al. Collapse

Methods: design science simulation case study literature study design artifact

Developing Lawful Technologies – A Revelatory Case Study on Design Patterns

2021 | HICSS | Citations: 0

Authors: Dickhaut, Ernestine; Li, Mahei; Janson, Andreas; Leimeister, Jan Marco

Abstract: Higher legal standards regarding the data protection of individuals, such as the ... Expand

Abstract: Higher legal standards regarding the data protection of individuals, such as the European General Data Protection Regulation, increase the pressure on developing lawful systems. In the development of technologies, not only developers are involved. It also requires knowledge from other stakeholders, such as legal experts, that lack technical knowledge but are required to understand IT artifacts. We see two strings that can benefit from the use of design patterns: first, the well-known use of design patterns to support developers in case of recurring problems. Second, we see potential that legal experts, who have to interact with and understand complicated, novel technologies, benefit from the same patterns. We conduct a revelatory case study using design patterns to develop and assess a smart learning assistant. We scaffolded the case interpretation through the human-centered view of socio-materiality and provide contributions concerning the use of design patterns in the development and assessment of lawful technologies. Collapse

Topics: innovation management General Data Protection Regulation legal context

Methods: design pattern case study simulation qualitative interview qualitative content analysis

Theories: theory of affordance sociomaterialism theory materiality theory

Building Business Intelligence & Analytics Capabilities - A Work System Perspective

2020 | International Conference on Information Systems | Citations: 1

Authors: Fadler, Martin; Legner, Christine

Abstract: Although enterprises believe that they can achieve a competitive advantage with ... Expand

Abstract: Although enterprises believe that they can achieve a competitive advantage with big data and AI, their analytics initiatives’ success rate still lags behind expectations. Existing research reveals that value creation with business intelligence and analytics (BI&A) is a complex process with multiple stages between the initial investments in BI&A resources and ultimately obtaining value. While prior research mostly focused on value generation mechanisms, we still lack a thorough understanding of how enterprises actually build BI&A capabilities. We explain the process in our research using work system theory (WST). Based on case studies and focus groups, we identify four prevalent BI&A capabilities: reporting, data exploration, analytics experimentation, and analytics production. For each identified BI&A capability, we derive patterns for BI&A resource orchestration, using the WST lens. Our findings complement the BI&A value creation research stream by providing insights into capability building. Collapse

Topics: analytical information system big data value creation organization structure digital platform

Methods: case study focus group mixed method company material qualitative interview

Theories: work systems theory