Strategic alignment of enterprise architecture management – how portfolios of control mechanisms track a decade of enterprise transformation at Commerzbank

2023 | European Journal of Information Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Beese, Jannis; Haki, Kazem; Schilling, Raphael; Kraus, Martin; Aier, Stephan; Winter, Robert

Abstract: Enterprise architecture management (EAM) is commonly employed by large organisat ... Expand

Abstract: Enterprise architecture management (EAM) is commonly employed by large organisations to coordinate local information system development efforts in line with organisation-wide strategic objectives while simultaneously avoiding redundancies and inconsistencies. Even though EAM tools and processes have become increasingly mature over the past decade, many organisations still struggle to generate impact from their EAM initiatives. To this end, we describe how enterprise architects at Commerzbank, a major international bank, employed a control mechanism portfolio perspective to more effectively anchor EAM within the organisation. This approach allows to purposefully combine a wide range of different formal and informal EAM control mechanisms, thereby going beyond the formal, top-down driven mechanisms predominantly discussed in EAM literature. Furthermore, such EAM control mechanism portfolios provide an effective means to purposefully realign EAM in reaction to major strategic shifts. The application of this perspective is demonstrated by tracing the evolution of EAM at Commerzbank for more than a decade (2008 to 2018) through a turbulent and challenging competitive environment, resulting in several major strategic realignments that required corresponding adjustments in EAM. We believe that such consciously designed and diversified EAM control mechanism portfolios also provide a useful means for other large organisations to more effectively conduct EAM. Collapse

Topics: systems development business process management logistics management IT development project organizational culture

Methods: qualitative interview qualitative coding theory development case study survey

Theories: control theory

From Full-fledged ERP Systems Towards Process-centric Business Process Platforms

2023 | Americas Conference on Information Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Böhme, Lukas; Wuttke, Tobias; Bender, Benedict; Teusner, Ralf; Baltes, Sebastian; Matthies, Christoph; Perscheid, Michael

Abstract: Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems are critical to the success of enter ... Expand

Abstract: Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems are critical to the success of enterprises, facilitating business operations through standardized digital processes. However, existing ERP systems are unsuitable for startups and small and medium-sized enterprises that grow quickly and require adaptable solutions with low barriers to entry. Drawing upon 15 explorative interviews with industry experts, we examine the challenges of current ERP systems using the task technology fit theory across companies of varying sizes. We describe high entry barriers, high costs of implementing implicit processes, and insufficient interoperability of already employed tools. We present a vision of a future business process platform based on three enablers: Business processes as first-class entities, semantic data and processes, and cloud-native elasticity and high availability. We discuss how these enablers address current ERP systems' challenges and how they may be used for research on the next generation of business software for tomorrow's enterprises. KeywordsERP system, enterprise system, business process platform. Collapse

Topics: enterprise resource planning business process management enterprise information system cloud computing semantic data model

Methods: qualitative interview personal interview data modeling business process modeling literature study

Theories: theory of task technology fit

An Empirical Study of Information Technology Capabilities to Enable Value Chain Activities and Interfaces

2023 | Information Systems Frontiers | Citations: 0

Authors: Chou, Yen-Chun; Shao, Benjamin B. M.

Abstract: Information technology (IT) is a critical resource and asset for a firm’s intern ... Expand

Abstract: Information technology (IT) is a critical resource and asset for a firm’s internal operations and external interactions with outside stakeholders. This paper explores IT capabilities that enable a retailer’s value chain activities and interfaces with suppliers and customers. IT capabilities that enable the value chain activities of logistics and operations as well as those of marketing and sales are identified to examine how they influence a retailer’s implementation of value chain interfaces. Through the lens of organizational information processing theory (OIPT), we find that both IT capabilities and IT infrastructure play a pivotal role in implementing value chain interfaces but in distinctive ways. On the supplier-facing side, a retailer’s IT infrastructure and IT capabilities enabling logistics and operations are essential to its vendor-managed inventory (VMI) system. On the customer-facing side, a retailer’s e-commerce website requires IT infrastructure and IT capabilities that enable marketing and sales. Moreover, synergies are found downstream for e-commerce website that benefits from the integration of IT infrastructure and IT capabilities enabling logistics and operations while such synergies are not found upstream for VMI. This partial complementary effect is explicated by the sequential asymmetric information dependency of value chain activities. Finally, we discuss the implications of our findings for the research and practice of IT enablement and integration. Collapse

Topics: information technology capability electronic commerce website information technology infrastructure logistics management

Methods: survey chi squared test descriptive statistic econometric modeling regression analysis method

Theories: organizational information processing theory

z-Commerce: Designing a Data-Minimizing One-Click Checkout Solution

2023 | DESRIST | Citations: 0

Authors: Ermolaev, Egor; Abellán Álvarez, Iván; Sedlmeir, Johannes; Fridgen, Gilbert

Abstract: E-commerce has grown rapidly over the past years, with prevailing e-commerce pla ... Expand

Abstract: E-commerce has grown rapidly over the past years, with prevailing e-commerce platforms aggregating large amounts of customer data. This practice has several undesirable side effects, such as facilitating profiling that may lead to price discrimination and data feedback loops that can hamper competition. Moreover, data hoarding carries security risks through data breaches and undermines customers’ privacy expectations. On the other hand, convenience aspects and compliance regulation demand the processing and storage of user-related data. To address this tension field, we aim to conceptualize and iteratively refine a data-minimizinig e-commerce platform. Following a design science research approach, we identify design objectives and propose and implement a solution in which stakeholders receive only customer data that is indispensable for their part of the process. Our solution leverages digital identity wallets and general-purpose zero-knowledge proofs (zk-SNARKs). We aim to perform a criteria-based evaluation to assess our artifact’s feasibility and fitness from an interdisciplinary perspective. With our results, we hope to illustrate that combining state-of-the-art cryptographic techniques and an emerging digital identity paradigm allows reaching the user experience of incumbent e-commerce platforms while mitigating the undesirable socio-economic side effects of avoidable data disclosure. Collapse

Topics: electronic commerce privacy user experience open source price discrimination

Methods: qualitative interview design artifact design science literature study business process modeling

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE-AUGMENTED DECISION MAKING IN SUPPLY CHAIN MONITORING: AN ACTION DESIGN RESEARCH STUDY

2023 | European Conference On Information Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Herath Pathirannehelage, Savindu; Jóhannsson, Jóhann; Shrestha, Yash; Krogh, Georg von

Abstract: Organizations are progressively adopting hybrid human-artificial intelligence ( ... Expand

Abstract: Organizations are progressively adopting hybrid human-artificial intelligence (AI) systems in decisionmaking processes, with human decisions being augmented by AI insights. Among the promising AI applications in supply chain monitoring (SCMo) are predictive maintenance systems that predict potential device failures and augment maintenance decisions, allowing for timely and efficient interventions. Despite the growing proliferation of such systems, prescriptive knowledge encompassing technical, business, and organizational aspects on how to design, develop, and deploy them in actual operational environments remains limited. To address this shortcoming of evidence-based design principles in practice, our action design research developed a predictive maintenance system that predicts SCMo device failures and augments the maintenance decisions about those devices. By doing so, we outline generalizable design principles to guide prospective predictive maintenance systems in SCMo. Collapse

Topics: artificial intelligence predictive maintenance organizational context decision making systems evaluation

Methods: machine learning design principle design artifact artificial neural network random forest classification

Theories: evidence-based design

Digital Twins for Internal Transport Systems: Use Cases, Functions, and System Architecture

2023 | HICSS | Citations: 0

Authors: Marinkovic, M.; Galka, S.; Meißner, S.

Abstract: Internal transport systems are an essential part of intralogistics in productio ... Expand

Abstract: Internal transport systems are an essential part of intralogistics in production and distribution facilities. These are characterized by a variety of technologies as well as a multitude of interactions with other processes, such as warehouse, picking, and production processes. Therefore, resource planning and control of these systems is complex, especially for discontinuous conveyors. In this task, users can be supported by Digital Twins for decision-making, as they are suitable for investigating both future system states and possible actions. However, relevant use cases that are generally applicable across sectors as well as a generic system architecture for Digital Twins for resource planning and process control of in-plant transport systems have not yet been sufficiently investigated. In this paper, use cases are presented, relevant functions defined, and, finally, a generic functional and a logical reference architecture described. This is conducted with the design science in information systems research method together with a Systems Engineering approach. The use cases are determined at industrial partners of the research project TwInTraSys, which explores Digital Twins for the planning and control of internal transport systems. They are generalized and, thus, also applicable to other production and distribution facilities in different sectors. Further, the reference architecture can provide a basis for the successful implementation of the Digital Twin. Collapse

Topics: digital twin enterprise architecture production management systems development logistics management

Methods: qualitative interview literature study simulation design science

Towards an Interdisciplinary Development of IoT-Enhanced Business Processes

2023 | Business & Information Systems Engineering | Citations: 0

Authors: Valderas, Pedro; Torres, Victoria; Serral, Estefanía

Abstract: IoT-enhanced Business Processes make use of sensors and actuators to carry out t ... Expand

Abstract: IoT-enhanced Business Processes make use of sensors and actuators to carry out the process tasks and achieve a specific goal. One of the most important difficulties in the development of IoT-enhanced BPs is the interdisciplinarity that is demanded by this type of project. Defining an interdisciplinary tool-supported development approach that facilitates the collaboration of different professionals, with a special focus on three main facets: business process requirements, interoperability between IoT devices and BPs, and low-level data processing. The study followed a Design Science Research methodology for information systems that consists of a 6-step process: (1) problem identification and motivation; (2) define the objectives for a solution; (3) design and development; (4) demonstration; (5) evaluation; and (6) communication. The paper presents an interdisciplinary development process to support the creation of IoT-enhanced BPs by applying the Separation of Concerns principle. A collaborative development environment is built to provide each professional with the tools required to accomplish her/his development responsibilities. The approach is successfully validated through a case-study evaluation. The evaluation allows to conclude that the proposed development process and the supporting development environment are effective to face the interdisciplinary nature of IoT-enhanced BPs. Collapse

Topics: internet of things mobile system microservice architecture Java knowledge representation

Methods: experiment survey modeling language business process model and notation ontological modelling

Managing artificial intelligence projects: Key insights from an AI consulting firm

2023 | Information Systems Journal | Citations: 3

Authors: Vial, Gregory; Cameron, Ann-Frances; Giannelia, Tanya; Jiang, Jinglu

Abstract: While organisations are increasingly interested in artificial intelligence (AI), ... Expand

Abstract: While organisations are increasingly interested in artificial intelligence (AI), many AI projects encounter significant issues or even fail. To gain a deeper understanding of the issues that arise during these projects and the practices that contribute to addressing them, we study the case of Consult, a North American AI consulting firm that helps organisations leverage the power of AI by providing custom solutions. The management of AI projects at Consult is a multi-method approach that draws on elements from traditional project management, agile practices, and AI workflow practices. While the combination of these elements enables Consult to be effective in delivering AI projects to their customers, our analysis reveals that managing AI projects in this way draw upon three core logics, that is, commonly shared norms, values, and prescribed behaviours which influence actors' understanding of how work should be done. We identify that the simultaneous presence of these three logics—a traditional project management logic, an agile logic, and an AI workflow logic—gives rise to conflicts and issues in managing AI projects at Consult, and successfully managing these AI projects involves resolving conflicts that arise between them. From our case findings, we derive four strategies to help organisations better manage their AI projects. Collapse

Topics: artificial intelligence project management supply chain management logistics management systems development

Methods: case study experiment design methodology mathematical model

Institutionalizing Analytic Data Sharing in SME Ecosystems – A Role-Based Perspective

2022 | HICSS | Citations: 0

Authors: Baars, Henning; Weber, Patrick; Tank, Ann

Abstract: There is a variety of reasons that sharing data among Small and Medium-Sized Ent ... Expand

Abstract: There is a variety of reasons that sharing data among Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) carries business potential, particularly for analytical applications. But outside a few niche domains, the number of success stories for data sharing is rather modest. Based on a qualitative study and first experiences from a research project with pilot implementations, we argue that this is mainly due to a lack of an institutionalized governance structure: Founding a separate legal entity for data sharing and analysis can address core concerns regarding sharing valuable data assets. However, this requires a well-calibrated set of defined roles for the involved partners. Based on our results we propose a first concept on delineating and mapping out those roles. Collapse

Topics: digital ecosystem data governance value creation analytical information system data quality

Methods: qualitative interview design artifact design science simulation deep learning

DESIGN PRINCIPLES FOR HUMAN-CENTRED AI

2022 | European Conference On Information Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Cronholm, Stefan; Göbel, Hannes

Abstract: Advancements within artificial intelligence (AI) enable organisations to reform ... Expand

Abstract: Advancements within artificial intelligence (AI) enable organisations to reformulate strategies for exploiting data in order to refine their business models, make better decisions and maintain a competitive advantage. We recognise the technical advantages of AI. However, our view is that the technical perspective as a base for decision-making is necessary but insufficient. Several studies in human science report that essential human knowledge and competencies that affect decision making are not represented in AI systems. Based on this observation, we have developed design principles for developing decision-support systems (DSS) that combine human intelligence (HI) with AI. The design principles are: design for amplified decision-making, design for unbiased decision-making and design for human and AI learning. The design principles constitute the scientific contribution to the emergent field of Human-Centred AI. The contribution to practice consists of a DSS (a digital prototype) that supports the combination of HI and AI. Collapse

Topics: artificial intelligence decision support system decision making logistics management data quality

Methods: design principle design artifact literature study machine learning literature sample