Designing and managing collaborative enterprises in the automotive industry

This paper presents the findings of a recently completed research project. It sheds light upon the appropriate governance of inter-firm relationships, in order to achieve competitive success for the whole partnership and its individual members. An exploratory study in the German automotive industry using inductive Grounded Theory was conducted, in order to form a set of propositions that were then validated. The research has resulted in the consolidation of these propositions into a novel concept termed Collaborative Enterprise Governance, which draws on an inter-disciplinary body of knowledge. The core of the concept is a competence based contingency framework that helps enterprise managers in selecting the most appropriate governance strategy (i.e. enterprise structure) for an inter-firm relationships within automotive supply networks (i.e. enterprises), depending on various exogenous and endogenous factors.

Forms of Collaboration in Collaborative Enterprises: An Ontological Model

Part 19: Knowledge Management in Networks

Combining Collaborative Networks and Knowledge Management: The SENAI Case

Part 19: Knowledge Management in Networks

Research networks and inventors’ mobility as drivers of innovation evidence from Europe

We investigate the importance of the labour mobility of inventors, as well as the scale, extent and density of their collaborative research networks, for regional innovation outcomes. To do so, we apply a knowledge production function framework at the regional level and include inventors’ networks and their labour mobility as regressors. Our empirical approach takes full account of spatial interactions by estimating a spatial lag model together, where necessary, with a spatial error model. In addition, standard errors are calculated using spatial heteroskedasticity and autocorrelation consistent estimators to ensure their robustness in the presence of spatial error autocorrelation and heteroskedasticity of unknown form. Our results point to the existence of a robust positive correlation between intraregional labour mobility and regional innovation, whilst the relationship with networks is less clear. However, networking across regions positively correlates with a region’s innovation intensity.

Enterprise Modelling Approach based on Maturity and Business Scope perspectives

This paper introduces a framework that supports users to implement enterprise modelling within collaborative companies. These enterprise models are the basis for a holistic interoperability measurement and management methodology which will be presented in the second part of the paper. The discipline of enterprise modelling aims at capturing all dimensions of an enterprise in a simplified model. Thus enterprise models are the appropriate basis for managing collaborative enterprise as they reduce the complexity of interoperability problems. Therefore, a first objective of this paper is to present an approach that enables companies to get the most effect out of enterprise modelling in a collaborative environment based on the maturity of their organisation relative to modelling. Within this first step, the user will get recommendations e.g. for the correct modelling language as well as the right level of detail.

Efectividad en las redes empresariales

Este estudio tiene como objetivo identificar cuáles son las variables que repercuten en la efectividad de las redes empresariales. Esto, con base en la búsqueda de literatura existente de la efectividad en equipos, en organizaciones y en las redes interorganizacionales, así como el análisis de modelos y estudios empíricos que permitieron el análisis. De acuerdo con la búsqueda, se encontró que variables como la estructura de la red, la estabilidad del sistema, el compromiso de los empleados en cada una de las organizaciones que hacen parte de la red, la confianza dentro de la red, la transferencia de conocimiento y la apertura del sistema son las variables que en conclusión, mostraron ser buenas predictoras de efectividad dentro de las redes empresariales.

Tecnologia de informação e colaboração interorganizacional: um estudo no varejo de grande porte no setor de confecção

A colaboração interorganizacional, é uma realidade que atinge muitas empresas, de todos os portes e setores. A TI aumenta a capacidade de gerenciamento e coordenação através de fronteiras organizacionais, permitindo redução de custos, otimização de recursos e melhor coordenação e o controle gerencial. Este projeto identificou o papel da TI nos relacionamentos colaborativos entre empresas. Para isso, analisou-se o emprego da TI no relacionamento colaborativo entre varejistas e fornecedores, no Setor de Confecção. Como resultado da pesquisa, os conceitos estabelecidos foram organizados em um modelo teórico e resumidos em um constructo sobre a colaboração interorganizacional apoiada pela TI.

REST-based sensor networks with OData

RESTful services gained a lot of attention recently, even in the enterprise world, which is traditionally more web-service centric. Data centric RESfFul services, as previously mainly known in web environments, established themselves as a second paradigm complementing functional WSDL-based SOA. In the Internet of Things, and in particular when talking about sensor motes, the Constraint Application Protocol (CoAP) is currently in the focus of both research and industry. In the enterprise world a protocol called OData (Open Data Protocol) is becoming the future RESTful data access standard. To integrate sensor motes seamlessly into enterprise networks, an embedded OData implementation on top of CoAP is desirable, not requiring an intermediary gateway device. In this paper we introduce and evaluate an embedded OData implementation. We evaluate the OData protocol in terms of performance and energy consumption, considering different data encodings, and compare it to a pure CoAP implementation. We were able to demonstrate that the additional resources needed for an OData/JSON implementation are reasonable when aiming for enterprise interoperability, where OData is suggested to solve both the semantic and technical interoperability problems we have today when connecting systems

A review of research and practice for the industrial networks of the future

Academic researchers have followed closely the interest of companies in establishing industrial networks by studying aspects such as social interaction and contractual relationships. But what patterns underlie the emergence of industrial networks and what support should research provide for practitioners? First, it appears that manufacturing is becoming a commodity rather than a unique capability, which accounts especially for low-technology approaches in downstream parts of the network, for example, in assembly operations. Second, the increased tendency towards specialisation has forced other, upstream, parts of industrial networks to introduce advanced manufacturing technologies for niche markets. Third, the capital market for investments in capacity, and the trade in manufacturing as a commodity, dominates resource allocation to a larger extent than was previously the case. Fourth, there is becoming a continuous move towards more loosely connected entities that comprise manufacturing networks. Finally, in these networks, concepts for supply chain management should address collaboration and information technology that supports decentralised decision-making, in particular to address sustainable and green supply chains. More traditional concepts, such as the keiretsu and chaibol networks of some Asian economies, do not sufficiently support the demands now being placed on networks. Research should address these five fundamental challenges to prepare for the industrial networks of 2020 and beyond. © 2010 Springer-Verlag London.

A Collaborative IT Network for Three Adriatic Maritime Ports

Part 21: Mobility and Logistics

Plataforma para suporte ao ciclo de vida de organizações virtuais e seleção dinâmica de parceiros e fornecedores

Tese de Doutoramento em Engenharia Industrial e de Sistemas

Promoting Metacognitive Skills in a CSCL environment: implications for instructional and technology design

This paper aims to better understand the development of students’ learning processes when participating actively in a specific Computer Supported Collaborative Learning system called KnowCat. To this end, a longitudinal case study was designed, in which eighteen university students took part in a 12-month (two semesters) learning project. During this time period, the students followed an instructional process, using some elements of KnowCat (KnowCat key features) design to support and improve their interaction processes, especially peer learning processes. Our research involved both supervising the students’ collaborative learning processes throughout the learning project and focusing our analysis on the qualitative evolution of the students’ interaction processes and on the development of metacognitive learning processes. The results of the current research reveal that the instructional application of the CSCL-KnowCat system may favour and improve the development of the students’ metacognitive learning processes. Additionally, the implications of the design of computer supported collaborative learning networks and pedagogical issues are discussed in this paper.

Coopetencia y modelos de asociatividad en colombia

El concepto de coopetencia surgen los planteamientos relacionados con los clústers y las redes empresariales, en donde empresas con características similares fortalecen sus relaciones para desarrollar mayores niveles de eficiencia o alcanzar objetivos que individualmente serian difíciles de lograr, especialmente en el caso de las pymes. Es fundamental que el estado desarrolle las relaciones y la conformación de iniciativas de asociatividad que permitan que la fluidez y los vínculos entre empresas, instituciones gubernamentales, financieras, universidades, centros de investigación, entre otros; para promover la integración de esfuerzos, la fluidez de información y el acceso a tecnologías, mejores posiciones competitivas. En Colombia desde hace aproximadamente 20 años, dentro de la política de competitividad del gobierno nacional (a partir del informe monitor), se ha identificado la importancia de las relaciones entre empresas e instituciones conexas para mejorar los estándares y la eficiencia que se pueda lograr para mantener una posición competitiva en los mercados internacionales.

Thanatos Empresarial : evolución del Sector de la construcción en Colombia.

Esta investigación está orientada hacia la identificación de características de la internacionalización de la economía colombiana, específicamente en el sector de la construcción, los cuales han logrado otorgarle un especial dinamismo durante esta última década. En el desarrollo del documento se evalúan los modelos de internacionalización basados principalmente en tres temas fundamentales; el primero es la teoría económica, el segundo es la teoría como proceso, y por último la teoría de redes. Cada uno de estos modelos basados en su respectiva teoría, enseñan conceptos de cómo podrían las empresas implementar planes para entrar a otros mercados, empezando por países similares tanto en aspectos sociales, económicos, culturales, y políticos, logrando así de esta manera una posición aventajada frente a sus competidores. Al lograr este posicionamiento pueden empezar su expansión a países más lejanos puesto que ya han conocido y fortalecido sus ventajas competitivas, obteniendo una mayor experiencia de adaptación a nuevos mercados, con esto alcanzando captar mayores recursos económicos, de conocimiento y de otras índoles que ayudan a disminuir el riesgo de inversión que realizan las organizaciones en diferentes naciones.

Transformación cultural en redes de cooperación empresarial

Ante la globalización y las nuevas tendencias de consumo que se han venido desarrollando a través de los años, las diferentes firmas en el mundo se han visto en la necesidad de buscar estrategias que les permita ser productivas generando más valor a los consumidores. En este sentido, ha surgido la necesidad de trabajar de manera conjunta y a su vez crear lazos de cooperación entre las diferentes organizaciones para el logro de mejores resultados. Las redes empresariales son una opción de integración de procesos y recursos para las organizaciones, sin embargo durante la creación de esta se generan cambios organizacionales que impactan en factores como la cultura organizacional. El cambio en la cultura organizacional se produce de manera gradual o abrupta según la forma de cooperación que ejecuten las empresas o por el contexto externo al cual pertenezca la organización. Así mismo, el líder es el encargado de gestionar el cambio en los valores (núcleo de la cultura), prácticas o la filosofía de las organizaciones; sin el apoyo de los líderes el fracaso de una cultura organizacional en una empresa, red, clúster o alianza será incuestionable.