Frank Teuteberg

Decision-making in cloud computing environments: A cost and risk based approach

In this article a sophisticated formal mathematical decision model is developed that supports the selection of Cloud Computing services in a multisourcing scenario. The objective is to determine the selection of appropriate Cloud Computing services offered by different providers. In order to do so, we consider cost as well as risk factors which are relevant to the decision scope. For example, coordination costs, IT service costs, maintenance costs and the costs of taken risks were compared. Risks are modeled by means of the three common security objectives integrity, confidentiality and availability. The managerial implications of the model lie in the sustainable decision support and the comprehensive decision approach. The formal model is prototypically implemented using a software tool and examined with the help of a simulation study in three realistic scenarios and a sensitivity analysis.

Costing of Cloud Computing Services: A Total Cost of Ownership Approach

The use of Cloud Computing Services appears to offer significant cost advantages. Particularly start-up companies benefit from these advantages, since frequently they do not operate an internal IT infrastructure. But are costs associated with Cloud Computing Services really that low? We found that particular cost types and factors are frequently underestimated by practitioners. In this paper we present a Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) approach for Cloud Computing Services. We applied a multi-method approach (systematic literature review, analysis of real Cloud Computing Services, expert interview, case study) for the development and evaluation of the formal mathematical model. We found that our model fits the practical requirements and supports decision-making in Cloud Computing.

Understanding the implications of digitisation and automation in the context of Industry 4.0

An industry specific definition of the Industry 4.0 concept for construction has been derived based on a content analysis.A systematic literature review is conducted to explore the state of the art of Industry 4.0 in the construction industry.A practical view has been added by performing a multiple case study analysis.A PESTEL framework has been illustrated to present the implications of Industry 4.0 for the construction industry.Recommendations for further research are provided within a research agenda. In recent years, Industry 4.0 has been introduced as a popular term to describe the trend towards digitisation and automation of the manufacturing environment. Despite its potential benefits in terms of improvements in productivity and quality, this concept has not gained much attention in the construction industry. This development is founded in the fact that the far-reaching implications of the increasingly digitised and automated manufacturing environment are still widely unknown. Against this backdrop, the primary objective of this paper is to explore the state of the art as well as the state of practice of Industry 4.0 relating technologies in the construction industry by pointing out the political, economic, social, technological, environmental and legal implications of its adoption. In this context, we present the results of our triangulation approach, which consists of a comprehensive systematic literature review and case study research, by illustrating a PESTEL framework and a value chain model. Additionally, we provide recommendations for further research within a research agenda.

Evaluating cloud computing services from a total cost of ownership perspective

Purpose - Start-up companies in particular can benefit from cloud computing services, since frequently they do not operate an internal IT infrastructure. The purpose of this paper is to present a total cost of ownership (TCO) approach for cloud computing services. Design/methodology/approach - The authors applied a multi-method approach (systematic literature review, analysis of real cloud computing services, expert interviews, case study) for the development and evaluation of a formal mathematical TCO model. Findings - It was found that decision processes in cloud computing are conducted Research limitations/implications - Some restrictive assumptions were made. For instance, cost types that focus on an existing internal IT infrastructure were hidden. Future research can combine risk and security aspects by means of a TCO approach. Additionally, benefits management in cloud computing is another new research field that can, for instance, be explored by means of cost-benefit analyses. Practical implications - The analysis of relevant cost types and factors of cloud computing services is an important pillar of decision making in cloud computing. The software tool allows for an easy application of the TCO model with reasonable effort. Originality/value - The paper provides an evaluated mathematical model for the calculation of the TCO of cloud computing services. With this tool, decision makers are able to decide whether outsourcing into the cloud is monetarily attractive; to be more specific, whether the costs associated with cloud computing services are lower than with a pre-existing infrastructure.

State of the art and future research in Environmental Management Information Systems - a systematic literature review

In this paper, we present a systematic literature review in the field of Environmental Management Information Systems (EMIS). The source material of the review consists of 105 reviewed articles dating back to the time period between 2000 and 2008. Apart from an analysis of related work, this review provides an overview of applied research methods and topics in the field of EMIS as well as a categorization of the analyzed source material. The results of the review show that design science (prototyping) and argumentative-deductive analysis are the most applied research methods and that the simulation method has not been used at all so far. Furthermore, elements of a research agenda are discussed in order to determine possible further research steps in the discipline of EMIS. Like most other systematic literature reviews, this paper mainly aims at an audience of experienced researchers in the field of EMIS who are looking for research ideas and at junior scientists (e.g. PhD students) entering this emerging field of research. Practitioners might benefit from our review by gaining a stronger awareness of the importance of EMIS for business companies.

Sustaining accessibility of information through digital preservation: A literature review

Today valuable business, scientific and cultural information is created and stored digitally. However, the sustained availability and accessibility of digital information cannot be taken for granted as they are threatened by rapidly changing technologies and the associated risk of obsolete software and hardware. Digital preservation (DP) comprises methods and techniques geared towards securing long-term access to digital information. In this study we undertake a vital step to shed light on the area of DP by conducting a systematic literature review. We analysed 122 publications with respect to various aspects such as drivers, stakeholders or applied research methods. The findings point towards some unsolved organizational issues such as lacking methods to support cost–benefit analysis or DP decision-making. We thus propose a set of research questions based on our findings and suggest a research agenda.

Integrating the concept of sustainability into the partner selection process: a fuzzy-AHP-TOPSIS approach

In recent years, numerous publications of supply chain management have dealt with partner selection methods. So far, research has failed to offer a holistic approach for the selection of recycling partners while focusing on financial, environmental and social factors. In view of this fact, our paper aims at developing an integrated Multi-Criteria Decision Model (MCDM) that supports recycling partners. On the basis of a systematic literature review, we identified limitations of the existing approaches and designed an integrated Fuzzy-AHP-TOPSIS model. The approach is validated by means of an empirical study in the electrics and electronics industry.

Experimental Evaluation of a Model for Multilateral Negotiation with Fuzzy Preferences on an Agent-based Marketplace

This paper presents a multilateral negotiation model on an agent-based job-marketplace developed at Europe-University Viadrina Frankfurt (Oder), Germany. The negotiation model is based on many negotiation issues, a fuzzy utility scoring method and simultaneous negotiation with many negotiation partners in an environment of limited negotiation time. Although the proposed negotiation model deals with agent-based negotiation in the specific context of personnel acquisition, it can be applied with some modifications to other agent-based e-marketplaces. The negotiation model presented is evaluated with the help of some simulation experiments. The observed results provide an insight into the interrelation between negotiation tactics and time constraints on the one side and achieved utility degrees and the number of closed contracts on the other side.

Semantic Technologies for Business and Information Systems Engineering: Concepts and Applications

There are increasing opportunities to consider the application of semantic technologies for business information systems. Semantic technologies are expected to improve business processes and information systems, and lead to savings in cost and time as well as improved efficiency. Semantic Technologies for Business and Information Systems Engineering: Concepts and Applications investigates the application of semantic technologies to business and information systems engineering. This reference work assists researchers in academia and industry, students, business process analysts, information management professionals, software engineers, and other practitioners in gaining knowledge on applying semantic technologies for advanced business information systems, in annotating semantics to business processes, and in semantically integrating advanced business information systems.

Green Computing & Sustainability

ZusammenfassungZur Realisierung einer nachhaltigen Unternehmensentwicklung im Sinne einer parallelen Verfolgung der gleichwertigen ökonomischen, ökologischen und sozialen Unternehmensziele bedarf es entsprechender betrieblicher Umweltinformationssysteme (BUIS). BUIS der nächsten Generation (BUIS 2.0) müssen den Besonderheiten einer nachhaltigen Unternehmensführung, die nicht von einem ökonomischen Oberziel dominiert wird, gerecht werden. Der vorliegende Beitrag bietet einen Überblick über den Status quo von BUIS in der Unternehmenspraxis und diskutiert Implikationen und aktuelle Herausforderungen für Wissenschaft und Praxis im Hinblick auf die Realisierung von BUIS der nächsten Generation. Auf Basis der Ergebnisse mehrerer Experteninterviews und Industrie-Workshops wird das breite Spektrum der in der Unternehmenspraxis vorzufindenden BUIS in Form eines morphologischen Kastens dargestellt. Dabei wird aufgezeigt, dass BUIS derzeit eher einen operativen oder nachsorgenden Fokus haben und als Insellösungen betrieben werden. Vorgeschlagen wird eine Referenzarchitektur, die als Ordnungsrahmen für die Entwicklung von BUIS 2.0 zur Unterstützung einer nachhaltigen Unternehmensentwicklung dienen kann.