Jens Vykoukal

A combinatorial intra-enterprise exchange for logistics services

The exchange of cargo capacities is a well established approach in logistics. However, only few logistics marketplaces are able to take into consideration synergies that can be generated by combining different transportation routes of different logistics carrierps. In order to exploit these synergies, we designed and implemented the combinatorial exchange mechanism ComEx for the intra-enterprise exchange of delivery orders in a logistics company organized in a profit center structure. Each profit center is able to release delivery orders to an adjacent profit center if the geographic locations of the customers allow for a reduced-cost delivery by the adjacent profit center. We demonstrate that by using the ComEx mechanism, the total cost of transportation of our logistics company can be reduced by up to 14%. Since our iterative auction mechanism is very complex and therefore resource-intensive, we reduce the complexity by applying a convex hull approach combined with a distance-based cost estimator.

The Design of Incentives in a Combinatorial Exchange for Intra-Enterprise Logistics Services

The exchange of transportation capacities is an approach that is well established in the practice of logistics. Few of these mostly web-based market places, however, are able to take into consideration the synergies that can be generated by the appropriate combination of the transportation lanes of different carriers. One method of achieving this is to employ combinatorial auctions, which allow bidding on bundles of lanes. This article deals with a combinatorial auction for the intra- enterprise exchange of logistics services. In the real world case considered here, we implement and analyze such an exchange process in an enterprise that is related to the food sector and organized in a profit center structure. In the intra-enterprise exchange process, each profit center is able to release delivery contracts for outsourcing if the geographic location of a customer allows reduced-cost delivery by another profit center in the neighborhood. However, the success of such an exchange system depends on the incentive for the profit centers to release delivery contracts into the outsourcing process. This incentive is given by a distribution mechanism that enables the profit centers to share the cost savings achieved for the entire enterprise. The proposed mechanism is able to change the balance between the reward for the in or outsourcing of delivery contracts or to award either a higher share of the total cost savings to a profit center for in or outsourcing respectively.

Services Grids in Industry - On- Demand Provisioning and Allocation of Grid-Based Business Services

Over the last few years Grid computing has attracted considerable attention from the industry, because it offers opportunities for new on-demand business services for enterprises. In this article, we depict the current trend of enterprises to source Grid services offered by third-party utility providers on a use-on-demand, pay-per-use basis, thus leading to faster IT response to changing business needs. We outline the emerging expansion of Grid computing in industry and discuss the significant challenges still needing to be solved to further promote the adoption of Grid technology in the business domain.

Service-Grids in der Industrie – On-Demand-Bereitstellung und Nutzung von Grid-basierten Services in Unternehmen

ZusammenfassungIn den letzten Jahren erregte Grid-Computing eine enorme Aufmerksamkeit in der Industrie, da dieses Möglichkeiten für neue On-Demand-Services bietet. In diesem Beitrag zeigen wir den aktuellen Trend der Industrie auf, Grid-Dienste zu nutzen, die von externen Dienstleistern auf einer On-Demand- und Pay-per-Use-Basis angeboten werden und somit zu einer schnelleren Reaktion der IT auf sich verändernde Geschäftsanforderungen führt. Die Autoren stellen die entstehende Expansion des Grid-Computing in Unternehmen dar und diskutieren zentrale Herausforderungen, die noch einer Lösung bedürfen, um die Verbreitung der Grid-Technologie im betrieblichen Umfeld weiter zu fördern.AbstractOver the last few years Grid computing has attracted considerable attention from the industry, because it offers opportunities for new on-demand business services for enterprises. In this article, we depict the current trend of enterprises to source Grid services offered by third-party utility providers on a use-on-demand, pay-per-use basis, thus leading to faster IT response to changing business needs. We outline the emerging expansion of Grid computing in industry and discuss the significant challenges still needing to be solved to further promote the adoption of Grid technology in the business domain.

Colocation as a Hybrid ICT Sourcing Strategy to Improve Operational Agility

Fast access to communication networks and the availability of high-performance information and com-munication technology (ICT) infrastructures is indis-pensable for accelerating business transactions. Yet with increased environmental volatility, companies need to become more agile in identifying and responding to market- and technology-based challenges. Accordingly, a responsive and high-performance ICT infrastructure remains a top priority for firms. Thus, new ICT sourcing strategies may lead to significant competitive advantages, especially in dynamic business environments. This article analyzes a hybrid ICT sourcing strategy called colocation that allows firms to operate their own ICT resources in facilities of special-ized data center providers. Grounded in the theory of dynamic capabilities, we theorize and empirically ex-amine how colocation and top management support enable firms to improve their operational agility in the presence of environmental turbulence.

IMPACT OF GRID ASSIMILATION ON OPERATIONAL AGILITY IN TURBULENT ENVIRONMENTS: AN EMPIRICAL INVESTIGATION IN THE FINANCIAL SERVICES INDUSTRY

Enterprises increasingly adopt value chain improving technologies to retain a competitive position in a rapidly changing, uncertain, and demanding environment. Due to its hyper-competitive market, especially the financial services industry is exposed to a high level of environmental turbulence and resulting uncertainty (Ang and Cummings 1997). The ongoing need to realize and adapt to these environmental changes is reflected by the concept of agility which describes one of the key success factors for organizations striving to stay competitive, even in uncertain and turbulent markets (Dove 2001).

Services Grid Competence As Driver of Business Agility in Turbulent Environments - A Conceptual Model in the Financial Services Industry

In recent years, Grid computing has gained considerable attention in industry leading to the vision of a new agile business platform which provides the on-demand access to IT resources. In this article, we refer to the current trend of financial services providers to utilize Services Grids in order to increase the level of business agility in terms of improved environmental sensing and responding capabilities. These capabilities especially address environmental turbulence as a major source of uncertainty and unpredictability. Deductively drawing from the extant literature and informed by the insights of a conducted case study within a large bank, we develop a conceptual model and propositions depicting the interaction between Services Grid competence as driver of business agility. In this context business agility can be assumed to be an antecedent of improved financial firm performance, especially against the background of environmental turbulence.