Lecture 6 - Networkability, Smartness, Interoperability

Question 1

Networkability (Wigand et. al)

Answer 1

Capability of an organization to collaborate internally and externally at the level of business processes and underlying IT infrastructure.

Question 2

Degree of networkability (Alt and Smits)

Answer 2

Determines the efficiency of network formation by an individual organization and business networks.
High networkability enhance network development and network performance.

Question 3

Objective of every networked enterprise

Answer 3

Increase competitiveness through higher networkability, where networkability is the internal and external ability to cooperate as well as the ability to rapidly and efficiently establish, conduct, and develop IT-supported business relationships.

Question 4

Design blocks of networkability

Answer 4

• Employees
• Product and Services
• Process
• Information systems
• Organization structures

Question 5

Design objects of networkability

Answer 5

a. Networkable products/services
- Degrees of modularization/specificity of adaptions/multiple usability.
- Note: modularization enables customized standardization & automated coordination.
b. Networkable processes
- Transparency of the process for partners/openness of information exchange/existence of conflict management system/inter-organizational monitoring of processes/coordination scenarios.
c. Networkable organization structure
- Distribution of power/homogeneity of organizational structures/granularity and flexibility of organizational units.
d. Networkable employees
- Ability for personal networks/ability to acquire information.
e. Networkable culture
- Distribution of benefits between partners (reciprocity)/intensity of exchange of knowledge and experiences/lived openness/dealing with trust.
f. Networkable Information Systems
- Use of application and communication standards/form of IT integration.

Question 6

Measuring networkability of a firm

Answer 6

Design object: products and services
Networkability of design object: rapid and inexpensive individualization of products and services.
Coordination mechanisms for the design object: modularization, standardization, digitalization.

Design object: processes
Networkability of design object: rapid and flexible establishment and use of appropriately coordinated processes.
Coordination mechanisms for the design object: standardization and integration of processes.

Design object: information systems
Networkability of design object: rapid and inexpensive establishment of an individual communication link between participation in several different networks.
Coordination mechanisms for the design object: standardization of communication and data integration of systems.

Design object: organizational structure
Networkability of design object: flexible organizational structures which enable participation in several different networks.
Coordination mechanisms for the design object: virtualization, modularization, distributed responsibilities.

Design object: culture and employees
Networkability of design object: cooperation-promoting company culture and employees with the capacity for internal and external cooperation.
Coordination mechanisms for the design object: relative openness, identification and control of goal conflicts, trust-creating measures.

Question 7

Interoperability

Answer 7

Creating linkages between technology.

Question 8

Modular business components

Answer 8

Linking the business-oriented notion of ‘networkability’ with the more technological notion of ‘business interoperability’.

Question 9

5 key questions when considering a blockchain application

Answer 9

1. Is a blockchain the right solution?
2. How are blockchain standards being established?
3. How can a blockchain solution comply with legislation given the regulatory uncertainty?
4. How should a blockchain solution be governed?
5. How can a viable ecosystem be established?