Structured Literature Analysis Research Articles

Determining Critical Success Factors of the Digital Transformation Using a Force-Directed Network Graph

Conducting a digital transformation is one of the major challenges for today’s companies as it is usually associated with a high risk. The reasons for this are manifold. Technologies are still evolving and there is no coherent standard for digital platforms enabling digitalization. Furthermore, it is not only about introducing new technology but also requires a fundamental change in an organization and its culture. Consequently, planning a digital transformation project (or program) requires a careful analysis of the company’s current situation and the envisioned objectives. This article investigates critical success factors for preparing and executing such a transformation. The success factors are identified by conducting a structured literature analysis. 13 scientific papers are identified and then analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively. The quantitative analysis is conducted by using force-directed network graphs. Both methods are then compared and discussed. The result shows that most critical success factors are related to the business change rather than to introducing technology. Leadership, strategy, vision, corporate culture, and customer centricity play a stronger role than a digital platform.

Data-driven decision-making in maintenance management and coordination throughout the asset life cycle: an empirical study

PurposeWith production systems become more digitized, data-driven maintenance decisions can improve the performance of production systems. While manufacturers are introducing predictive maintenance and maintenance reporting to increase maintenance operation efficiency, operational data may also be used to improve maintenance management. Research on the value of data-driven decision support to foster increased internal integration of maintenance with related functions is less explored. This paper explores the potential for further development of solutions for cross-functional responsibilities that maintenance shares with production and logistics through data-driven approaches.Design/methodology/approachFifteen maintenance experts were interviewed in semi-structured interviews. The interview questions were derived based on topics identified through a structured literature analysis of 126 papers.FindingsThe main findings show that data-driven decision-making can support maintenance, asset, production and material planning to coordinate and collaborate on cross-functional responsibilities. While solutions for maintenance planning and scheduling have been explored for various operational conditions, collaborative solutions for maintenance, production and logistics offer the potential for further development. Enablers for data-driven collaboration are the internal synchronization and central definition of goals, harmonization of information systems and information visualization for decision-making.Originality/valueThis paper outlines future research directions for data-driven decision-making in maintenance management as well as the practical requirements for implementation.

Innovation Empowerment in Construction 4.0 by the Corporate Digital Responsibility (CDR)—Approach. A New Field of Scientific Research for the Digital Breakthrough

The architecture, engineering and construction industry (AEC) undergoes digital transformation, one of the major drivers for technical innovation and dynamism to all working processes. Emerging technologies were only used to a limited extent due to the lack of will to innovate and the unavailability of appropriate orientation guiding users with a more comprehensible framework. The research defined a new gap in scientific research with the concept of Corporate Digital Responsibility (CDR) in Construction 4.0—a term representing the digitization of the branch. The traditionally conservative, highly fragmented industry is predestined for this given the advanced technology, human potential and appreciation of values. Understanding the complex possibilities of innovation and recognizing the potential impact on the sustainability of buildings and the built environment promotes the adoption of corporate responsibility. The implementation of digital strategies, secured by an adapted legal framework, would accelerate the overall human, societal and digital transformation. This primary research investigates the challenges affecting the adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI). The study highlights in which fields CDR can significantly catalyze innovation to achieve efficient, economic construction life cycles. The study used a mix of methods with a structured literature analysis and expert interview surveys enabling a critical-reflexive analysis of key factors. It evaluates the key tasks to master technological feasibility. By assessing multiple expert perspectives, the study takes stock of the acceptance of new technologies. The findings are expected to inspire corporates, researchers and practitioners across disciplines. Necessary corporate steps are outlined in the study to lay the path for defining their own digital strategy. The study shows that new research questions require a holistic approach.

Acceptance factors of digitalization in hospitals: a mixed-methods study

IntroductionHospitals have identified IT as a suitable mean to cope with various challenges. However, the heterogenous progress regarding digitalization cannot solely be attributed to a lack of investment. Potentially underlying socio-technical causes should be further investigated. The aim of this work is to identify factors that affect the human acceptance of digitalization in hospitals. The goal is to validate practical relevance with affected professional stakeholders as well as quantify the magnitude of the impact.MethodsThe Mixed-Methods (MM) approach according to the APA Mixed Methods Article Reporting Standard (MMARS) was based on a structured literature analysis (PRISMA-ScR), expert interviews (COREQ), and a web-based survey (CHERRIES). The survey queries acceptance factors related to digitalization in hospitals. By means of a statistical analysis, correlations with the dependent variable acceptance, effect sizes and variances are investigated.ResultsA total of N = 258 hospital professionals participated in the survey, with n = 155 (60.1%) female respondents, and a large share (n = 106, 41.1%) of participants from the field of nursing. Six of the 22 queried factors show a significant impact on acceptance (P < .05). The predictors competence and perceived benefit seem to exert the greatest influence. A multiple linear regression with R2 = .68 (corrected R2 = .63) shows a high goodness of fit. The predictors thus statistically influence the criterion acceptance (F22, 193 = 13.32, p < .001).ConclusionsThe factors contributing to human acceptance of digitalization-related change processes in hospitals were divided into subject-, object- and context-related aspects. The factors skill, education, affinity for digitalization, future of the workplace, participation as well as the perceived benefit were identified as significant influence factors on acceptance of digitalization in hospitals.

Navigating Applied Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the Digital Era: How Smart Buildings and Smart Cities Become the Key to Sustainability

This paper aims to understand the critical path of digital transformation in construction by investigating major drivers for technical innovation, e.g., in smart cities. Despite available new technologies, increasing societal, environmental pressure, and data complexity, the branch lacks a will to innovate and qualified personnel. The study identifies the potential of innovation and the pillars of sustainability to define ways to responsibly use data-driven, smart technologies in smart cities throughout their holistic life cycles. The mix of expert interview surveys and structured literature analysis is the basis to examine the status quo and innovative approaches. It enables to critically investigate limitations and human, societal and environmental impacts. This study’s findings offer orientation in navigating innovation for resilient, agile ecosystems with the dynamic ability to adapt to changing environment and to grow with the change and achieving the sustainable development goals toward preservation and upgrade of buildings instead of new construction. The key challenge for sustainable technical innovation is to exploit human and societal potential. The study allocates the lack of research in this field and inadequate education as most significant limitations and critically evaluates that a disruptive culture of thinking may enable the sustainable design of smart cities. This study is unique as it develops a comprehensive, transparent Corporate Digital Responsibility Policy Framework and provides orientation to assume ethical, societal, environmental responsibility as part of creating resilient, agile environments.

A comprehensive taxonomy for explainable artificial intelligence: a systematic survey of surveys on methods and concepts

In the meantime, a wide variety of terminologies, motivations, approaches, and evaluation criteria have been developed within the research field of explainable artificial intelligence (XAI). With the amount of XAI methods vastly growing, a taxonomy of methods is needed by researchers as well as practitioners: To grasp the breadth of the topic, compare methods, and to select the right XAI method based on traits required by a specific use-case context. Many taxonomies for XAI methods of varying level of detail and depth can be found in the literature. While they often have a different focus, they also exhibit many points of overlap. This paper unifies these efforts and provides a complete taxonomy of XAI methods with respect to notions present in the current state of research. In a structured literature analysis and meta-study, we identified and reviewed more than 50 of the most cited and current surveys on XAI methods, metrics, and method traits. After summarizing them in a survey of surveys, we merge terminologies and concepts of the articles into a unified structured taxonomy. Single concepts therein are illustrated by more than 50 diverse selected example methods in total, which we categorize accordingly. The taxonomy may serve both beginners, researchers, and practitioners as a reference and wide-ranging overview of XAI method traits and aspects. Hence, it provides foundations for targeted, use-case-oriented, and context-sensitive future research.

Adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies by organizations: a maturity levels perspective.

This study employs a structured literature analysis considering Industry 4.0 technologies and their adoption stages (intention, adoption, implementation, routinization, continuance, and diffusion). We identify the technology adoption stage for each technology type, which in turn supports a maturity level categorization, as well as future research suggestions and challenging open research questions. By considering an integrated view of all the adoption stages of Industry 4.0 key technologies, we reveal the key technologies and their development stages, as well as a novel maturity level categorization perspective. The proposed categorization brings valuable research insights in the form of guidelines for practitioners and decision-makers interested in gaining a deeper understanding of the maturity level of key Industry 4.0 technologies.

Obstacles to demand response: Why industrial companies do not adapt their power consumption to volatile power generation

Various flexibility options in power systems, such as storage, grid expansion, and demand flexibility, gain increasing importance to balance the intermittent power supply of renewables. On the demand side, especially the industrial sector represents promising potential for Demand Response, i.e., the alignment of its power demand with the current power supply of renewables. However, there exist various obstacles that currently prevent companies from investing in new or (fully) exploiting existing flexibility potentials. In this paper, we investigate how economic, regulatory, technological, organizational, behavioral, informational, and competence obstacles pose barriers for companies to adjust their power consumption flexibly. For this purpose, we combine both a structured literature analysis and a case study. For the case study, we conduct 16 interviews with energy experts from companies from different industries. Our findings reveal that due to technical risk of disrupting the production process, lacking revenues, and too low cost savings, companies do not flexibilize their power consumption. Moreover, in particular, contradictory legislative incentives and missing IT standardization and interoperability represent key obstacles. Therefore, our results constitute a basis for targeted policy making in order to foster the exploitation of (existing) flexibility potential of industrial companies on the demand side.

Human-centred work design in times of digital change – work conditions, level of digitization and recent trends for object-related tasks

New technologies are influencing today’s work and change social attitudes towards the organization and design of work. Against this background, the question arises as to how human-centred work design has to be in the digital age. In order to derive indications for work design, first it is necessary to find out which work conditions actually are present for different tasks and what their level of digitization is. This article focuses on the working conditions and the level of digitization of object-related tasks. These tasks are characterized by the fact that objects are processed or handled. In particular, it includes the task groups manufacturing, transporting and cleaning.For these three groups, current working conditions of N = 6.435 employees with object-related tasks were analyzed based on the BIBB/BAuA Employment Survey. Furthermore, the current state of digitization of N = 411 employees with object-related tasks was analyzed based on the survey Digitization and Change in Employment (DiWaBe). The results show, that a high proportion of physical work requirements and physical-chemical environmental conditions have an impact on object-related tasks. Furthermore, the results indicate tendencies towards monotonous work processes. Object-related tasks show a rather low degree of digitization. However, especially in manufacturing and transport, detailed instructions are often given by means of various technologies.Based on the data analysis, a structured literature analysis was conducted about the current state of research on new technologies in object-related tasks. It was found, that research and practice is concerned with technologies that meet the high physical demands of object-related tasks in particular (e.g. HRC, exoskeletons). In addition, there are many approaches to support employees cognitively with digital assistance systems. This article present the results of the data and literature analysis.

Mapping unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) 2: a taxonomical study using bibliometric visualisation

PurposeThis study aims to examine the research pattern and growth trends of published research on a unified theory of acceptance and use of technology 2 (UTAUT2) from 2012 to 2019. The study also examines the research scope of UTAUT2 for future researchers.Design/methodology/approachThis study has adopted a bibliometric approach followed by a structured literature review analysis to synthesize the research on UTAUT2 since 2012. In total, 163 documents were analyzed for type of studies, theories and frameworks, methodologies, author wise collaboration, organizations that contributed to the body of knowledge in the UTAUT2 research and journals that published studies in this domain. VOSviewer and Tableau were used for the data visualization, whereas TCCM, which means theory (T), context (C), characteristics (C) and methodology (M) framework is used to propose the future research directions.FindingsThe findings reveal research on UTAUT2 is growing. The structured literature analysis of the top 15 cited articles further analyzed the parsimony of new models in detail. In addition, the study highlights the inception by and promoters of UTAUT2 in a separate section. The data for this study was collected by searching the title, abstract and keywords of documents in the Scopus database.Research limitations/implicationsThis study is based on research papers, published in the UTAUT2 research area, that have been extracted from the Scopus database by keywords only. Future studies can also perform a meta-analysis of various clusters generated by bibliometric analysis.Practical implicationsThis study is useful for practitioners to devise strategies for increasing technology acceptance, adoption and utilization in the times to come.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is one of the very few and early studies, which examined patterns and growth trends of the UTAUT2 studies with the TCCM framework, to suggest scope for future research studies.

Four research pathways for understanding the role of smart technologies in accounting

PurposeThis paper aims to study the role of smart technologies (e.g., artificial intelligence, Internet of Things, blockchain and analytics, among others) in the accounting environment (AE). In this context, the nuances of innovation generated by such technologies allow for tracing the merging trends in accounting research.Design/methodology/approachThis paper uses an integrated qualitative methodology composed of structured literature analysis and systematic literature analysis to study scientific papers published and stored in prominent databases from 2000 to 2020. This paper collected a data set sharing topics related to smart technologies and innovation in the AE.FindingsThe primary findings reveal four research paths of innovation, impact, implication and intelligence in accounting research as follows: smart technologies as innovations to be managed; smart technologies as impacting tools affecting the AE in certain circumstances; smart technologies as a source generating relevant implications; and smart technologies as factors requiring new and updated knowledge, skills and abilities of actors.Originality/valueThe joint investigation of the AE and smart technologies poses a milestone for future academic and professional accounting research. This paper proposes a new framework (SMATECHacc Framework) consisting of four pathways research that can be used by future researchers to consider and construct their own research designs.

Application and criminalization of artificial intelligence in the digital society: security threats and the regulatory challenges

We are living in a technology-based digital society where the application of autonomous machines and artificial intelligence (AI) is growing rapidly and is having an impact on our social life and the public sphere. Like many other technologies, AI will open new doors for criminals, and consequently, social security has been threatened by different modes of AI criminalization. It is imposing a complex challenge to frame an effective regulatory framework. This article provided a structured literature analysis of the application and criminalization of AI by recommending principles for countering the regulatory challenges and protect the right of individuals.

Applications of Blockchain Technology in Logistics and Supply Chain Management—Insights from a Systematic Literature Review

The most successful applications of Blockchain Technology are still in the area of crypto-currencies, although both scientists and practitioners have discovered the potential of Blockchain Technology in Supply Chain Management. There is a significant theoretical literature on Blockchain Technology, but there exists a lack of published case studies and concrete examples. This paper discusses whether this shortcoming is due to insufficient added value of the technology and identifies other possible reasons. Furthermore, this paper introduces Blockchain Technology, describes the origins of Bitcoin, the structure and core properties of the Blockchain, and examines smart contracts. A comprehensive and structured literature analysis identifies concepts for the use of Blockchain Technology in logistics in terms of economic benefits. Additionally, a cluster analysis regarding the topics of the relevant literature was conducted. One finding of the study is that Blockchain Technology is particularly worthwhile for goods with a high value. Moreover, if the trade volume of the respective goods is low, the advantages of BCT are maximized. At the same time, the demand for transparency and immutability of data must be more important than the protection of sensitive data. In addition to concrete use cases of Blockchains, an exemplary logistics process will be presented within the Luxury Supply Chain, showing the advantages of Blockchain Technology for each individual process step.

A structured review evaluating content validity of the Asthma Control Test, and its consistency with U.S. guidelines and patient expectations for asthma control

Objective To assess whether the content of the Asthma Control Test (ACT) served as a valid measure of asthma control (i.e., content validity) by mapping ACT items to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) guideline asthma control definitions, and to language used by patients to describe their asthma. Data sources PubMed and EMBASE databases were used for a structured literature analysis. Study selections Full-text, English-language articles that reported findings from qualitative studies conducted in adults, focusing on patient descriptors of asthma symptoms, impacts, or severity, were included. Pediatric studies, studies conducted in patients without asthma, and studies that did not contain qualitative data were excluded. Results ACT items reflected all domains of asthma impairment described in the NHLBI guidelines, except pulmonary function. Following the literature review, 28 full-text publications were identified that included patient descriptors that could be mapped to ACT items. For example, per ACT Item 1, patients described having trouble at work, school, and completing household chores; and, per ACT Item 2, patients used the phrase “short of breath” to describe asthma-associated symptoms. Conclusion ACT item content corresponded well with the NHLBI guideline definitions of the impairment domain of asthma control (focused on asthma symptoms and impact), and we identified numerous examples in the literature indicating that ACT concepts and item content mirror the language patients use when discussing asthma symptoms and impact, and their degree of asthma control. This provides further evidence to support content validity of the ACT as a measure of asthma control.

Investigating the Predictors of Digital Library Engagement: A Structured Literature Analysis

Digital library is no longer considered a lavish use of technology but rather a mandatory need for users, especially postgraduate students. Each year, public and academic libraries invest a lot of money to subscribe to various digital resources, such as online databases, electronic books, electronic journals, and electronic magazines. However, many of these organizations have difficulties justifying their digital library investment due to lack of usage among the users. This underutilization of digital libraries is credited to the lack of digital library engagement among the users. Digital library engagement is defined as a deep and long-time use of digital library resources. Some researchers equate engagement to usage; however, engagement goes beyond the generic term of usage and may include multiple dimensions such as affective, cognitive, and behavioral. Previous works on the digital library have mostly focused on the generic definition of use instead of engagement. Researchers believe that the lack of study on digital library engagement causes the underutilization of digital libraries' resources. Despite the rising interest in the digital library, no research has studied digital library engagement predictors. Therefore, this paper aims to discuss the predictors of digital library engagement at the conceptual level. A structured literature review methodology was adopted; a total of 135 pieces of literature were included in this study. In total, 30 predictors of digital library engagement were identified, and these predictors were grouped into four factors: technological, individual, organizational, and contextual factors. Grounded on the previous literature on the digital library, the contributions of this paper are as follows: first, this paper identified a list of predictors of digital library engagement from past digital library literature, second, this paper categorized the predictors into four factors, and finally, this paper proposed a conceptual model for further validation of the predictors.

Value Creation through Corporate Sustainability in the Port Sector: A Structured Literature Analysis

Corporate Sustainability (CS) in the port sector has emerged as an important driver behind strategy definition for port authorities globally. It has been argued that CS practices have the potential of delivering value for port users and, as such, grant port operators and port managing entities competitive advantages. There is, however, limited evidence behind this claim. The difficulty with collecting such evidence is that we lack measures of port value creation, and CS metrics have rarely been developed and applied in ports. This paper provides a framework for collecting empirical evidence aimed at assessing in what way CS can benefit port competitiveness. The framework is built on a systematic literature analysis of the past years. The literature analysis exceeds previous comparable contributions by its analytical detail and provides valuable new insights on sustainability in the maritime domain. The research indicates that the accurate measurement of CS initiatives in the port sector is urgent and meaningful. When appropriately measured, the value that CS can deliver to port users becomes apparent. This is, however, often created indirectly via branding, risk mitigation, etc. The paper contributes to academic knowledge as it is the first to develop a rigorous CS measurement framework usable for ports in terms of value.

Talent management dilemma and distance between South Korea and the USA

Talent management (TM) has attracted significant interest in the management field and it evolved as a North American paradigm and research tradition. Given TM has been mainly researched by Western scholars, commentators have urged that there should be a shift away from Western-centred TM to a focus on broader, more diverse contexts in order to understand the nature of TM in more depth. However, the challenges involved in the transfer of HR practices from one country to another leads to failure to implement effective TM. Based on a robust structured literature analysis, this paper highlights the key dilemmas when emerging countries adopt Western-origin TM practices because of different national contexts including economic growth rate and organisational cultures. This research contributes to the literature on TM in emerging non-Western countries by providing four research propositions. First, adopting TM may not be the best strategy for emerging countries when its economic scale and growth are not large enough to pursue TM practices. Second, there could be a high degree of difficulties to localise and practice effectively. Third, South Korean firms may face practical dilemma to implement 'exclusive' TM approach. Fourth, South Korean firms may experience dilemma between position-focused and people-focused TM systems.

Smart city initiatives in the context of digital transformation

Digital transformation is an emerging trend in developing the way how the work is being done, and it is present in the private and public sector, in all industries and fields of work. Smart cities, as one of the concepts related to digital transformation, is usually seen as a matter of local governments, as it is their responsibility to ensure a better quality of life for the citizens. Some cities have already taken advantages of possibilities offered by the concept of smart cities, creating new values to all stakeholders interacting in the living city ecosystems, thus serving as examples of good practice, while others are still developing and growing on their intentions to become smart. This paper provides a structured literature analysis and investigates key scope, services and technologies related to smart cities and digital transformation as concepts of empowering social and collaboration interactions, in order to identify leading factors in most smart city initiatives.

(Re-)Designing Nature? An Overview and Outlook on the Ethical and Societal Challenges in Synthetic Biology.

This structured literature analysis aims to map the current, emerging, and predicted future of synthetic biology (SB) by putting the focus on the implied conceptual, societal, and ethical challenges. The central objective of the analysis is to provide an initial systematization of the ethical and socio-scientific debate on SB by structuring and categorizing widely discussed issues within the debate in recent years. Starting with the quest for possible definitions, issues of biosafety and biosecurity are emphasized. Furthermore, the focus is on the more conceptual challenges of SB, including the relationship between natural and synthetic, or concepts of life and living. From the very beginning, one specific characteristic of SB has been a strong entanglement with different forms of public participation. In some respects SB has already taken a leading position in claiming and orchestrating itself as an integrative and participatory discipline. After addressing SB as an emerging biotechnology at the interface between science and society, a venture is initiated to focus on the possible regulatory and governmental challenges which are entangled in SB.

The state of HRM in the Middle East: Challenges and future research agenda

Based on a robust structured literature analysis, this paper highlights the key developments in the field of human resource management (HRM) in the Middle East. Utilizing the institutional perspective, the analysis contributes to the literature on HRM in the Middle East by focusing on four key themes. First, it highlights the topical need to analyze the context-specific nature of HRM in the region. Second, via the adoption of a systematic review, it highlights state of development in HRM in the research analysis set-up. Third, the analysis also helps to reveal the challenges facing the HRM function in the Middle East. Fourth, it presents an agenda for future research in the form of research directions. While doing the above, it revisits the notions of “universalistic” and “best practice” HRM (convergence) versus “best-fit” or context distinctive (divergence) and also alternate models/diffusion of HRM (crossvergence) in the Middle Eastern context. The analysis, based on the framework of cross-national HRM comparisons, helps to make both theoretical and practical implications.