The saturation of markets due to globalization has caused a need for digital evolution of organizations to generate innovative manufacturing practices to assure sustained competitive capabilities. Even though technological capabilities have the impact to generate competitive capabilities strategic implementation is a must for optimal performance. The phenomenon of digital transformation and relating strategic efforts are subject to greatly varying viewpoints which has made it challenging for manufactures to engage with digital transformation. The purpose of the thesis is to decipher the phenomenon digital transformation and to further identify the vital aspects of approaching digital transformation strategies through analysing literature and manufacturing companies. In order to fulfil the purpose of this research project two research questions was formulated: • RQ 1: Which are the crucial aspects of digital transformation? • RQ 2: How should digital transformation strategies be approached? This thesis is a part of digital transformation coordination project which include four industrial partners. The case companies were therefore set before the initiation of this thesis with including work packages. A literature review was performed to generate an understanding of the different viewpoints and to provide the case companies with an academic insight. Empirical findings were established through the gathering of data through observations during project meetings and the through the use of questionnaires. An analysis was conducted by comparing the different datasets. Establishing a frame of reference were vital in understanding the scattered phenomenon of digital transformation. Through identifying the contents of Industry 4.0 subsequent digital transformation and related strategical efforts provided the thesis with a profound theoretical support. The empirical findings provided the thesis with an understanding of how four different manufacturing companies viewed digital transformation. The different state of digital transformations was identified with additions to stating the possibilities and challenges. The crucial aspects of digital transformation were found through analysing the different views and meanings of digital transformation, presenting technology, and organizationally driven digital transformation and finally the fundamental aspects of digital transformation. A sound approach for manufacturers to strategize digital transformation was found through analysing the key factors of digital transformation strategies and the current constraints of digital transformation strategies. Furthermore, a discussion of additional themes which does not apply to the research questions were found to be the cause of digital transformation disparity throughout the case companies and the communication of digital transformation. The crucial aspects of digital transformation are found to be the identification of internal and external company objects that require a holistic, organizational changing continuous process. Which furtherutilizes the potential of novel disruptive technologies to develop novel business practices to generate value and competitive competences. A sound approach towards digital transformation strategies is suggested to be through generating a current state understanding to recognize the appropriate activities that must be performed and understanding the financial aspects of said activities and formulating them in a practical holistic way to assure adequate organizational support. Furthermore, understanding and communicating each strategical phase is vital to assure that the organizational aspects can support the digital transformation.

The packaging and product supply chain is currently undergoing a digital transformation that changes the way organizations manage data. Cloud-based software is an emerging technological innovation entirely focused on harnessing the power of packaging/product specifications to create efficiencies. These applications coordinate the data that millions of SKUs worldwide are generating into a harmonized system that will not only organize the SKUs but also create valuable information that will allow stakeholders to make decisions based upon data-driven insights. Specifications are the DNA-level information of packaging and products. Items such as the bill of materials, technical drawings, and inventory are stored together to create a traceable trail of information for stakeholders along the supply chain to refer to in the face of recalls, sustainability reports, and root cause analysis of procurement delays. Organizations have gone from storing this data on paper to creating a digital trail with manual processes and legacy systems on the computer. However, these systems cannot contend with the sheer amount of data companies now possess, wasting time and money trying to organize it all. In addition, packaging and product specification data lacks a common language that creates consistency and reduces errors; tracing an item to its source is a laborious endeavor; and resource investment is trying to solve the problem with existing manual processes and legacy systems when funding should go towards an innovative, cloud-based solution. Such a system would be able to process data and create a standardized template for specifications. This organization would allow for fast querying and advanced analytics that turn into visualizations that illustrate the insights. This framework would create a single point of truth for specifications that would enhance how companies along the supply chain collaborate and share information and streamline packaging and product creation workflow. Software solutions for specification data management exist in varying levels of involvement and installation that allow stakeholders to find a model that fits their needs in an ever-changing supply chain management landscape.

Fenomenet digital transformation har trätt fram under de senaste åren och är en trend som påverkar samhället och organisationer kraftigt genom att digitalisera arbetssätt och metoder. Sveriges hälso- och sjukvård står inför ett vägval, med en åldrande befolkning är digitalisering ett kraftfullt verktyg för att transformera verksamheter och adressera ett ökat vårdbehov som inte kan mötas med traditionell arbetskraft. Hälso- och sjukvården behöver utvecklas genom digital teknik vilket kommer förbättra vården med sänkta kostnader, ökad tillgänglighet, förbättrad kvalité och effektivare arbetsprocesser. Hälso- och sjukvården kan bli mer proaktiv och patient-centrerad, vilket kan leda till förbättrad vård med färre fysiska besök. Studiens syfte är att belysa framgångsfaktorer för digitala transformationsprojekt inom hälso- och sjukvården och studien riktar sig till kommuner och regioner runt om i Sverige, som vill ta del av forskningen för att utvinna framgångsfaktorer för en lyckad digital transformation. Studien bygger på en kvalitativ metod med semistrukturerade intervjuer där personer som arbetar med digitaliseringen av sin kommun eller regions hälso- och sjukvård intervjuades. Resultatet av studien identifierade åtta stycken framgångsfaktorer varav sex stycken stämde överens med den befintliga forskningen; Ledarskap, Kommunikation & Kultur, Engagemang, Förändringsledning, Data och Strategi, och två stycken som tillkom via studien; Lagstiftning och Kompetens. Efter diskussion kring studiens resultat och analys mynnade slutsatsen ut i att teorin och empirin har sina likheter, samt att mjuka värden och den mänskliga faktorn är vitala framgångsfaktorer. / The phenomenon of digital transformation has emerged in recent years and is a trend that affects society and organizations in a significant way by digitizing their working methods. Sweden's healthcare is at a crossroads, with an aging population and where chronic disease is prevalent, digital technology is a powerful tool to transform operations and address the increased need for healthcare that can not be met with traditional labor. Healthcare needs to be developed through digital technology, which will improve healthcare with reduced costs, increased availability and improved quality in its work processes. The healthcare industry can become more proactive and patient-centered, which can lead to improved healthcare with fewer physical visits. The purpose of the study is to shed light on success factors for digital transformation projects in the healthcare industry and the study is aimed at municipalities and regions in Sweden, who want to take part in research to extract success factors for a successful digital transformation. The study is based on a qualitative method with semi-structured interviews where people who work with the digitalisation of their municipality or region's healthcare were interviewed. The results of the study identified eight success factors, of which six were in line with existing research; Leadership, Communication & Culture, Commitment, Change Management, Data and Strategy, and two emerged from the study; Legislation and Competence. After discussion about the study's results and analysis, the conclusion was that the theory and empiricism have their similarities and that the human component is vital.

In the industrial sector, next generation technologies are being rapidly developed. One of the promising technologies is cyber-physical systems which are being used to revolutionize the welding process. A cyber-physical system can greatly improve the welding processes by taking over the tasks performed by humans, such as analysis, control and sensing which results in increased efficiency, quality, and stability of the welding process. However, integrating cyber-physical systems in the welding process requires a digital transformation strategy that outlines how organizational and technical challenges are intended to be resolved. The aim of the study is to identify the organizational challenges of integrating cyber-physical systems, and how to overcome them with the use of a digital transformation strategy. For this, the study adopts a qualitative case study approach to investigate the organizational challenges of integrating a cyber-physical system in the welding process of a large manufacturing organization. Further, it outlines aspects required in a digital transformation strategy to succeed with the integration.  The findings indicate that common challenges when integrating cyber-physical systems revolve around building secure networks, securing competencies, committing to the integration, and achieving transparency between management and employees. In addition, when formulating a digital transformation strategy, the findings indicate three factors that contribute to the success of the transformation. These are involvement of critical digital skills, undergoing required structural changes and reengineering organizational work processes where the cyber-physical system aims to be integrated.  Besides providing practical implications for the challenges and formulation of a digital transformation strategy for implementing cyber-physical systems in the welding process, the study contributes to the literature on digital transformation strategy and cyber-physical systems in manufacturing organizations.

Organizations wants to be at the top when it comes to using new technologies in order to retain a strong position on the market and also create innovative and unique service offerings. New technologies put pressure on organizations, that have to answer to its challenges. Blockchain is a new technology that is very well heard of, it is a complicated technology and is in constant development. The purpose of this study is to identify challenges that the blockchain technology brings to organizations as well what opportunities organizations are looking with the technology. There will also be discussions about potential opportunities that arise when organizations overcome the challenges and what the blockchain can contribute to digital services. / Organisationer vill vara ledande inom nya teknologier för att skapa unika tjänsteerbjudande och behålla drivkraft. Nya teknologier sätter press på organisationer som måste besvara dess utmaningar. Blockkedjetekniken är en omtalad teknologi som har fått stor uppmärksamhet de senaste åren, tekniken är komplicerad och i ständig utveckling. Syftet med denna studie är att identifiera utmaningar som blockkedjetekniken medför till organisationer samt vad organisationer ser för möjligheter med tekniken. Det kommer att diskuteras potentiella möjligheter som uppstår när organisationer överkommer utmaningarna och vad tekniken kan bidra med till digitala tjänster. I kombination med tidigare forskning och en kvalitativ studie som utförts hos en organisation som tillhandahåller digitala tjänster och som är intresserade att investera i blockkedjan har utmaningar och möjligheter identifierats.

This study introduces the demand for rapid digital transformation in this changing digital era. While all companies face challenges when approaching digital transformations, SMEs are at a disadvantage in regard to their resource constraints. However, the existing academic field lacks in research about rapid digital transformation for SMEs. Therefore, this study aims to answer the research questions “How can SMEs rapidly digitally transform?” and “How is rapid defined in the context of digital transformation?”. The purpose is to understand the process of digital transformation to develop a conceptual framework on how SMEs can undergo a rapid digital transformation. We approached this with an abductive and qualitative method. Semi-structured interviews were performed with Swedish consultants, a CDO and a CEO of a SME. The gathered data was analyzed together with the frame of reference, which was structured into four categories. These are digital transformation, strategy, business model and digital culture. The findings of this study presented the definition for rapid in the context of digital transformation to be a timeframe up to twelve months. Moreover, we constructed a model that guides SMEs to achieve a rapid digital transformation. However, as the model was not tested in practice, we recommend future researchers to do so.

El texto completo de este trabajo no está disponible en el Repositorio Académico UPC por restricciones de la casa editorial donde ha sido publicado. / Through digital transformation, company processes that are, or could be, conducted manually are reduced; moreover, human tasks are automated when software-based processes are established. This paper analyzes the adoption of a digital transformation tool to manage inventory through the application of agile models, such as Just-In-Time, and the use of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), employing the Deming cycle method, as several unclear empiric processes exist for managing inventory and purchases. It also upholds that as defined processes are established and the companies exert higher control over inventory turnover and outflows, they could apply methods, such as demand forecasting, to avoid stockout, supply shortage, and inventory loss.

Den digitala utvecklingens accelererande hastighet i samhället har förändrat hur människor lever sina liv. Kunders krav och förväntningar har förnyats vilket har förändrat tjänsters natur och hur organisationer och kunder interagerar med varandra. Förändrade interaktioner innebär nya förutsättningar för kundinvolvering, det vill säga samskapande av värde.  Samskapande sägs vara en förutsättning för att skapa värde inom tjänstesektorn medan digital transformation anses vara en förutsättning för att fortsatt vara aktuella på marknaden. Hur tjänsteorganisationer väljer att samskapa med kunder för att generera värde i digitala transformationsprocesser är därför ett intressant område att undersöka. Tidigare studier visar att det enskilt finns mycket forskning inom områdena digital transformation, samskapande och kundupplevelser men hur dessa områden samspelar och hanteras i praktiken är fortsatt outforskat. Bristen på forskning inom detta aktuella område har föranlett studiens forskningsfråga:  Hur använder organisationer inom tjänstesektorn samskapande med kunder för att generera värde vid digitala transformationer? Studien syftar till att skapa förståelse för hur organisationer inom tjänstesektorn involverar kunder i samskapande vid digitala transformationer och hur detta sedan skapar värde. För att uppfylla studiens syfte och besvara dess frågeställning har nio semistrukturerade intervjuer genomförts med ledare på företag inom tjänstesektorn som alla arbetat nära digitala transformationer. Det empiriska materialet har analyserats i relation till studiens teoretiska ramverk som består av tidigare forskning inom ämnena.    Studiens slutsats visar att det inte finns en precis beskrivning om hur företag samskapar med kunder vid digitala transformationer. Däremot går det att identifiera faktorer som på olika sätt påverkar innehållet och utformningen av den samskapandeprocessen. Två faktorer med stor påverkan på processens innehåll är ledningen och de värden som är tänkta att genereras i samband med processen. Studien visar även att en digital transformation kan delas upp i tre stadier; före digital transformation, under digital transformation och efter digital transformation. I alla dessa stadier involveras kunder men hur de involveras ser olika ut och hur de ser ut beror på vilka mål som är tänkt att uppnås med involveringen. Ofta används liknade metoder och verktyg för samskapande i samma stadie medan de kan skilja sig åt stadierna emellan. Kunderna involveras framför allt efter en digital transformation medan en mindre involveringen av kunderna sker före och under en digital transformation. Hur den samskapandeprocessen utförs och vilka metoder och verktyg som används har sedan en påverkan på vilket värde som processen genererar.

Yes / In light of the heterogeneity of scholarly publications on the subject of transformational government (T-Gov), this paper examines research trends and assesses methodologies used to investigate the topic with the aim of analysing directions for future research. A comprehensive analysis of T-government research published in four Chartered Association of Business Schools ranked journals within the field of Public Administration, e-Government and Information System is presented. The paper outlines research directions for further inquiry to promote the formulation of much needed theoretical constructs and approaches to research that would help bridge the existing gaps in knowledge in the area of T-Gov.

No description available.