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 resourceintensive, we reduce the complexity by applying a convex hull approach combined with a distance-based cost estimator.
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.
The current challenge for the financial services industry is to improve and refine the structures of the past to meet changing information requirements and to integrate them into existing enterprise architectures. In order to meet these computational demands, Grid computing presents a secure, reliable and scalable technology to provide shared access to heterogeneous resources.This paper presents a new Grid-based, serviceoriented architecture for portfolio performance measurement. As proof of concept we developed a prototype implementation of a Grid-based architecture and integrated it as a new artifact into the existing enterprise architecture of a financial services company. Our research and implementation follows the design science approach leading to an IT artifact (prototype). The final evaluation and comparison of the depicted Grid-based prototype and the non-Grid-based system is not depicted in this paper. Those issues are introduced in the 'Further Research' section but still not conducted. The contribution of this paper outlines the implementation and technical evaluation of the Gridbased prototype within a design science approach.
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.
In recent years, Grid technology has found its way into the industry domain and offers opportunities for new on-demand business services. This article outlines the current expansion of Grid computing in industry. It also discusses the significant challenges that still need to be solved to further promote the adoption in the business domain.
In den letzten Jahren hat die Grid-Technologie ihren Weg in das betriebliche Umfeld gefunden und bietet Möglichkeiten für neue On-Demand-Services für Unternehmen. Dieser Beitrag skizziert die derzeitige Verbreitung des Grid-Computing in der Industrie. Es werden signifikante Herausforderungen diskutiert, die noch einer Lösung bedürfen, um die weitere Akzeptanz im betrieblichen Bereich zu fördern. .Der ursprünglich in englischer Sprache eingereichte Beitrag wurde von der Redaktion ins Deutsche übersetzt.
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