Purpose -The purpose of this paper is to present a multi-usable business continuity planning methodology. It comprises business continuity planning on the organizational and departmental levels. Design/methodology/approach -The methodology has been developed, tested and confirmed in three comprehensive cases. Senior management, IT managers and employees in the three case organizations have participated in this action research effort during the development, implementation or training on business continuity plans and planning. Findings -The methodology has been tested and confirmed, and is suitable for explaining business continuity planning to senior managements and employees in both public and private sector organizations. Practical implications -The methodology description can be used for explaining the issues to senior managements and forms the foundation for a business continuity plan, which is part of an organization's IT-and information security program. It may also be used to explain business continuity planning to other staff in an organization. The methodology can also be used to model business continuity planning, as a basis for training planning, and as support in different training contexts to achieve individual and organizational learning on business continuity plans and activities. Originality/value -The methodology of using a staircase or capability maturity model is a commonly used concept and can be adapted to any organization.

Abstract:The case study, spanning three contexts, concerns a multi-usable cloud service platform for big data collection and analytics and how the development pace and efficiency of it has been improved by 50-75% by using the Arrowhead framework and changing development processes/practices. Furthermore, additional results captured during the case study are related to technology, competencies and skills, organization, management, infrastructure, and service and support. A conclusion is that when offering a complex offer such as an Industrial Product-Service System, comprising sensors, hardware, communications, software, cloud service platform, etc., it is necessary that the technology, business model, business setup, and organization all go hand in hand during the development and later operation, as all 'components' are required for a successful result.

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This paper investigates an initial model for Zero Defect Manufacturing (ZDM) using a cost function where the operation and condition of a production process are reflected, and the quality of the output/product and the production process (as well as safety aspects) can be considered. The outset of the study is based on empirical data collected from five manufacturing companies, and proposes an initial model for ZDM with an Industry 4.0 perspective. The initial ZDM model has a generic setup for a real-life system and its replication as a digital twin using system models based on a representation of a generic production process with its connected control system, and potential interconnections between unit processes. It is based on concepts from system theory of dynamic systems and principles from condition monitoring and fault detection. In that way the model is deemed as highly generalizable for manufacturing and process industry companies as well as for some critical infrastructures with production and distribution systems. The proposed model with its cost function setup is analyzed and discussed in the context of ZDM. It is concluded that production processes in the manufacturing and process industry can be made more intelligent and interoperable using this approach. Improved sustainability, competitiveness, efficiency and profitability of companies are foreseen welcomed secondary effects. Finally, the proposed ZDM model further develops the ZDM by adding to it a systematic approach based on a solid mathematical foundation.

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