Becoming Strategic with Intelligent Automation

Lacity, Mary C.; Willcocks, Leslie P.

doi:10.17705/2msqe.00047

Cited by 52 publications

(60 citation statements)

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“…It is not about the “shiny new thing,” but how it can contribute to supply chain objects (van Hoek, 2020). For RPA, Lacity and Willcocks (2021) uncovered significant benefits to enterprises, customers and employees based on case studies of early enterprise adopters. From these benefits, several have been identified as drivers and motives for RPA adoption in procurement.…”

Section: Background From Literaturementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Lacity and Willcocks (2015, 2021) also offer findings about processes to target with RPA including processes where humans take inputs from one set of systems, process inputs using rules and enter outputs into systems of records. Lacity and Willcocks (2015, 2016) offer the following scoping recommendations:Unambiguous rulesLimited exception handlingHigh and predictable transaction volumesOperating in a stable environmentAccess to multiple systemsKnown costs…”

Section: Background From Literaturementioning

confidence: 99%

“…From the start, there were multiple-use cases, but leadership asked for a strategy initially grounded in supply chain objectives. The list of supply chain benefits targeted with RPA is long and can be mapped out using the triple-value concept of enterprise, customer and employee value from Lacity and Willcocks (2021).…”

Section: Interpretation and Research Implicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Robotic process automation (RPA), as an example of emerging technology, is software that assigns a logon ID to a software robot to perform digital tasks that were previously performed by humans. These robots are configured to process structured data by applying clearly defined rules to produce results (Lacity and Willcocks, 2021). Hofmann et al.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Robotic process automation in Maersk procurement–applicability of action principles and research opportunities

Hoek

Larsen

Lacity

2022

IJPDLM

Self Cite

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PurposeThe authors share a real-world case study of a multiple-year adoption process of robotic process automation (RPA) in procurement to add to the limited empirical research base on RPA in supply chain management. The Maersk case offers hard evidence of the value of RPA that can be used as a benchmark for decision-making in companies and as a basis for further research in key areas such as change management and behavioral aspects as well as return on investment on RPA and the need for RPA capability development.Design/methodology/approachTogether with the co-author from Maersk, the authors cover a multiple year RPA program in procurements, to capture lessons learned and develop research questions for the future. The authors consider 39 generic action principles for RPA adoption in a specific procurement context.FindingsThe authors find RPA for procurement to be an enabler of strategic progress and of advancing the concept of triple values (enterprise, customer and employee) in a supply chain setting. The authors offer RPA adoption scoping guidance and show how, with growth and maturity of the program, conditions such as predictability of volume become less relevant as a scoping criterium. The authors also find that RPA augments work rather than replace staff. Maersk utilizes staff time freed up by automation to focus employees on more strategic priorities. The authors consider 39 generic action principles for RPA adoption in a procurement-specific context and develop additional action principles based upon the Maersk case.Originality/valueThe authors study both a unique and rich case to complement limited empirical research on RPA in procurement and supply chain management and the limited research into RPA past early stage adoptions. The authors address Hofmann et al.'s (2019) questions about the change management involved in RPA and consider generic RPA action principles from literature in this specific procurement setting. The authors extend those action principles and develop a rich set of research opportunities.

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Section: Background From Literaturementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Background From Literaturementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Interpretation and Research Implicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Robotic process automation in Maersk procurement–applicability of action principles and research opportunities

Hoek

Larsen

Lacity

2022

IJPDLM

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…It can also be referred to as a digital worker and broadly termed as "robotic process automation" which leads to organizational and technological change. It includes specific tool or software (including cognitive software), eventually leading to the foundation of a hybrid workforce [10].…”

Section: Related Literaturementioning

confidence: 99%

E-Mail Assistant – Automation of E-Mail Handling and Management using Robotic Process Automation

Khare

Singh

Mishra

et al. 2022

2022 International Conference on Decision Aid Sciences and Applications (DASA)

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In this paper, a workflow for designing a bot using Robotic Process Automation (RPA), associated with Artificial Intelligence (AI) that is used for information extraction, classification, etc., is proposed. The bot is equipped with many features that make email handling a stress-free job. It automatically login into the mailbox through secured channels, distinguishes between the useful and not useful emails, classifies the emails into different labels, downloads the attached files, creates different directories, and stores the downloaded files into relevant directories. It moves the not useful emails into the trash. Further, the bot can also be trained to rename the attached files with the names of the sender/applicant in case of a job application for the sake of convenience. The bot is designed and tested using the UiPath tool to improve the performance of the system. The paper also discusses the further possible functionalities that can be added on to the bot.

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Using algorithms to improve knowledge work

Amaya,

Holweg

2024

J of Ops Management

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We explore how organizations leverage algorithms to improve knowledge work in contexts where the tasks require skilled work, as distinct from routine tasks that have traditionally been the focus of academic enquiry. Drawing on a multiple‐case study of four business areas in a multinational energy firm undergoing a digital transformation, we find that contrary to what the literature predicts, tasks that require skilled work can also benefit from the adoption of algorithmic solutions. To benefit, business areas engaged in two distinct pathways for transforming knowledge work. The first focuses on automating a specific task, replacing human activity with algorithms in a single task. The second involves re‐engineering an entire process, whereby sequences of steps adjacent to the task at hand are redesigned on integration of an algorithm. We find that these pathways have different effects on the ability to improve knowledge work, suggesting that alignment between the task and the pathway chosen is crucial to realizing any improvement. We also find that the ability to sustain any improvement depends on the adjustment of the knowledge regime—the practices and structures that sanction knowledge. Building on these findings, we propose a general process model for the adoption of algorithmic solutions in knowledge work. In the wider context of the future of work debate, our findings challenge the prevailing notion that a task's skill requirements determine the extent to which knowledge work can be improved by algorithmic solutions.

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Becoming Strategic with Intelligent Automation

Cited by 52 publications

References 0 publications

Robotic process automation in Maersk procurement–applicability of action principles and research opportunities

Robotic process automation in Maersk procurement–applicability of action principles and research opportunities

E-Mail Assistant – Automation of E-Mail Handling and Management using Robotic Process Automation

Using algorithms to improve knowledge work

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