Fraunhofer-Institut für Angewandte Informationstechnik FIT

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  • Publication
    Organizing Self-Organizing Systems: A Terminology, Taxonomy, and Reference Model for Entities in Cyber-physical Production Systems
    ( 2021)
    Berger, Stephan
    ;
    Häckel, Björn
    ;
    Häfner, Lukas
    Ongoing digitalization accelerates the transformation and integration of physical production and traditional computing systems into smart objects and their interconnectivity, forming the Internet of Things. In manufacturing, the cross-linking of embedded systems creates adaptive and self-organizing Cyber-Physical Production Systems (CPPSs). Owing to ever-increasing cross-linking, rapid technological advances, and multifunctionality, the complexity and structural opacity of CPPSs are rapidly increasing. The development of urgently needed modeling approaches for managing such complexity and structural opacity, however, is impeded by a lack of common understanding of CPPSs. Therefore, in this paper, we contribute to a common understanding of CPPSs by defining and classifying CPPS entities and illustrating their relations. More precisely, we present a terminology, a taxonomy, and a reference model for CPPS entities, created and evaluated using an iterative development process. Thereby, we lay the foundation for future CPPS modeling approaches that make CPPS complexity and structural opacity more manageable.
  • Publication
    Managing the Risks of Energy Efficiency Insurances in a Portfolio Context: An Actuarial Diversification Approach
    ( 2020)
    Baltuttis, Dennik
    ;
    Töppel, Jannick
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    Tränkler, Timm
    ;
    Wiethe, Christian
    To achieve ambitious international climate goals, an increase of energy efficiency investments is necessary and, thus, a growing market potential arises. Concomitantly, the relevance of managing the risk of financing and insuring energy efficiency measures increases continuously. Energy Efficiency Insurances encourage investors by guaranteeing a predefined energy efficiency performance. However, literature on quantitative analysis of pricing and diversification effects of such novel insurance solutions is scarce. This paper provides a first approach for the analysis of diversification potential on three levels: collective risk diversification, cross product line diversification, and financial hedging. Based on an extensive real-world data set for German residential buildings, the analysis reveals that underwriting different Energy Efficiency Insurance types and constructing MarkowitzMinimum Variance Portfolios halves overall risk in terms of standard deviation. We evince that Energy Efficiency Insurances can diversify property insurance portfolios and reduce regulatory capital for insurers under Solvency II constraints. Moreover, we show that Energy Efficiency Insurances potentially supersede financial market instruments such as weather derivatives in diversifying property insurance portfolios. In summary, these three levels of diversification effects constitute an additional benefit for the introduction of Energy Efficiency Insurances and may positively impact their market development.
  • Publication
    Robotic Process Automation
    ( 2020)
    Hofmann, Peter
    ;
    Samp, Caroline
    ;
    Urbach, Nils
    Within digital transformation, which is continuously progressing, robotic process automation (RPA) is drawing much corporate attention. While RPA is a popular topic in the corporate world, the academic research lacks a theoretical and synoptic analysis of RPA. Conducting a literature review and tool analysis, we propose in a holistic and structured way four traits that characterize RPA, providing orientation as well as a focus for further research. Software robots automate processes originally performed by human work. Thus, software robots follow a choreography of technological modules and control flow operators while operating within IT ecosystems and using established applications. Ease-of-use and adaptability allow companies to conceive and implement software robots through (agile) projects. Organizational and IT strategy, governance structures, and management systems therefore must address both the direct effects of software robots automating processes and their indirect impacts on firms.
  • Publication
    The Power of Related Articles - Improving Fake News Detection on Social Media Platforms
    ( 2020)
    Gimpel, Henner
    ;
    Heger, Sebastian
    ;
    Kasper, Julia
    ;
    Schäfer, Ricarda
    Social media is increasingly used as a platform for news consumption, but it has also become a breeding ground for fake news. This serious threat poses significant challenges to social media providers, society, and science. Several studies have investigated automated approaches to fighting fake news, but little has been done to improve fake news detection on the users' side. A simple but promising approach could be to broaden users' knowledge to improve the perceptual process, which will improve detection behavior. This study evaluates the impact of a digital nudging approach which aims to fight fake news with the help of related articles. 322 participants took part in an online experiment simulating the Facebook Newsfeed. In addition to a control group, three treatment groups were exposed to different combinations of related articles. Results indicate that the presence of controversial related articles has a positive influence on the detection of fake news.
  • Publication
    Determining the Optimal Time to Launch an Emerging Innovation in a Market
    ( 2020)
    Häckel, Björn
    ;
    Stirnweiß, Dominic
    Investments in emerging technologies and the development of related emerging innovations are necessary to compete in the long term. The market entry timing plays an important role in generating decisive competitive advantages over competitors through investments in emerging innovations. Different market entry strategies offer varied opportunities and risks, which firms must take into account when choosing the optimal time to enter the market. This study develops an optimisation model to make an economically appropriate ex-ante decision in this choice by accounting for several relevant factors and weighing up possible opportunities and risks of the chosen market entry strategy. The evaluation of the simulation results shows that the considered factors influence the optimal market entry to varying ex-tents, and that both early and late market entry can be advantageous for companies.
  • Publication
    A comprehensive model for individuals' acceptance of smart energy technology - A meta-analysis
    ( 2020)
    Gimpel, Henner
    ;
    Graf, Vanessa
    ;
    Graf-Drasch, Valerie
    Individuals' use of smart energy technology - i.e., technology that increases energy efficiency or increases the integration of renewable energy sources - holds great potential to solve the energy-related climate problem. However, individuals' current uptake of smart energy technology is low. If policymakers are to successfully address this issue, it is vital that they understand the determinants of individuals' smart energy technology adoption. Hence, this paper provides a comprehensive adoption model for smart energy technology, including data from over 4k individuals in Europe, Asia, and North America involved in various technological contexts and phases of diffusion. A meta-analysis identifies Attitude and Performance Expectancy as the primary determinants of individuals' smart energy technology adoption. Further, results show that Environmental Concern influences all other determinants. Implications for research and policymakers are discussed.
  • Publication
    Driving Sustainably - The Influence of IoT-based Eco-Feedback on Driving Behavior
    ( 2020)
    Bätz, Alexander
    ;
    Gimpel, Henner
    ;
    Heger, Sebastian
    ;
    Wöhl, Moritz
    One starting point to reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions is driving behavior. Previous studies have already shown that eco-feedback leads to reduced fuel consumption. However, less has been done to investigate how driving behavior is affected by eco-feedback. Yet, understanding driving behavior is important to target personalized recommendations to-wards reduced fuel consumption. In this paper, we investigate a real-world data set from an IoT-based smart vehicle service. We first extract seven distinct factors that characterize driving behavior from data of 5,676 users. Second, we derive initial hypotheses on how eco-feedback may affect these factors. Third, we test these hypotheses with data of another 495 users receiving eco-feedback. Results suggest that eco-feedback, for instance, reduces hard acceleration maneuvers while interestingly speed is not affected. Our contribution extends the understanding of measuring driving behavior using IoT-based data. Furthermore, we contribute to a better understanding of the effect of eco-feedback on driving behavior. One starting point to reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions is driving behavior. Previous studies have already shown that eco-feedback leads to reduced fuel consumption. However, less has been done to investigate how driving behavior is affected by eco-feedback. Yet, understanding driving behavior is important to target personalized recommendations towards reduced fuel consumption. In this paper, we investigate a real-world data set from an IoT-based smart vehicle service. We first extract seven distinct factors that characterize driving behavior from data of 5,676 users. Second, we derive initial hypotheses on how eco-feedback may affect these factors. Third, we test these hypotheses with data of another 495 users receiving eco-feedback. Results suggest that eco-feedback, for instance, reduces hard acceleration maneuvers while interestingly speed is not affected. Our contribution extends the understanding of measuring driving behavior using IoT-based data. Furthermore, we contribute to a better understanding of the effect of eco-feedback on driving behavior.
  • Publication
    Low Effort and Privacy - How Textual Priming Affects Privacy Concerns of Email Service Users
    ( 2020)
    Buck, Christoph
    ;
    Dinev, Tamara
    The integration of digital applications and systems into the everyday routines of users is inevitably progressing. Ubiquitous and invisible computing requires the perspective of a new user and the inclusion of insights from related disciplines such as behavioral economics or social psychology. This paper takes up the call for research by Dinev et al. (2015) and examines the influence of textual priming elements on the privacy concerns of users of email accounts. The paper provides an operationalization of a privacy concern as a dependent variable, incorporated in an online experiment with 276 participants. The results show highly significant differences between the groups investigated by the experiment. Specifically, the users of different email providers show interesting results. While users of Gmail show no significant reaction in the experiment, users of other email providers show significant differences in the experimental setting.
  • Publication
    The Challenges and Opportunities of Energy-Flexible Factories: A Holistic Case Study of the Model Region Augsburg in Germany
    ( 2020)
    Roth, Stefan
    ;
    Schott, Paul
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    Ebinger, Katharina
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    Halbrügge, Stephanie
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    Kleinertz, Britta
    ;
    Köberlein, Jana
    ;
    Püschel, Danny
    ;
    Buhl, Hans Ulrich
    ;
    Ober, Steffi
    ;
    Reinhart, Gunther
    ;
    Roon, Serafin von
    Economic solutions for the integration of volatile renewable electricity generation aredecisive for a socially supported energy transition. So-called energy-flexible factories can adapt theirelectricity consumption process efficiently to power generation. These adaptions can support thesystem balance and counteract local network bottlenecks. Within part of the model regionAugsburg, a research and demonstration area of a federal research project, the potential, obstacles,effects, and opportunities of the energy-flexible factory were considered holistically. Exemplaryflexibilization measures of industrial companies were identified and modeled. Simulations wereperformed to analyze these measures in supply scenarios with advanced expansion of fluctuatingrenewable electricity generation . The simulations demonstrate that industrial energy flexibility canmake a positive contribution to regional energy balancing, thus enabling the integration of morevolatile renewable electricity generation. Based on these fundamentals, profiles for regional marketmechanisms for energy flexibility were investigated and elaborated. The associated environmentaladditional expenses of the companies for the implementation of the flexibility measures wereidentified in a life-cycle assessment, with the result that the negative effects are mitigated by theincreased share of renewable energy. Therefore, from a technical perspective, energy-flexiblefactories can make a significant contribution to a sustainable energy system without greaterenvironmental impact. In terms of a holistic approach, a network of actors from science, industry,associations, and civil society organizations was established and actively collaborated in atransdisciplinary work process. Using design-thinking methods, profiles of stakeholders in theregion, as well as their mutual interactions and interests, were created. This resulted in requirementsfor the development of suitable business models and reduced regulatory barriers.
  • Publication
    Evaluating Investments in Flexible On-Demand Production Capacity. A Real Options Approach
    ( 2020)
    Freitag, Bettina
    ;
    Häfner, Lukas
    ;
    Pfeuffer, Verena
    ;
    Übelhör, Jochen
    Ongoing digitalization of production accelerates trends like mass customization, ever shorter lead times, and shrinking product life cycles. Thereby, industrial companies face increasingly volatile demand that complicates an appropriate production capacity planning. On the other hand, the comprehensive digitalization of production environments favors, amongst others, the dynamic integration of flexible external on-demand production capacity provided by specialized external capacity providers (ECPs). To enable the usage of on-demand production capacity, industrial companies may require significant upfront investments (e.g., for inter-organizational information systems, planning and organizational processes, employee training). The objective of this paper is to develop a model that evaluates such enabling upfront investments from the perspective of a manufacturing company. To consider flexibility of action, we apply real options analysis in a discrete-time binomial tree model and weigh these so-called expansion options to related cash outflows. In addition, we evaluate our model by means of a simulation and sensitivity analyses and derive insights for both researchers and practitioners. The insights gained by our model present a profound economic basis for investment decisions on upfront investments in flexible on-demand production capacity.