A conceptual cooperative model designed for processes, digitalisation and innovation
International Journal of Quality and Service Sciences
ISSN: 1756-669X
Article publication date: 5 December 2019
Issue publication date: 5 December 2019
Abstract
Purpose
Digital transformations are changing society, and they force industries to react to the market more frequently. Managers are aware of new technical demands, which increase the pressure of meeting those demands. To meet technical demands, radical innovations are one way to stay competitive. However, it is more complex to make them a part of the business. The purpose of this study was to create a framework for small and medium-sized enterprises to become more efficient by starting to digitalise their business processes with the expertise of an external innovation partner.
Design/methodology/approach
The study was performed at a case company with an abductive approach where both deduction and induction were used to study the empirical findings and formulate new theories in relation to recognised theory. Qualitative methods have been used in the empirical study due to their flexibility and the fact that the focus of the information gathering was to create a context.
Findings
The analysis indicates that a certain level of process maturity can be put in relation to a certain innovation level and a certain level of digital change. According to a process maturity model, an adaptable process could respond to changes in customer demands better, which can be related to changes in the business domain and the society. The research resulted in a conceptual cooperative model based on the three domains of the study. The model has been validated using design reviews with the case company, a consultancy firm and together with an innovation partner.
Practical implications
The model will be a practical template for Small and Medium Enterprises to follow when digitalising business processes and how to prioritise them.
Originality/value
The proposed framework of how to digitalise at different innovation levels coupled to process maturity levels is a novel idea that could be used for further research.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This paper forms part of a special section “QMOD-ICQSS Conference”.
This article has resulted in many insights regarding challenges of digitalisation and how to integrate innovative digital solutions into core business processes in a suitable way. The methodology from the conceptual cooperative model designed for processes, digitalisation and innovation, is one step of a structured approach towards a digital transformation. A great thanks to the case company and to the innovation partner for their openness and for their appreciated collaboration in this work and considerably great acknowledgements to Propia for their expertise and opinions. They made this research possible to complete.
Citation
Sehlin, D., Truedsson, M. and Cronemyr, P. (2019), "A conceptual cooperative model designed for processes, digitalisation and innovation", International Journal of Quality and Service Sciences, Vol. 11 No. 4, pp. 504-522. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJQSS-02-2019-0028
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited