Browsing by Author "Saccani, Nicola"

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A complexity management approach to servitization: The role of digital platforms
(2021-08-13) Eloranta, Ville; Ardolino, Marco; Saccani, Nicola
A1 Alkuperäisartikkeli tieteellisessä aikakauslehdessä
Purpose: This study aims to enhance the theoretical foundations of servitization research by establishing a theoretical connection with complexity management. The authors develop a conceptual framework to describe complexity management mechanisms in servitization and digital platforms' specific role in allowing synergies between complexity reduction and absorption mechanisms. Design/methodology/approach: A theory adaptation approach is used. Theory adaptation introduces new perspectives and conceptualization to the domain theory (servitization, with a focus on the role of digital platforms) by informing it with a method theory (complexity management). Findings: This study provides four key contributions to the servitization literature: (1) connecting the servitization and complexity-management terminologies, (2) identifying and classifying complexity-management mechanisms in servitization, (3) conceptualizing digital platforms' role in servitization complexity management and (4) recognizing digital platforms' complexity-management synergies. Originality/value: This study highlights that by using digital platforms in servitization and understanding the platform approach more thoroughly, companies can gain new capabilities and opportunities to manage and leverage complexity.
Complexity Management in Service Businesses through Platform Adoption
(2018-01-01) Ardolino, Marco; Saccani, Nicola; Eloranta, Ville
A1 Alkuperäisartikkeli tieteellisessä aikakauslehdessä
In recent years, companies have started to offer solutions characterized by the presence of both products and services. This helps solving the challenges deriving from increased competition and market instability, through generation of new sources of competitive advantage. In the literature, this phenomenon is referred with the term “servitization”. Implementing a servitization strategy increases environmental complexity because of the growth in the number of interrelations and interactions of the activities taking place in the service processes, as well as interorganizational and intraorganizational relationships between the different actors. Platform has been identified as an organizational paradigm which may have potential to support companies in managing the increased complexity. However, studies about platform approaches with this focus are limited. Therefore, this study links the theoretical knowledge on complexity management with that of platforms, revealing the potentialities of platforms in managing complexity in service business context. Furthermore, based on the empirical findings from two case companies, the paper elaborates the mechanisms through which platforms can help companies to manage complexity through reducing and absorbing it.