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A3 - Monitoring of Autonomous Cooperation -
Development of Indicators for the Economical Explication and Evaluation of the Relation between Autonomous Cooperation and Central Planning of Logistic Processes

Prof. Dr. Michael Hülsmann

Jacobs University Bremen
Systems Management - International Logistics
School of Engineering and Science
Campus Ring 1, 28759 Bremen, Germany
Tel: +49 421 200-3199, Fax: +49 421 200-3078
E-Mail , Homepage
Motivation

In order to evaluate the economic reasonability of investments in technologies (e.g. smart tags), designs (e.g. decentralized disposition at piece good level) and processes of autonomous cooperation (e.g. methods of reactive planning) in terms of profitability and feasibility, a value-oriented decision support system is required.

Therefore, the motivation of the subproject A3 is to develop a tool that displays the effects of applying autonomous cooperation on return and risk and then sets these into relation to the degree of autonomous cooperation at management, information, and material flow levels.

Results Phase 1 (2004-2007)

The aim of the subproject is the identification, description and evaluation of autonomous cooperation’s contributions to logistics processes for strategic differentiation and corporate performance.

In the first period the sub project developed an indicator-based tool for the monitoring of autonomous cooperation. Therefore, a multi-attributive measurement system was created consisting of three components:
  1. A Scoring model for the description of logistics processes’ degree of autonomous cooperation, i.e. the ratio between autonomous cooperation and external control on the levels of management, information, communication, and material flow.

  2. A polarization graph for the visualization of the degree of autonomous cooperation.

  3. A system-theoretical based description of the time-spatial measurement of the validity.

Based on this measurement tool, basic options from a competence perspective were deduced that contribute qualitatively to the strategic effects of autonomous cooperation. These options were mapped in a real-options-based model of a company’s value, which represents the causal relationship between the flexibility effects of autonomous cooperation, resulting managerial options, and company value.

Objectives Phase 2 (2008-2011)

The subproject A3 is concerned with investigations about contributions of autonomous cooperation in logistics processes on company value, as well as strategic qualitative evaluations about autonomous cooperation’s potential for the positioning of logistics service providers. Empirical investigations will describe real typologies covering the degree of autonomous cooperation, economic success and context determinants, and transfer them into a differentiated and empirically examined causal model. Furthermore, by applying the competence-based view strategic configuration options of autonomous cooperation for business model design and service engineering will be analyzed resulting in potential positioning and differentiation strategies for logistics service providers.

Approach Phase 2 (2008-2011)

To empirically validate the logically constructed causal model from the first phase in relation to autonomous cooperation and company value, as well as for identifying strategic positioning options, four central objectives will be pursued:
  1. The development of a stylized, solvable model for centralized and decentralized control in transport logistics.

  2. A computational theoretical analysis and simulation of ‘Smart Part’- based design options of transport logistics processes in Complex Adaptive Logistics Systems (CALS).

  3. A quantitative analysis of share price variations in relation to the application of autonomous cooperation technologies.

  4. A qualitative analysis including expert interviews about options for autonomous cooperation-based business models and service engineering.


Results Phase 2 (2008-2011)

There is evidence that the results of the four central findings confirm the logically constructed causal model from the first phase in relation to autonomous cooperation and company value as well as strategic positioning options:
  1. In a stylized, solvable model of centralized and decentralized control it was demonstrated that autonomous cooperation exhibits a cost advantage in relation to a scenario-specific number of interactions.

  2. Resulting from a computational theoretical analysis, design options for the control of transport logistics processes based on ‘Smart Parts’ in Complex Adaptive Logistics Systems were identified.

  3. An analysis of autonomous cooperation-induced share price variations of listed logistics service providers confirmed a positive correlation between autonomous cooperation and company value.

  4. The strategic differentiation potential of autonomous cooperation in logistics processes as drivers for profitability were investigated by identifying effects to alter business models and apply them in service engineering (e.g. value-based order prioritizing).


Project Staff

Dipl.-Oec. Verena Brenner

Jacobs University Bremen
Systems Management - International Logistics
School of Engineering and Science
Campus Ring 1, 28759 Bremen, Germany
Tel: +49 421 200 3469, Fax: +49 421 200 3078
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Dipl.-Oec. Philip Cordes

Jacobs University Bremen
Systems Management - International Logistics
School of Engineering and Science
Campus Ring 1, 28759 Bremen, Germany
Tel: +49 421 200 3071, Fax: +49 421 200 3078
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Dipl.-Wi.-Inf. Christoph Illigen

Jacobs University Bremen
Systems Management - International Logistics
School of Engineering and Science
Campus Ring 1, 28759 Bremen, Germany
Tel: + 49 421 200 3194, Fax: + 49 421 200 3078
E-Mail , Homepage


Dipl.-Kfm. Benjamin Korsmeier

Jacobs University Bremen
Systems Management - International Logistics
School of Engineering and Science
Campus Ring 1, 28759 Bremen, Germany
Tel: + 49 421 200-3190, Fax: + 49 421 200 3078
E-Mail , Homepage