Cloud and AI are fundamentally changing enterprise IT, and companies as well as public organizations find themselves in the midst of a profound transformation. It opens up enormous opportunities, but also creates new dependencies: fragmented regulation, proprietary technologies, uncertainty over data sovereignty, and a lack of interoperability. Anyone who wants to shape this transformation successfully needs trustworthy, open, and scalable infrastructures, and with them the ability to act in a digitally sovereign way. This is precisely where the Center for Digital Enterprise Transformation (CDET) comes in.
The Center for Digital Enterprise Transformation (CDET) is a center of excellence at the Institute of Information Management at the University of St. Gallen (IWI-HSG), in collaboration with the Bildungscampus Heilbronn and funded by the Dieter Schwarz Foundation. It researches how companies, public organizations, and providers can successfully shape the transformation of their enterprise IT and their cloud ecosystems, and how they can preserve their digital sovereignty in the process. Across three coordinated research streams spanning more than five years, it examines this transformation from the perspectives of providers, users, and startups.
The goal is to develop scientifically grounded yet practice-oriented models for the enterprise IT of the future and for sovereign cloud infrastructures, models that hold valid across sector-specific differences. The research is conducted in close cooperation with partners from industry and the public sector (including STACKIT, Schwarz Digits, SAP, and Campus Founders), and translates its findings into strategic action models for policymakers, industry, and research.
How can European cloud providers build and operate sovereign infrastructures under national and supranational regulation (DORA, GDPR, EU AI Act)? The focus is on governance models, compliance-by-design, and reference architectures for secure cloud infrastructures in regulated sectors such as finance, healthcare, and the public sector. Methodologically, we combine case studies (including STACKIT, SAP BTP), policy analysis, and the mapping of open-source initiatives (SCS, Gaia-X). The result is a reference model for a 'Regulatory-Aligned Cloud Architecture' that brings regulatory compliance and the capacity for innovation into alignment
Which socio-technical, organizational, and cultural factors shape cloud adoption and digital sovereignty in mid-sized companies and public organizations? Based on a qualitative study with regional companies and institutions, an empirically grounded model of organizational cloud readiness is being developed. It makes barriers (such as skills shortages, data protection concerns, and integration hurdles) just as visible as enabling factors (such as continuing education, transformation leadership, and hybrid cloud strategies). The result is a practice-oriented cloud-readiness compass for a sovereign cloud migration.
What contribution do technology-oriented startups make to digital sovereignty in Europe? The focus is on founder ecosystems, open-source collaborations, and new business models in cloud services, infrastructure security, and the digital platform economy. Based on data from accelerators (e.g., Campus Founders, HSG-Startups), innovation competitions, and open developer communities, a scalable model for 'Sovereignty-Driven Startup Ecosystems' is being developed, together with a governance framework for trust-based innovation platforms.
With these three complementary perspectives, the CDET addresses the central actors of the cloud ecosystem within a single coherent initiative. From its results, ranging from international publications through practice-oriented models and digital tools to transfer products, concrete contributions emerge for building sovereign cloud infrastructures in Europe. Through collaborations (including with the Technical University of Munich and IPAI) and continuing-education formats for specialists and executives, the findings flow back into industry, the public sector, and teaching.
Abstract: This study investigates the relationship between Generative AI (GenAI) and Low Code Development Platforms (LCDPs), providing preliminary insights into Gen's transformative potential in this context. It is based on expert interviews and provides insight into the changing landscape of LCDPs influenced by GenAI. The findings highlight the promising benefits of GenAI in LCDPs, such as increased efficiency and decreased errors, while also emphasizing the importance of human oversight and collaboration. The findings also highlight the importance of interpersonal skills in IT, even in an increasingly automated environment. While the economic efficiency and broader implications of GenAI are still being investigated, the study lays the groundwork for future research in this rapidly evolving domain.
Author: Olivia Bruhin, Ernestine Dickhaut, Edona Elshan, Mahei Li
Year Issued: 2024
Abstract: Cognitive automation (CA) moves beyond rule-based business process automation to target cognitive knowledge and service work. This allows the automation of tasks and processes, for which automation seemed unimaginable a decade ago. To organizations, these CA use cases offer vast opportunities to gain a significant competitive advantage. However, CA imposes novel challenges on organizations’ decisions regarding the automation potential of use cases, resulting in low adoption and high project failure rates. To counteract this, we draw on an action research study with a leading European manufacturing company to develop and test a model for assessing use cases’ amenability to CA. The proposed model comprises four dimensions: cognition, data, relationship, and transparency requirements. The model proposes that a use case is less (more) amenable to CA if these requirements are high (low). To account for the model’s industry-agnostic generalizability, we draw on an internal evaluation within the action research company and three additional external evaluations undertaken by independent project teams in three distinct industries. From a practice perspective, the model will help organizations make more informed decisions in selecting use cases for CA and planning their respective initiatives. From a research perspective, the identified determinants affecting use cases’ amenability to CA will enhance our understanding of CA in particular and artificial intelligence as the driving force behind CA in general.ain.
Author: Christian Engel; Edona Elshan; Philipp Alexander Ebel; Jan Marco Leimeister
Year Issued: 2023
Abstract: Smart personal assistants (SPAs) promise individualized user interactions owing to their varying interaction possibilities, knowledgeability, and human-like behaviors. To support the widespread adoption and use of SPAs, organizations such as Google or Amazon provide low code environments that support the development of SPAs (e.g., for Google Home or Amazon’s Alexa). These so-called low code platforms enable domain experts (e.g., business users without programming skills or experience) to develop SPAs for their purposes. However, using these platforms alone does not guarantee a useful and good conversation with novel SPAs due to non-intuitive design choices. Following a design science research approach, we propose the Smart Personal Assistant for Domain Experts (SPADE) method to address the missing link. This method supports domain experts in the development and contextualization of sophisticated SPAs for various application scenarios and focuses especially on conversational and anthropomorphic design steps. Our proof of concept and proof of value results show that SPADE is useful for supporting domain experts to create effective SPAs in different domains beyond private set-ups.
Authors: Elshan, Edona; Ebel, Philipp Alexander; Söllner, Matthias; Leimeister, Jan Marco
Year Issued: 2023
Abstract: The collaboration between genAI and humans in the field of information systems holds transformative potential echoing the co-creation ethos in digital ecosystems. GenAI's automated code generation capabilities present an opportunity for seamless cooperation with human developers. As genAI evolves, it can contribute to the generation of code with minimal human input, enabling developers to focus on higher-level conceptualization and problem-solving. The individual work changes by GenAI also have wider-reaching effects, which requires a holistic understanding of its impact. Our interview study with 15 software developers presents a shift towards a more balanced viewpoint on measuring the effects of genAI in software development environments, specifically the importance of human-centric indicators (eg satisfaction and wellbeing) in addition to traditional efficiency and effectiveness indicators. This insight underscores the balancing act between enhancing productivity and potentially undermining it, reflecting the interplay of co-creation and co-destruction in service ecosystems and calling for a more holistic sociotechnical perspective.
Authors: Mahei Manhai Li, Ernestine Dickhaut, Olivia Bruhin, Hendrik Wache, Pauline Werit
Year Issued: 2024
Abstract: The rapid acceleration of digitalization has increased the demand for dynamic software development, exposing a significant skills gap in IT. Low Code Development Platforms (LCDP) have emerged as a crucial solution, enabling faster development cycles and democratizing software creation. However, integrating citizen and professional developers within these platforms introduces new challenges, particularly in task division, collaboration, and governance. This study explores the dynamic of the interactions in low code environments, using paradox theory to analyze the resulting tensions–the paradox of empowerment, the paradox of security, and the paradox of harmonization–and their impact on both innovation and efficiency. Our findings provide critical insights into the roles, collaborative processes, and governance frameworks necessary for effective and balanced LCDP implementation. These insights provide a framework for effective and balanced LCDP implementation, offering organizations strategies to enhance innovation while managing the inherent complexities within these environments.
Authors: Olivia Bruhin, Philipp Ebel, Edona Elshan
Year Issued: 2024
Abstract: The development of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) in Software Engineering (SE) is driving significant transformations in work systems, impacting work practices, information management, and development processes. This study applies Work System Theory to explore how GenAI not only enhances individual tasks but also redefines entire workflows and collaboration models within SE environments. Through a case study involving expert interviews at a telecommunications and software company, the research uncovers both substantial benefits and emerging challenges associated with GenAI integration. The findings contribute to a structured framework that offers guidance for effectively implementing GenAI to enhance productivity and foster innovation in SE. These insights are essential for practitioners managing the rapidly evolving SE landscape, ensuring the successful and sustainable adoption of GenAI within work systems.
Authors: Olivia Bruhin
Year Issued: 2024
Abstract: The rapid integration of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) into Software Engineering (SE) transforms how software is designed, developed, and maintained, introducing significant managerial challenges. This study examines these emerging challenges and proposes strategic actions for managing SE in the future. We provide an overview of the current GenAI development within SE and analyze its implications across three critical pillars: People, Process, and Technology. Our findings indicate that GenAI introduces a dynamic complexity to these elements, demanding a combined managerial approach. We propose six strategic actions essential for shaping the future of SE practice. This study aims to help practitioners make strategic decisions regarding GenAI implementation and offers researchers insights into past findings and opportunities for further investigation.
Authors: Olivia Bruhin, Philipp Ebel, Leon Müller, Mahei Manhai Li
Year Issued: 2024
Abstract: The rapid evolution of the software development industry challenges developers to manage their diverse tasks effectively. Traditional assistant tools in software development often fall short of supporting developers efficiently. This paper explores how generative artificial intelligence (GAI) tools, such as Github Copilot or ChatGPT, facilitate job crafting—a process where employees reshape their jobs to meet evolving demands. By integrating GAI tools into workflows, software developers can focus more on creative problem-solving, enhancing job satisfaction, and fostering a more innovative work environment. This study investigates how GAI tools influence task, cognitive, and relational job crafting behaviors among software developers, examining its implications for professional growth and adaptability within the industry. The paper provides insights into the transformative impacts of GAI tools on software development job crafting practices, emphasizing their role in enabling developers to redefine their job functions.
Authors: Leonie Rebecca Freise, Olivia Bruhin, Eva Ritz, Mahei Manhai Li, Jan Marco Leimeister
Year Issued: 2025
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