The Fractional CIO in SMEs: conceptualization and research agenda

We conceptualize the new phenomenon of the Fractional Chief Information Officer (CIO) as a part-time executive who usually works for more than one primarily small- to medium-sized enterprise (SME) and develop promising avenues for future research on Fractional CIOs. We conduct an empirical study by drawing on semi-structured interviews with 40 individuals from 10 different countries who occupy a Fractional CIO role. We derive a definition for the Fractional CIO, distinguish it from other forms of employment, and compare it with existing research on CIO roles. Further, we find four salient engagement types of Fractional CIOs offering value for SMEs in various situations: Strategic IT management, Restructuring, Rapid scaling, and Hands-on support. The results reveal similarities with existing CIO roles as well as novel insights concerning the different engagement types. Lastly, we propose a research agenda for the Fractional CIO field, based on four research themes derived from existing CIO research and insights from the interviews.

     

A Systematic Review of Recent Developments in IT Outsourcing Research

Incomplete conceptualization of the information technology outsourcing (ITO) literature represents a challenge for navigating extant research and engaging into purposeful academic discourse. We extend the analysis of empirical findings on determinants of ITO decisions, outcomes, and governance. We identify increasing levels of research maturity, analyze effects of 38 new independent variables, highlight contradictory findings, and observe increasing interest in emerging topics such as innovation through ITO and multisourcing.

Abbreviations: AIS: Association for Information Systems; ASP: Application Service Provision; EBIT: Earnings Before Interest and Taxes; CIO: Chief Information Officer; IS: Information Systems; IT: Information Technology; ITO: Information Technology Outsourcing; OTH: Ostbayerische Technische Hochschule/East Bavarian Technical University; PPE: Profit Per Employee; R&D: Research & Development; ROA: Return on Assets; TCO: Total Cost of Ownership; TU: Technische Universität/Technical University     

A validated multi‐scale model of a SOFC stack at elevated pressure

This paper presents a multi‐scale model of a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) stack consisting of five anode‐supported cells. A two‐dimensional isothermal elementary kinetic model is used to calculate the performance of single cells. Several of these models are thermally coupled to form the stack model. Simulations can be carried out at steady‐state as well as dynamic operation. The model is validated over a wide range of operating conditions including variation of temperature, gas composition (both on anode and cathode side), and pressure. Validation is carried out using polarization curves and impedance spectra. The model is then used to explain the pressure‐induced performance increase measured at constant fuel utilization of 40%. Results show that activation and concentration overpotentials are reduced with increasing pressure.     

The benefit of regional diversification of cogeneration investments in Europe: A mean-variance portfolio analysis

The EU Directive 2004/8/EC, concerning the promotion of cogeneration, established principles on how EU member states can support combined heat and power generation (CHP). Up to now, the implementation of these principles into national law has not been uniform, and has led to the adoption of different promotion schemes for CHP across the EU member states. In this paper, we first give an overview of the promotion schemes for CHP in various European countries. In a next step, we take two standard CHP technologies, combined-cycle gas turbines (CCGT-CHP) and engine-CHP, and apply exemplarily four selected support mechanisms used in the four largest European energy markets: feed-in tariffs in Germany; energy efficiency certificates in Italy; benefits through tax reduction in the UK; and purchase obligations for power from CHP generation in France. For contracting companies, it could be of interest to diversify their investment in new CHP facilities regionally over several countries in order to reduce country and regulatory risk. By applying the Mean-Variance Portfolio (MVP) theory, we derive characteristic return-risk profiles of the selected CHP technologies in different countries. The results show that the returns on CHP investments differ significantly depending on the country, the support scheme, and the selected technology studied. While a regional diversification of investments in CCGT-CHP does not contribute to reducing portfolio risks, a diversification of investments in engine-CHP can decrease the risk exposure.