An investigation of the dark side of collaboration in digital servitization ecosystems in business models for connected cars

• Grant number: 23/06663-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): December 01, 2023
• Effective date (End): February 28, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Production Engineering - Production Management
• Principal Investigator: Glauco Henrique de Sousa Mendes
• Grantee: Guilherme Sales Smania
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Exatas e de Tecnologia (CCET). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Digital servitization refers to the transformation of manufacturing companies towards smart solutions (product-service-software systems). To ensure these solutions can be successfully provided, servitized companies must foster effective collaboration among ecosystem actors. Although collaboration can generate mutual benefits and values (bright side), paradoxical tensions (dark side) can also arise and compromise achieving expected goals. As these tensions are a critical topic in the literature on digital servitization and have clear practical implications for ecosystem actors, especially for innovative business models such as connected cars, this project aims to: (i) identify the main actors and focal relationships in the digital servitization ecosystem for connected cars; (ii) understand the paradoxical tensions (dark side) existing in the collaboration among actors in this ecosystem; (iii) explain the strategies used to balance conflicting demands that generate paradoxical tensions; and (iv) propose a conceptual framework using decision-making techniques that integrate these coping strategies. A combination of methods will be used to conduct the research: systematic literature review, research with experts and multiple case studies, with the results being evaluated quantitatively and qualitatively. In short, this project is expected to: (i) characterize the challenges and strategies associated with collaboration in digital servitization ecosystems for connected cars; (ii) define a set of management guidelines to deal with the manifestations of the dark side; and (iii) promote research in an emerging area. (AU)