Architectural model

Abstract: Digital twin (DT) is an emerging concept that is gaining attention in various industries It refers to the ability to clone a physical object (PO) into a software counterpart The softwarized object, termed logical object, reflects all the important properties and characteristics of the original object within a specific application context To fully determine the expected properties of the DT, this article surveys the state-of-the-art starting from the original definition within the manufacturing industry It takes into account related proposals emerging in other fields, namely augmented and virtual reality (eg, avatars), multiagent systems, and virtualization This survey thereby allows for the identification of an extensive set of DT features that point to the “softwarization” of POs To properly consolidate a shared DT definition, a set of foundational properties is identified and proposed as a common ground outlining the essential characteristics (must-haves) of a DT Once the DT definition has been consolidated, its technical and business value is discussed in terms of applicability and opportunities Four application scenarios illustrate how the DT concept can be used and how some industries are applying it The scenarios also lead to a generic DT architectural model This analysis is then complemented by the identification of software architecture models and guidelines in order to present a general functional framework for the DT This article, eventually, analyses a set of possible evolution paths for the DT considering its possible usage as a major enabler for the softwarization process

Abstract: The dynamic capability view (DCV) of the firm has become one of the leading frameworks aimed at identifying drivers of long-term firm survival and growth. Yet, despite considerable academic interest, there are many questions about what dynamic capabilities (DCs) are, how they relate to other organizational operations, and how they relate to firm performance. In this article, we provide a unique and comprehensive examination of the DCV literature that goes beyond past reviews by combining text-based analysis with surveys of, and interviews with, researchers in the field. With this approach, we are able to examine the evolution of the DCV in written literature and identify missing research themes. Based on this review, we argue that future research will benefit from integrating the DCV with configuration theory and the recent micro foundational thinking. We encapsulate this discussion via an architectural model of the DCV (entitled “House of Dynamic Capabilities”) that combines micro foundations und...