Value Creation with Digital Twins

A digital twin is a digital representation of a real-world counterpart, which can receive and provide data to create value within a use case. Digital twins create value for users by enabling new and enhanced smart services. However, ambiguous definitions and terminology coupled with a lack of shared conceptual reference frameworks complicate cross-functional discussions and hinder the widespread implementation of digital twins.

This thesis proposes a new definition and presents two conceptual reference frameworks to systematically depict value creation with digital twins. A design science research approach with mixed methods was used to iteratively design and evaluate these artifacts while ensuring scientific rigor, practical relevance, and usefulness. The applied methods within the five research phases include systematic literature research, interviews, workshops with academic experts, qualitative and quantitative questionnaires, workshops with practice experts, and an in-depth case study in smart waste management.

The major findings of this research are (i) the proposal of a new definition of digital twins that reflects a practical understanding by focusing on value creation; (ii) a scientific conceptual reference framework focusing on completeness by distinguishing 81 elements involved in value creation with digital twins; (iii) a second, more application-oriented conceptual reference framework focusing on the interrelations of the elements essential for the value creation in practice; and (iv) an instantiation of the application-oriented framework for the use case of the in-depth case study. All artifacts are consistent in content and include the following main dimensions, which are to be considered when creating value with digital twins: data resources, internal value creation, and external value creation. These artifacts contribute to a common understanding of value creation with digital twins in research and practice. Furthermore, they enable researchers and practitioners to structure their digital twin activities and communicate them to internal and external stakeholders.