Industrial Internet of Things Collaborations : A Contingency Framework for Smart Grid Development in Renewable Energy

Abstract: Purpose - As energy demand increases in tandem with an increasing climate crisis, the world runs towards renewable energy generation. Within the area of Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) there are a multitude of opportunities that should be capitalized on, but this requires an integration of the connected systems of Information Technology (IT) and the governing systems of Operational Technology (OT). In the utility sector, this has proven very complex. Hence, the purpose of this paper is to explore the challenges between utility companies, IT providers, and OT providers in the ecosystem to identify activities to combat these challenges by developing a contingency framework. Thus, contributing to the development of Smart Grids (SG) within renewable energy generation. Method – To fulfill the purpose of this study, the partnership between the Swedish branch of a global technology company and a sizeable Swedish energy producer has been investigated. A qualitative single case study has been conducted with an inductive, explorative approach. Empirical data were collected from 22 interviews and 4 workshops from six different companies across five countries. The interviews and workshops were conducted in three different waves: 1) Explorative, 2) Investigatory, and 3) Validatory. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Findings – Findings from our data analysis have identified challenges and key activities in four main categories: 1) IT/OT Collaborative Challenges, 2) IT/OT Technical Challenges, 3) IT/OT Collaborative Activities, and 4) IT/OT Technical Activities. These findings are combined to form a contingency framework that emphasizes the activities to overcome industry challenges. Theoretical and Practical Implications – Our findings and framework expand on current literature in IIoT, SGs, and Innovation Ecosystems development by investigating the collaborative challenges and activities within IT/OT collaboration rather than specific technologies or ecosystem structures. It also expands the literature on IT/OT convergence by taking a broader ecosystem perspective than only IT and OT companies. Our framework provides practical contributions for managers by identifying key challenges and activities and how these relate to each other. Limitations and Future Research – Our study is limited to a single case study on wind power generation in northern Europe. Therefore, future studies are recommended to investigate if our findings apply to other companies, industry sectors, and geographical areas.