Factors Influencing Decentralized Strorage of RFID Tag Data: A Multi-Case Study

Over time, various drivers affecting information technology architecture design have been proposed which favored either more centralization or decentralization. With the advent of RFID and other sensor technologies, the next inflection point heading towards decentralization might arise. This paper aims to improve the understanding of the decentralization debate by investigating the factors that influence the design decision on whether or not to store data on an RFID transponder label. By analyzing eight case examples from the manufacturing domain, the following main factors could be identified: synchronization, external data exchange, security, standardization, flexibility, and response time. A detailed discussion of these factors may be helpful to companies planning to implement RFID applications on how to design their systems.

[1]  David Schuff,et al.  Centralization vs. decentralization of application software , 2001, CACM.

[2]  John A. Sharp,et al.  A review of manufacturing flexibility , 2000, Eur. J. Oper. Res..

[3]  Gerd Kortuem,et al.  Cooperative Artefacts: Assessing Real World Situations with Embedded Technology , 2004, UbiComp.

[4]  Steven R. Gordon,et al.  Organizational options for resolving the tension between IT departments and business units in the delivery of IT services , 2002, Inf. Technol. People.

[5]  Simon Parsons,et al.  Soft computing: fuzzy logic, neural networks and distributed artificial intelligence by F. Aminzadeh and M. Jamshidi (Eds.), PTR Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, pp 301, ISBN 0-13-146234-2 , 1996, Knowl. Eng. Rev..

[6]  George Coulouris,et al.  Distributed systems - concepts and design , 1988 .

[7]  C. Perry.  Processes of a case study methodology for postgraduate research in marketing , 1998 .

[8]  Hsiao-Cheng Yu,et al.  Challenges to Global RFID Adoption , 2006 .

[9]  P. Mertens.  Aufbauorganisation der Datenverarbeitung , 1985 .

[10]  John J. Bartholdi,et al.  Centralized versus decentralized control in manufacturing: lessons from social insects , 2000 .

[11]  Gerry C. Jacobs,et al.  Whose responsibility is IT management , 1995 .

[12]  Andrew S. Tanenbaum,et al.  Distributed systems: Principles and Paradigms , 2001 .

[13]  Daniel Michelis,et al.  The Web of augmented physical objects , 2005, International Conference on Mobile Business (ICMB'05).

[14]  Katja Windt,et al.  AUTONOMOUSLY CONTROLLED PROCESSES - CHARACTERISATION OF COMPLEX PRODUCTION SYSTEMS , 2006 .

[15]  Charles A. Snyder,et al.  Technology and the Decentralization of Information Systems , 2003, Inf. Syst. Manag..

[16]  Vijay Gurbaxani,et al.  The impact of information systems on organizations and markets , 1991, CACM.

[17]  Matthias Schumann,et al.  Data-on-Network vs. Data-on-Tag: Managing Data in Complex RFID Environments , 2007, 2007 40th Annual Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences (HICSS'07).

[18]  Nancy Bogucki Duncan,et al.  Capturing Flexibility of Information Technology Infrastructure: A Study of Resource Characteristics and their Measure , 1995, J. Manag. Inf. Syst..

[19]  Bharat K. Bhargava,et al.  Replication Techniques in Distributed Systems , 1996, Advances in Database Systems.

[20]  Nagen Nagarur.  Some performance measures of flexible manufacturing systems , 1992 .

[21]  Mark Harrison,et al.  Data Synchronization Specification , 2006 .

[22]  Frédéric Thiesse,et al.  LotTrack: RFID-based process control in the semiconductor industry , 2006, IEEE Pervasive Computing.

[23]  H. Mendelson,et al.  Information systems and the organization of modern enterprise , 1993 .

[24]  Andrew C. Boynton,et al.  Information Architecture: In Search of Efficient Flexibility , 1991, MIS Q..

[25]  BIBA-IPS.  AUTONOMOUSLY CONTROLLED PROCESSES – CHARACTERISATION OF COMPLEX PRODUCTION SYSTEMS , 2006 .

[26]  Botond Kádár,et al.  Hierarchy in distributed shop floor control , 2000 .

[27]  Christoph A. Schneeweiss,et al.  Hierarchies in Distributed Decision Making , 1999 .

[28]  Katja Windt,et al.  Changing Paradigms in Logistics — Understanding the Shift from Conventional Control to Autonomous Cooperation and Control , 2007 .

[29]  H. Simon,et al.  The shape of automation for men and management , 1965 .

[30]  Philippe Bonnet,et al.  Querying the physical world , 2000, IEEE Wirel. Commun..

[31]  Raluca Bunduchi,et al.  Current issues in RFID standardisation , 2005 .

[32]  M. Patton,et al.  Qualitative evaluation and research methods , 1992 .

[33]  Alfred Menezes,et al.  Handbook of Applied Cryptography , 2018 .

[34]  M. Dahlin,et al.  Data Synchronization for Distributed Simulations , 2001 .

[35]  Jeanne W. Ross,et al.  The information systems balancing act: building partnerships and infrastructure , 1996, Inf. Technol. People.

[36]  K. Eisenhardt.  Building theories from case study research , 1989, STUDI ORGANIZZATIVI.

[37]  John Leslie King,et al.  Centralized versus decentralized computing: organizational considerations and management options , 1983, CSUR.

[38]  Damith C. Ranasinghe,et al.  Low-Cost RFID Systems: Confronting Security and Privacy , 2005 .

[39]  B. R. Nault.  Information Technology and Organizational Design: Locating Decisions and Information , 1997 .

[40]  M. H. Azadmanesh,et al.  Centralization/decentralization cycles in computing: Market evidence , 1997, Inf. Manag..

[41]  Deborah Estrin,et al.  Multiresolution storage and search in sensor networks , 2005, TOS.

[42]  Kevin C. Desouza,et al.  Centralization momentum: the pendulum swings back again , 2005, CACM.

[43]  Gareth R. Jones,et al.  The role of information technology in the organization: a review, model, and assessment , 2001 .