Paper Number
ECIS2026-2754
Paper Type
SP
Abstract
The metalworking industry is a major contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions. Due to its societal importance, and the properties of metal, its transition toward circularity is essential. However, the efficacy of a circular economy is contingent on the inter-organizational availability of information. This study presents preliminary results of a research project, guided by the echeloned Design Science Research approach, to formulate a validated problem statement and design objectives for a future design of an inter-organizational information system supporting circularity in the metalworking industry. Drawing on the data from workshops and expert interviews, we apply the principles of Quality Function Deployment to identify relevant actor roles, personas, and stakeholder needs. These insights yield a prioritised catalogue of 24 user stories that reflect expectations of the diverse actors involved in the closed metal loop. This user story catalogue provides an empirically grounded foundation for subsequent design of digital solutions for circularity.
Recommended Citation
Larche, Dominik and Petrik, Dimitri, "Toward Circularity In The Metalworking Industry: User Needs For Inter-Organizational Information Sharing" (2026). ECIS 2026 Proceedings. 14.
https://aisel.aisnet.org/ecis2026/conf_theme/conf_theme/14
Toward Circularity In The Metalworking Industry: User Needs For Inter-Organizational Information Sharing
The metalworking industry is a major contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions. Due to its societal importance, and the properties of metal, its transition toward circularity is essential. However, the efficacy of a circular economy is contingent on the inter-organizational availability of information. This study presents preliminary results of a research project, guided by the echeloned Design Science Research approach, to formulate a validated problem statement and design objectives for a future design of an inter-organizational information system supporting circularity in the metalworking industry. Drawing on the data from workshops and expert interviews, we apply the principles of Quality Function Deployment to identify relevant actor roles, personas, and stakeholder needs. These insights yield a prioritised catalogue of 24 user stories that reflect expectations of the diverse actors involved in the closed metal loop. This user story catalogue provides an empirically grounded foundation for subsequent design of digital solutions for circularity.