Open Access

Jürg Meierhofer, Petra Kugler, Helen Vogt, Martin Dobler, Rodolfo Benedech, Marc Strittmatter, Manuel Treiterer

• Purpose: Although there is an apparent potential in using data for advanced services in manufacturing environments, SMEs are reluctant to share data with their ecosystem partners, which prevents them from leveraging this potential. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to analyse the reasons behind these resistances. The argumentation paves the way for elaborating countermeasures that are adequate for the specific situation and the typical capabilities of SMEs. Design/Methodology/Approach: The analysis is based on literature research and in-depth interviews with management representatives of 15 companies in manufacturing service ecosystems. Half of these are manufacturers and the other half technology or service providers for manufacturers. They are SMEs or partly larger companies operating in structures that are typical for SMEs. Findings: Data sharing hurdles are investigated in the five dimensions, 1. quantifying the value of data, 2. willingness to share data and trust, 3. organizational culture and mindset, 4. legal aspects, and 5. security and privacy. The ability to quantify the value of data is a necessary but not sufficient precondition for data sharing, which must be enabled by adequate measures in the other four dimensions. Originality/Value: The findings of this empirical study and the solution approach provide an SME-specific framework to analyze hurdles that must be overcome for sharing data in an ecosystem. Manufacturing SMEs can apply the framework to overcome the hurdles by specific insights and solution approaches. Furthermore, the analysis illustrates the future research direction of the project towards a comprehensive solution approach for data sharing in a manufacturing ecosystem.