Abstract. The increasing diffusion of mobile devices is changing the working environment and implicating new challenges for enterprises. Mobile applications specifically designed to the enterprises' needs, so-called Enterprise Apps, conquer the market. Enterprise Apps support e.g. enterprise processes to enhance the communication possessing interface to existing enterprise systems, like CRM or ERP. Mobile workers obtain thereby an ideal tool for the accomplishment of their operations in interaction with enterprise system. The applications areas in enterprises throughout Enterprise Apps are complex and widespread. This paper sheds light in the complexity of Enterprise Apps presenting a framework for specific Enterprise Apps. It contributes to research by providing a first approach of a classification scheme to the scenery of Enterprise App usage.Keywords: Enterprise Apps, Taxonomy, Mobile, Classification.
IntroductionOn average, each inhabitant of Germany already owns more than one mobile device 17. However, this development is not limited to Germany, smart phones and other mobile devices are widely spread around the world (c. f. table 1). The average penetration and usage rate of mobile devices in major emerging markets, such as Russia, Brazil, China and India and in the developed markets such as United States, Japan, and Germany are between 67 per cent and 130 per cent. Within the next years the diffusion of mobile devices will further increase worldwide. The traditional feature phone, whose functionality is usually limited to phone calls and short message transmission, is increasingly being replaced by smartphones. Market researchers are forecasting the number of smartphones at one billion in 2016. 350 million smartphone owners will use their devices for business purposes 31. A survey by the University of St. Gallen substantiates this, as 40 percent of respondents state they have used a smartphone for business purposes, and their number is still rising 10.Consequently, the ubiquitous availability of information due to mobile devices makes employees increasingly independent of their workplace. According to a survey * Corresponding author.
38T. Brockmann, S. Stieglitz, and C. Lattemann by BITKOM, 58% of employees prefer flexible working conditions concerning the place of value performance 16. The traditional workplace is becoming less important and an increasing part of the occupational activities occur outside of offices. Enterprises therefore feel the need to attune to these modified conditions and to allow their employees mobile access to enterprise systems 22. CIOs are recognizing this trend. The Gartner CIO Report 2012 states that enterprises now prioritize the adaption of mobile technology and that they are going to invest a large part of their budget in mobile solutions and concepts 23. Especially the emergence of mobile applications (apps) has created novel applications which enterprises can capitalize on. The survey "Mobile-Web-Watch-2011", released by the consulting company Accenture, proves that 31% of...