SHLF FRESCHI Case Study: Systemic Governance of Evolving Digital Ecosystems

SHLF FRESCHI Case Study: Driving the Evolution of Digital Ecosystems

A Longitudinal Applied Project for Systemic IS Strategy & Governance for Management Information Systems.

The "FRESCHI Case" is a high-fidelity consulting simulation designed to train Hybrid Professionals to orchestrate technological change. Developed within the Systemic Hybrid Learning Framework (SHLF) at SUPSI, this module guides students through the complex evolution of a manufacturing SME from legacy infrastructure to an integrated Digital Ecosystem and sets the basis to remain open to future technology integrations.

Unlike standard software selection exercises, this simulation places students in a realistic, constraint-rich environment ("Freschi SA"). They act not merely as analysts, but as Strategic Architects, mandated to guide the company's evolution.

Methodology

The case requires the application of a semi-quantitative, evidence-based approach to decision-making:

1. Strategic Alignment & Business Modeling: deriving IT requirements directly from the Business Model evolution (e.g., Servitization, Digital Product Passport), ensuring the Information System acts as a value enabler; in this process students use different frameworks to model the company business model and strategy, including the digital strategy.
2. Systemic Functional Modeling: designing the target architecture by mapping Functional Modules and integration flows (API/Middleware), avoiding the trap of departmental silos.
3. Vendor-Agnostic Selection (MCDA): conducting a rigorous selection of ERP/CRM/MES solutions using Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis. Students must define weighted relevance maps and score coverage gaps quantitatively (0–4 scale) to determine the true Strategic Fit.
4. Evolutionary Roadmapping: defining a phased implementation plan based on Digital Maturity Models (e.g., Industry 4.0 Readiness), balancing immediate wins with long-term architectural resilience.

Files included

• SHLF_Freschi_Case_Description_V1.0.pdf: a detailed 30-page dossier covering Freschi's organizational structure, production processes, legacy IT architecture, and cost drivers.
• SHLF_Freschi_Case_Guidelines_V1.0.pdf: a structured mandate guiding the consulting team through the 7 phases of the Systemic Design process, providing assignment structure and methodological guidance.

Position within SHLF

The case study is one of the core components of the SHLF Toolkit for MIS education. It is designed to be used together with the TIAM framework, the AI-Enhanced Metacognitive Diary and the unified evaluation rubrics.