Process Mining to Unleash Variability Management: Discovering Configuration Workflows Using Logs

Variability models are used to build configurators. Configurators are programs that guide users through the configuration process to reach a desired configuration that fulfils user requirements. The same variability model can be used to design different configura tors employing different techniques. One of the elements that can change in a configurator is the configuration workflow, i.e., the order and sequence in which the different configuration elements are presented to the configuration stakeholders. When developing a configurator, a challenge is to decide the configuration workflow that better suites stakeholders according to previous configurations. For example, when configuring a Linux distribution, the configura tion process start by choosing the network or the graphic card, and then other packages with respect to a given sequence. In this paper, we present COnfiguration workfLOw proceSS mIning (COLOSSI), an automated technique that given a set of logs of previous configu rations and a variability model can automatically assist to determine the configuration workflow that better fits the configuration logs generated by user activities. The technique is based on process discovery, commonly used in the process mining area, with an adaptation to configuration contexts. Our proposal is validated us ing existing data from an ERP configuration environment showing its feasibility. Furthermore, we open the door to new applications of process mining techniques in different areas of software product line engineering.Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología RTI2018-094283-B-C3

Improving data preparation for the application of process mining

Immersed in what is already known as the fourth industrial revolution, automation and data exchange are taking on a particularly relevant role in complex environments, such as industrial manufacturing environments or logistics. This digitisation and transition to the Industry 4.0 paradigm is causing experts to start analysing business processes from other perspectives. Consequently, where management and business intelligence used to dominate, process mining appears as a link, trying to build a bridge between both disciplines to unite and improve them. This new perspective on process analysis helps to improve strategic decision making and competitive capabilities. Process mining brings together data and process perspectives in a single discipline that covers the entire spectrum of process management. Through process mining, and based on observations of their actual operations, organisations can understand the state of their operations, detect deviations, and improve their performance based on what they observe. In this way, process mining is an ally, occupying a large part of current academic and industrial research. However, although this discipline is receiving more and more attention, it presents severe application problems when it is implemented in real environments. The variety of input data in terms of form, content, semantics, and levels of abstraction makes the execution of process mining tasks in industry an iterative, tedious, and manual process, requiring multidisciplinary experts with extensive knowledge of the domain, process management, and data processing. Currently, although there are numerous academic proposals, there are no industrial solutions capable of automating these tasks. For this reason, in this thesis by compendium we address the problem of improving business processes in complex environments thanks to the study of the state-of-the-art and a set of proposals that improve relevant aspects in the life cycle of processes, from the creation of logs, log preparation, process quality assessment, and improvement of business processes. Firstly, for this thesis, a systematic study of the literature was carried out in order to gain an in-depth knowledge of the state-of-the-art in this field, as well as the different challenges faced by this discipline. This in-depth analysis has allowed us to detect a number of challenges that have not been addressed or received insufficient attention, of which three have been selected and presented as the objectives of this thesis. The first challenge is related to the assessment of the quality of input data, known as event logs, since the requeriment of the application of techniques for improving the event log must be based on the level of quality of the initial data, which is why this thesis presents a methodology and a set of metrics that support the expert in selecting which technique to apply to the data according to the quality estimation at each moment, another challenge obtained as a result of our analysis of the literature. Likewise, the use of a set of metrics to evaluate the quality of the resulting process models is also proposed, with the aim of assessing whether improvement in the quality of the input data has a direct impact on the final results. The second challenge identified is the need to improve the input data used in the analysis of business processes. As in any data-driven discipline, the quality of the results strongly depends on the quality of the input data, so the second challenge to be addressed is the improvement of the preparation of event logs. The contribution in this area is the application of natural language processing techniques to relabel activities from textual descriptions of process activities, as well as the application of clustering techniques to help simplify the results, generating more understandable models from a human point of view. Finally, the third challenge detected is related to the process optimisation, so we contribute with an approach for the optimisation of resources associated with business processes, which, through the inclusion of decision-making in the creation of flexible processes, enables significant cost reductions. Furthermore, all the proposals made in this thesis are validated and designed in collaboration with experts from different fields of industry and have been evaluated through real case studies in public and private projects in collaboration with the aeronautical industry and the logistics sector

Modelagem de processos e diretrizes de compreensibilidade: uma aplicação em um processo de matrícula em cursos superiores de um Instituto Federal

Process Management is an important tool to increase the efficiency of organizations. Process modeling is one of the most crucial aspects of this approach, through which processes can be graphically represented (diagrammatic modeling), enabling the expansion of knowledge, analysis, and the proposal of improvements. This technique has been widely used in Brazilian public institutions, with many documented benefits such as process optimization, waste reduction, support for decision-making, and proposal of improvements. However, ensuring the quality of models is essential for the modeling efforts to achieve their objectives. One of the most important aspects of the pragmatic quality of models (related to the use of models by organizations) is comprehensibility. An important tool for building more understandable models is the application of modeling guidelines; however, the number of guidelines scattered throughout the literature is high, with some studies reporting up to 50 different guidelines. Additionally, complex processes may require a higher level of detail, which can make the model more difficult to understand. Considering this, this research sought to answer how to model processes with a high level of detail, with the support of modeling guidelines to ensure that the models are understandable to their users. To achieve this, the modeling of a process was carried out considering comprehensibility guidelines found in the scientific literature. The research procedure adopted was Modeling, based on the scheme proposed by Mitroff et al. (1974). The modeled process was the analysis of enrollment requests in higher education courses at a federal institute. To assess compliance with comprehensibility guidelines, the Understandability Verifier for Business Process Models (BEBOP) tool proposed by Corradini et al. (2018) was used. Based on this evaluation, adjustments were made to the model based on recommendations found in the literature. A verification and validation procedure for models called Verification and Validation of Diagrammatic Models (V&V-DM) was also applied. As a result, the research presented an integrative systematic review on the subject, the enrollment process model constructed based on the guidelines, and a report on the procedures adopted for the evaluation and redesign of the model. The integrative review provided an overview of scientific studies on the subject, emphasizing what has already been studied and the existing gaps. The produced models represent the enrollment process comprehensively and enable process management and knowledge transmission at the federal institute. The report on the evaluation and redesign procedure of the model can support other research on the subject and contribute to improving the process modeling of public and private organizations. As a technical product, in addition to the process model, a Best Practices in Modeling Manual was also developed, considering the guidelines found in the literature to provide practical solutions for building more understandable models.A Gestão de Processos é uma importante ferramenta para aumentar a eficiência das organizações. A modelagem de processos é uma das partes mais importantes dessa abordagem, por meio da qual os processos podem ser representados de forma gráfica (modelagem diagramática), possibilitando a ampliação do conhecimento, a análise e a proposição de melhorias. Esta técnica tem sido amplamente utilizada nas instituições públicas brasileiras, com muitos benefícios documentados (otimização dos processos, redução de desperdícios, apoio à tomada de decisão e proposição de melhorias). Contudo, a garantia da qualidade dos modelos é essencial para que os esforços de modelagem alcancem seus objetivos. Um dos aspectos mais importantes da qualidade pragmática dos modelos (relativos à utilização dos modelos pelas organizações) é a compreensibilidade. Uma importante ferramenta para a construção de modelos mais compreensíveis é a aplicação das diretrizes de modelagem, entretanto, o número de diretrizes espalhadas pela literatura é alto, com alguns trabalhos relatando até 50 diretrizes diferentes. Além disso, processos complexos podem exigir um nível maior de detalhamento, o que pode tornar o modelo mais difícil de compreender. Diante disso, esta pesquisa buscou responder como modelar processos com alto nível de detalhamento, com apoio das diretrizes de modelagem a fim de garantir que os modelos sejam compreensíveis para seus usuários. Para isso, realizou-se a modelagem de um processo considerando as diretrizes de compreensibilidade encontradas na literatura científica. O procedimento de pesquisa adotado foi a Modelagem, baseado no esquema proposto por Mitroff et al. (1974). O processo modelado foi o de análise de solicitação de matrícula em cursos superiores de um Instituto Federal. Para avaliar o atendimento às diretrizes de compreensibilidade, utilizou-se a ferramenta Verificador de Compreensibilidade para Modelos de Processos de Negócios (Understandability Verifier For Business Process Models - BEBOP) proposta por Corradini et al. (2018). A partir dessa avaliação foram realizados ajustes no modelo com base nas recomendações encontradas na literatura. Aplicou-se também um procedimento de verificação e validação de modelos denominado Verificação e Validação de Modelos Diagramáticos (Verification and Validation of Diagrammatic Models - V&V-DM). Como resultado, a pesquisa apresentou uma revisão sistemática integrativa sobre o tema, o modelo do processo de matrículas construído com base nas diretrizes e o relato sobre os procedimentos adotados para a avaliação e redesenho do modelo. A revisão integrativa forneceu um panorama dos estudos científicos sobre o tema, enfatizando o que já foi estudado e as lacunas ainda existentes. Os modelos produzidos representam o processo de matrículas de forma completa e possibilitam a gestão do processo e a transmissão do conhecimento no Instituto Federal. E o relato do procedimento de avaliação e redesenho do modelo pode subsidiar outras pesquisas sobre o tema e colaborar com a melhoria da modelagem de processos das organizações públicas e privadas. Como produto técnico, além do modelo do processo, foi elaborado também um Manual de Boas Práticas em Modelagem, que considerou as diretrizes encontradas na literatura para fornecer soluções práticas para a construção de modelos mais compreensíveis

Impact of New Method for Laying Separate Sewer System on Pavement Layers

The method of installing underground infrastructure has a significant influence on road resistance and performance under live loads such as traffic. This research presents a new method for laying separate sewer systems by using one trench to sit both sanitary pipe and storm pipe and considers the effects of this approach on the pavement strength. Experimental tests have been conducted in the laboratory using a trench 2.5x0.45x1 metre to install two pipes one over the other (sanitary pipe in the bottom and storm pipe on top). Two cases have tested, the first case using 5 cm surface layer of cold mix asphalt while the second is using soil. A series of loads were applied to test the behaviour of this new system and its effects on the pavement surface layer and the buried pipe. The comparison between the rut print of the live load on the soil layer and the pavement layer was conducted. Results demonstrated that using the cold mix asphalt is still insufficient to provide enough safety to protect buried pipe as a reason of needing to relatively long time to acquire high stiffness. Therefore, minimum cover depth to protect pipelines still required

Front-Line Physicians' Satisfaction with Information Systems in Hospitals

Day-to-day operations management in hospital units is difficult due to continuously varying situations, several actors involved and a vast number of information systems in use. The aim of this study was to describe front-line physicians' satisfaction with existing information systems needed to support the day-to-day operations management in hospitals. A cross-sectional survey was used and data chosen with stratified random sampling were collected in nine hospitals. Data were analyzed with descriptive and inferential statistical methods. The response rate was 65 % (n = 111). The physicians reported that information systems support their decision making to some extent, but they do not improve access to information nor are they tailored for physicians. The respondents also reported that they need to use several information systems to support decision making and that they would prefer one information system to access important information. Improved information access would better support physicians' decision making and has the potential to improve the quality of decisions and speed up the decision making process.Peer reviewe

We make the future=Мы делаем будущее

This book is a collection of students’papers written to present the most interesting and the most important universal scientific ideas and researche