Policy-Driven Process Mapping (PDPM): Towards Process Design Automation

Recently, many organizations are investing a great amount to revamp their business policies in order to comply with the new regulations related to Sarbanes-Oxley. For organizations with large-scale business processes, maintaining those processes to meet the changing policies is a non-trivial problem. In this paper, we present an innovative process mapping methodology named Policy-Driven Process Mapping (PDPM) that takes advantage of detailed organizational policies. In particular, we show how narrative process-related policies can be formalized and how process maps can be systematically created via a set of rules and algorithms. Our research contributes to business process management by providing a theoretical foundation for the development of advanced process mapping tools, thereby taking the first step toward automatable process design procedures

Relation-Centric Task Identification for Policy-Based Process Mining

Many organizations use business policies to govern their business processes. For complex business processes, this results in huge amount of policy documents. Given the large volume of policies, manually analyzing policy documents to discover process information imposes excessive cognitive load. In order to provide a solution to this problem, we have proposed previously a novel approach named Policy-based Process Mining (PBPM) to automatically extracting process models from policy documents using information extraction techniques. In this paper, we report our recent findings in an important PBPM step called task identification. Our investigation indicates that task identification from policy documents is quite challenging because it is not a typical information extraction problem. The novelty of our approach is to formalize task identification as a problem of extracting relations among three process components, i.e., resource, action, and data while using sequence kernel techniques. Our initial experiment produced very promising results

ONTOLOGY-BASED INFORMATION EXTRACTION FOR ANALYZING IT SERVICES

Service Level Agreements (SLA) for multi-service Information Technology (IT) outsourcing contracts contain vast amounts of textual information. The SLAs provide details about a specific service, Key Performance Indicators (KPI) to measure its performance; as well as process elements, such as activities, events, and resources that are integral in achieving performance goals. However, KPIs and the process elements may be interrelated. The knowledge of such interrelationships is often tacitly present in the SLAs. The aim of our research is to extract this hidden information from IT service contracts and analyze them to empower customers of IT services to make better performance management and incentive decisions. We apply an Ontology- Based Information Extraction (OBIE) approach in developing a prototype decision support framework, named SLA-Miner. The results, obtained from analyzing a set of Industry SLAs, demonstrate the utility of SLA-Miner in identifying KPI interrelationships, deficiencies, and impacts of various process elements on individual KPIs

Collaborative public procurement: Institutional explanations of legitimised resistance

This paper reports on the barriers to regional collaborative procurement developed from an action research study of five UK public authorities in the emergency services sector. Despite political pressure to procure collaboratively, strategic avoidance responses of institutional logics and symbolic tick boxing legitimise stakeholder resistance to isomorphic forces and entrench operational barriers. The prevailing institutional logics are that regional collaborative procurement is unsuitable and risky, derived from procurement's lack of status and the emotive nature of the emergency services. Symbolic tick boxing is seen through collaboration that is limited to high profile spend categories, enabling organisations to demonstrate compliance while simultaneously retaining local decision-making for less visible, but larger areas of spend. The findings expose choice mechanisms in public procurement by exploring tensions arising from collaborative procurement strategies within, and between, organisations. Multiple stakeholders' perspectives add to current thinking on how organisations create institutional logics to avoid institutional pressure to procure collaboratively and how stakeholders legitimise their actions

Do Organisations have a Mission for Mapping Processes?

Purpose - This research sets out to identify and explore the reasons why organisations decide to use process mapping software (PMS) facilities in support of Business Process Management (BPM); to determine the objectives set by senior management for its introduction, and understand extent to which the benefits are achieved by organisations from its implementation. Design/methodology/approach – This paper uses an exploratory research design and investigates the elements of organisations’ objectives, implementation and evaluation of using PMS. The research data was collected through semi-structured telephone interviews with business managers responsible for the implementation of PMS in their organisation. The respondent organisations were selected from a range of industry sectors all of whom were using the same BPM software. Findings - The results of the research show that organisations do set objectives for using PMS, relevant to a wide range of business, operational and strategic objectives, dependant on the needs of the organisation. Additionally, the results show that some organisations gain further advantages post-implementation, based on their experience of using the PMS. As for the explicit evaluation of their investment, organisations attempt this to a very limited extent; but they do recognise a broad a range of ‘softer’ benefits achieved from its adoption. Research limitations/implications – This exploratory research has been conducted on a small range of organisations, all using the same software, therefore the results cannot be clearly generalizable. Whilst the research suggests organisations are making effective decisions regarding the use of PMS, further research on the methods of evaluation could be developed to support better decision-making in the future. Practical implications – the practical implications of this research are for decision-makers in organisations recognising and understanding the potential (strategic / operational) benefits that could be achieved by implementing a software system for BPM. Originality/value - Whilst the use of process maps, and mapping of organisation’s operations is widespread the benefits achieved by organisations is only partially understood. Knowledge of the strategic impact of BPM is limited, as Trkman (2010) states “this may derive from the inherent complexity of the field”. This research attempts to explore the context of organisations using such software, and point towards further approaches to its investigation. Keywords - BPM; Process Mapping; Process Mapping Systems; Business Strategy; Business Objectives. Paper type – Research paper Ref: Trkman, P. (2010). The critical success factors of business process management. International Journal of Information Management, 30, pp.125-13

Optimizing University Campuses for Learning, Wellbeing and Equity: an Applied Study of Higher Education Facilities Organizational Systems

College and university campuses are designed and maintained by experts in facilities management and planning. What is lacking in these processes is expertise in learning environments and creating spaces that are healthy and inclusive. University organizational structures aid in the autonomy of academic freedom and the nimbleness of research endeavors but hinder operational effectiveness of the campus as a learning and research environment. A more integrated approach, which optimizes the knowledge on campus regardless of where it is housed, can mitigate the unintended conflicts that develop through the disparate approach to learning, equity, and wellbeing in the built environment. This paper examines the organizational structures of higher education and demonstrates how optimization through a systems approach can mitigate the adverse consequences of autonomy and decentralization in the design and operation of higher education campuses. Several examples of applied systems approaches will be analyzed for effectiveness and contributions to the core mission of higher education. KEYWORDS: sustainability; higher education; systems approach; systems optimization; organizational structure; campus design; resilience; financial stewardship; fiscal accountability; facilities management; capital planning; physical plant; classroom design; learning spaces; design for equity; design for learning; design for health; design for wellbeing

A method for using business process models in the elicitation of user stories

Agile software development projects often manage user requirements with models that are called user stories. Approaches for eliciting user stories from customer’s existing documentation are missing. Furthermore, proper understanding of user story’s context requires an understanding of execution-order and integration dependencies among user stories, which are also missing. In this thesis we propose so-called BuPUS method which 1) facilitates elicitation of user stories from existing business process models, and 2) supports better understanding of execution-order and integration dependencies among user stories from customer’s existing documentation. The method associates user stories with corresponding BPMN’s activity elements, or with corresponding text-written use case model’s events. We defined three levels of association granularity: a user story can be more abstract, approximately equal to, or more detailed than its associated business process model’s event/activity element. In our experiments we evaluated these three levels. We run two experiments. We applied comprehension, problem-solving and recall tasks to evaluate the hypotheses which refer to understanding of the dependencies. On the other hand, we measured user story elicitation’s effectiveness with counting correctly defined user stories. The statistical results provide support for eight out of eleven of the hypotheses. The results of our first experiment show, that understanding of the execution-order and integration dependencies among user stories, when associated business process models are available, is significantly greater. In our second experiment, we compared text-written use case model and BPMN model. There appears to be greater understanding of the execution-order dependencies when using BPMN models, while there were no significant differences in understanding integration dependencies. Similarly, for the elicitation of user stories there are no significant differences when using either of the mentioned models

A method for using business process models in the elicitation of user stories

Agile software development projects often manage user requirements with models that are called user stories. Approaches for eliciting user stories from customer’s existing documentation are missing. Furthermore, proper understanding of user story’s context requires an understanding of execution-order and integration dependencies among user stories, which are also missing. In this thesis we propose so-called BuPUS method which 1) facilitates elicitation of user stories from existing business process models, and 2) supports better understanding of execution-order and integration dependencies among user stories from customer’s existing documentation. The method associates user stories with corresponding BPMN’s activity elements, or with corresponding text-written use case model’s events. We defined three levels of association granularity: a user story can be more abstract, approximately equal to, or more detailed than its associated business process model’s event/activity element. In our experiments we evaluated these three levels. We run two experiments. We applied comprehension, problem-solving and recall tasks to evaluate the hypotheses which refer to understanding of the dependencies. On the other hand, we measured user story elicitation’s effectiveness with counting correctly defined user stories. The statistical results provide support for eight out of eleven of the hypotheses. The results of our first experiment show, that understanding of the execution-order and integration dependencies among user stories, when associated business process models are available, is significantly greater. In our second experiment, we compared text-written use case model and BPMN model. There appears to be greater understanding of the execution-order dependencies when using BPMN models, while there were no significant differences in understanding integration dependencies. Similarly, for the elicitation of user stories there are no significant differences when using either of the mentioned models

COMPARISON OF THE PERFORMANCE OF ISLAMIC MUTUAL FUNDS vs. ETHICAL AND CONVENTIONAL MUTUAL FUNDS

Mutual funds are one of the key contributors to the globalisation of financial markets and one of the main sources of capital flows to emerging economies. This study explores and measures the performance of global Islamic mutual funds through an econometric analysis. Specifically, this study conducted an empirical comparison of performances between Islamic, ethical, and conventional mutual funds using market indexes as benchmarks. In furthering the analyses, this study also explored the ‘Ramadan Effect’ and another comparison/or causality test between Islamic mutual funds and oil prices in the short/long run. Statistical techniques were used in analysing monthly net asset value (NAV), management fee, and Dow Jones Islamic market index (DJIMI), S&P 500 Index, FTSE4Good Global Index, MSCI AC World Index and oil prices include (i) the augmented Dickey-Fuller (ADF) test and the Phillips-Perron (PP) test; (ii) Granger causality; (iii) cointegration, and (iv)the Generalized Method of Moments Regression. Findings of the study demonstrate that oil price did not cause Islamic mutual fund’s performance during the period covered, while Islamic mutual fund’s performance causes oil prices. Since demand and supply equilibrium on oil is unpredictable and oil is considered both as an investment commodity and a fuel, the stock market leads oil prices. Results also show that there is no significant difference between the performance of Islamic mutual funds and those of ethical and conventional mutual funds and between the Islamic mutual funds and the well-known Islamic indices during the whole period or during the bullish or bearish periods